Meet the Zita West Team
Our IVF Doctors
Simone Rofena
Working in medicine, you can live a life focused on the sadder side of human existence, such as death and illness. I’ve always felt incredibly lucky that I chose, some 20 years ago, to focus on fertility and IVF, as I work in the side of medicine that is about life.
Since I started working in IVF, there haven’t been that many major breakthroughs scientifically. Drugs and techniques have improved but there hasn’t been anything radical that has shaken up the industry.
The only thing that has revolutionised my approach over the years is studying, understanding and following holistic approaches to treatment, as we do here at the Zita West Clinic. In Italy, where I am originally from, and across most of London, whole body approaches are not considered.
Yet, you can clearly see the difference in outcomes. Our results are better: it’s as simple as that. This is particularly interesting when you consider that many of the processes of IVF are unchanged over years and the same from clinic to clinic. What makes us have more success than others is the fact we look at all aspects of a couple’s life and leave no stone un-turned.
There is nothing better than seeing people happy and helping people build a family. I feel privileged that my work focuses around helping people have babies.
Rashda Bano
Dr Rashda Bano undertook a General Medical Council, UK, approved training programme in Gynaecology & Obstetrics.
She has been a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists, London, since 2012 and went onto gain her Fertility training and experience at the Edinburgh Fertility & Reproductive Endocrine Centre (Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh). There she obtained certification from the British Fertility Society on all aspects of IVF practice.
Her multitude of specialism include 3D scanning for uterine abnormalities, HyCoSy, Hysteroscopy, fertility preservation, recurrent implantation failure, managing early pregnancy complications and common gynaecological disorders.
Rashda prides herself in her kind and compassionate manner with patients and her ability to ensure all patients are well informed of treatments available.
She states: ‘My passion for the Holistic approach to treatment was the driving force behind decision to join Zita West team.’
Dorcus Muchiri
Dr. Muchiri is an Obstetrician Gynaecologist and Fertility Consultant. She is a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (UK), British Fertility Society, European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology as well as the Kenya Obstetrics and Gynaecology Society.
Dr. Muchiri has gained international experience in Women’s reproductive health working in Africa and the United Kingdom.
Dr. Muchiri’s areas of special interest area are novel technologies in reproductive medicine and genetics, female reproductive endocrinology, fertility preservation and fertility-related gynaecology (Fibroids/Endometriosis/Tubal factor/PCOS).
Dr. Muchiri also has an interest in other clinical aspects of women’s global health spanning early pregnancy health, obstetrics and general gynaecology. She is involved in medical research and passionate about patient advocacy and education as well as medical leadership.
Terri Morgan Collins
With over 25 years’ experience in fertility, obstetrics and gynaecology, Terri specialises in all aspects of assisted fertilty, including the investigative/diagnostic workup, cycle monitoring, ultrasonogrophy, ovulation induction and IUI. She also manages our dedicated team of nursing and administrative staff, implementing and coordinating systems in accordance with Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) code of practice.
Our Specialist Nursing Team
Nirmala Budhathoki
Indi Kaur Panesar
Iman Abdi-Ibrahim
Karen Croft
Amy Curtis
Melissa Lennon
Maria Anninou
Our Expert Team of Practitioners
Clare Casson
Clare is a CNHC-registered Nutritional Therapist. She trained with BCNH and ION, and has worked with the Zita West Clinic for over 5 years, advising and supporting our patients who are trying to get pregnant naturally, facing fertility challenges or undergoing IVF. The evidence shows that diet and lifestyle choices can make a real difference, but there is so much conflicting information out there that many couples aren’t sure what they should be doing to increase their chances of success. For many people, a few key changes could make a big difference, even if they’re already eating what appears to be a pretty healthy diet. Clare offers, realistic, practical and doable advice, tailored to your needs and lifestyle, and supported by the evidence about what really works.
Isabelle Obert
Isabelle has been working at the Zita West Clinic since 2005. She trained at the Raworth Centre and qualified in 2002 with a Nutrition Consultant’s diploma with Distinction. Isabelle believes that diet plays an important role in assisted fertility and natural conception and can have a positive impact on hormonal imbalances such as PCOS and endometriosis.
She aims to demystify fertility nutrition and takes time to explain clearly how and why diet is so important and offers achievable advice that is tailored to each individual person or couple. Isabelle’s approachable manner helps put clients at ease at what is often a stressful period in their lives.
Isabelle keeps up-to-date with evidence-based research to ensure that she is providing her clients with the best possible advice and nutritional solutions to enable them to have the highest chances of conceiving.
Maureen Kiely
Maureen Kiely is a senior clinical hypnotherapist with over 20 years of experience at the clinical level and is a full member of the British Society of Clinical Hypnosis and a Fellow of the British Association of Medical Hypnosis. Maureen lectured at senior level and internationally for the London College of Clinical Hypnosis.
Maureen specialises in helping couples manage unexplained infertility, the IVF process, pregnancy and birth, and the difficult areas of miscarriage, IVF failure and bereavement. She seeks to identify underlying causes for unexplained infertility and poor sexual performance such as blocked emotions to do with pregnancy and childbirth or dealing with past trauma and abuse.
She has worked extensively in the area of physical, emotional and sexual abuse, helping individuals to overcome the past and move forward to gain control and develop the life they deserve. She also deals with the medical side of aiding pregnancy, by helping patients to give up smoking, alcohol, drugs, or indeed tackle phobias such as medical phobias which can hinder the process.
Nicola Sessions
Nicola Sessions is a fertility Counsellor with over 5 years of experience at the clinical level and is an Accredited member of The British Association for Counsellors and Psychotherapists. She is also a member of The British Infertility Counselling Association. She studied at The University of Nottingham and has a (BA) Hons in Humanistic Counselling.
Nicola specialises in helping couples and individuals manage unexplained infertility and the IVF process, pregnancy and birth, and the difficult areas of miscarriage, IVF failure and bereavement. She is Person Centred in her approach.
All well as being a fertility counsellor she has worked as a Person Centred practitioner and has had her own practice for the last 8 years.
Acupuncturists
Valeria Frank
Valeria has been a complementary therapist for more than 25 years, first practicing and teaching Shiatsu bodywork therapy and later retraining as a Traditional acupuncturist. She has been working at the Zita West clinic since 2010, enjoying the clinic’s multidisciplinary and collaborative ethos, and holds a BSc (Hons) TCM Acupuncture from University of Westminster and is a fully insured Member of the British Acupuncture Council.
Through her further training and work in the area of women’s health, she has developed special interest in working throughout pregnancy to help women with pelvic pain and preparation for labour, including working with breech pregnancies. She is also especially interested in supporting women with endometriosis and Asherman’s syndrome.
Susanne Weichhardt
After graduating from the University of Westminster with a Bsc (Hons) in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and later gaining a Postgraduate Diploma in Gynaecology, Fertility & Obstetrics from the College of Integrated Chinese Medicine in Reading, Susanne has specialised in all aspects of fertility, including IVF support, for over 10 years, completing numerous CPD courses to ensure the highest quality of treatment and support for all patients.
Susanne’s great interest in the latest acupuncture research often leads her to incorporating new findings in her daily practice, and she compliments traditional acupuncture methods with a wide range of advanced techniques, including electro acupuncture, ear acupuncture and ear seeds, acutaping, cupping and moxibustion. Susanne is also a member of the British Acupuncture Council, which is committed to ensuring the best professional care and safety during acupuncture treatment.
Lui Yeung
Having received acupuncture to support her own fertility and pregnancy, Lui decided to return to university, where she gained a First Class Honours Degree from the University of Westminster in Chinese Medicine Acupuncture. A member of the British Acupuncture Council, Lui practices acupuncture, cupping and Tuina massage and has completed post-graduate studies in male and female fertility, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Endometriosis and Master Tung style acupuncture.
Lui’s special areas of interest include natural conception and preparation for IVF/ICSI, as well as anxiety and emotional conditions such as depression, panic attacks and stress management.
Josephine Cerqua
Josephine has been part of the Zita West team for over 15 years, having graduated with a BSc (Hons) from Westminster University in 2002.
She has had the privilege of working with many couples on their fertility journey, allowing her to develop her knowledge and expertise in all areas of fertility and pregnancy.
Josephine is passionate about ensuring clients receive the best possible treatment to facilitate a healthy pregnancy, birth and transition to parenthood.
She is a member of the British Acupuncture Council which guarantees safety, professionalism and a high standard of care.
For more on how acupuncture can help with fertility click here
Our Admin Team
Kirsty Thompson
Hanna Larsson
Tracy Carlisle
Cheshman Bagheritabar
Sindu Yathunanthan
Suzi Shrestha Best
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