Melissa Ferrara, MS, FNP-BC, Associate Medical Director
Melissa Ferrara is a nationally board certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Siena College and received a bachelor’s degree in nursing and master’s degree as a nurse practitioner from Pace University. She has been practicing women’s health for more than 15 years and specializes as a female sexual dysfunction clinician.
Melissa's passion is caring for women, utilizing a holistic approach and developing new and innovative treatments for all areas of sexual dysfunction, including desire, arousal, orgasm and pain. She integrates culturally competent care to help produce optimal outcomes for her patients. She has presented on the topic of Female Sexual Dysfunction at numerous conferences and has been an investigator on several clinical trials for medications for female sexual dysfunction. Additionally, Melissa is a clinical preceptor for Nurse Practitioner students at Pace University.
Jennifer Dembo, LMSW
Jen Dembo earned her Masters of Social Work at Simmons University and her Bachelor of Science in Communications at Boston University. She is a certified DONA (Doulas of North America) labor support doula and received her childbirth educator training from the Childbirth Education Association of Metro New York. Jen serves as the Postpartum Support International (PSI) Co-Coordinator for Westchester County. She has worked with women and their families since 2004 and has attended over 100 births throughout New York City and the tri-state area in homes, birth centers, and hospital settings.
Jen's comprehensive approach focuses on the physical, sexual, emotional, cultural, and psychological factors that influence a women’s health throughout the life span. She has training in maternal mental health and perinatal loss and has earned certifications in comfort measures for labor practice and challenges for pregnant/postpartum survivors of childhood sexual abuse. She is the former president of the Hudson Valley Birth Network and currently serves as founder and chair of its Social Justice Committee. Jen is a board member of Birth Education Beyond the Ordinary (BEBO), which provides low-cost childbirth education and labor, postpartum and lactation support services. She is also a member of the National Association for Perinatal Social Workers, the National Association of Social Workers, and of Evidence Based Birth. Jen's mission is to inform women about their many reproductive and sexual health options and to promote self-advocacy in regard to personal needs and preferences.
Helen Leff, LCSW, Sexuality Counselor, Psychotherapist
Helen Leff, LCSW, holds a Master Degree in Social Work with over 25 years of experience. She earned a BS in Special Education from City College of the City University of N.Y. and studied at Tel Aviv University in Israel. Helen received her Master’s degree in social work from New York University. She attended the Advanced Training Program in Psychotherapy at the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health.
Helen has devoted many years providing counseling and advocacy services to families of children with developmental disabilities both at the Shield Institute as well as the Hebrew Academy for Special Children (HASC). She has extensive experience working with single mothers and has always been passionate about championing women and committed to issues promoting women’s health and welfare. She believes that “Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.”
Throughout her career as a mental health professional, Helen has endeavored to take a holistic view in understanding the needs of individuals as well as incorporating the larger family and social dynamics effecting them. A tireless advocate, Helen’s greatest professional satisfaction comes from helping those in need to develop self-empowerment skills to take greater control of their situations and to become their own best ally, adviser, and advocate.
Jacqueline Giannelli, FNP-BC, ASSISTANT MEDICAL DIRECTOR, CERTIFIED MENOPAUSE PRACTITIONER
Jackie Giannelli is an ANCC board certified nurse practitioner who has worked in the fields of urology, women’s health, and sexual health since 2015. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in nursing from New York University and a Master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from San Francisco State University.
Jackie has expertise in both the inpatient and outpatient clinical settings, with a long history of surgical nursing experience. In women’s health, she is skilled in treating pelvic floor dysfunction, sexual dysfunction, complicated urinary tract infections, and general urologic and gynecologic issues. She is an active member of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH) and the Society of Urologic Nurses and Associates. In men’s health, she is skilled in treating sexual dysfunction, urologic cancers, and other general male urologic issues. She takes an integrative and holistic approach to patient care, and excels in patient communication, problem solving and healthcare innovation.
Leslie Turner, WHNP, CNM, Assistant Medical Director
Leslie Turner is a nationally board certified midwife and women’s health Nurse Practitioner.
She received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Yale and her graduate degree in women’s health and midwifery from Columbia University.
Her background is in integrative medicine, having began her career doing research and clinical work with Dr. Mehmet Oz at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital in NYC. She has specialized in women’s health and gynecology for over 15 years.
Leslie is very interested in the mind/body connection and how it relates to a woman’s health and sexuality. As such, she strives to work with her patients to develop a personalized, holistic approach to address their sexual health and wellness concerns.
Erin Franco, BS, LPN
Erin Franco is a New York State Licensed Practical Nurse. She holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Washington College and received her LPN diploma at Lincoln Technical Institute. Erin joined the Maze team in 2016.
After receiving her phlebotomy and EKG certifications, she became a Medical Assistant for Maze Labs, where she performed blood draws, as well as ordered labs and therapeutic phlebotomies.
Since receiving her LPN license in 2018, Erin now works with Maze Women’s Health nurse practitioners as a Pre-op and Post-op nurse. She assists the nurse practitioners, taking vitals and providing support to patients during and after various medical procedures.
Tammy Williams, Senior Project Manager
Tammy has more than 20 years’ experience in healthcare and has been an integral part of Maze since 2007. She oversees day-to-day operations and establishes guidelines to prioritize work production, evaluate effectiveness and improve the quality of services provided.
Tammy also manages the implementation of clinical research studies and ensures that all regulatory and IRB documentation is in adherence to the FDA regulations and ICH/GCP guidelines.
Tammy assists the Maze medical team with in-office and operating room procedures, including Botox treatment for vaginismus, sperm mapping and vasectomies.
Prior to joining Maze, Tammy spent nine years at Planned Parenthood as the Prenatal Nurse Coordinator/Sonographer. She passionately believes in the Maze mission to provide the highest quality of patient care.
MICHAEL A. WERNER, MD, FACS, MEDICAL DIRECTOR
Although Dr. Werner does not generally see patients, he reviews all evaluations and lab results, oversees all treatment, and follows all patient care. Upon request, he is always available for consultation after the initial evaluation.
Dr. Werner is a board-certified urologist who received his specialized fellowship training in male infertility and surgery, and male sexual dysfunction at Boston University Medical Center. Dr. Werner completed his urology residency at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Manhattan and received his medical school training at the University of California at San Francisco. He holds an undergraduate degree in Biology from Harvard College.
Dr. Werner’s private practice is limited to male infertility and male sexual dysfunction. He lectures and writes extensively on these topics in medical journals and books. More importantly, his concentration in these areas means he practices the latest and most advanced treatments and surgical techniques, ensuring the greatest likelihood of success for his patients.
“You don’t have to suffer with ED if you deal with a specialist in the field; not strictly a urologist, but someone who’s trained and practiced for years in this area. Dr. Werner was a totally upbeat guy and easy to talk to. He was that specialist for me.”
— Jim, February 2010
As the Medical Director of Maze Sexual & Reproductive Health, Dr. Werner diagnoses and treats erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, impotence, andropause, and the many causes of male infertility. The practice is founded on the belief that patients should have a complete understanding of the medical options available to them, and that the patient and physician should decide, together, on the course of treatment that makes the most medical and personal sense.