JFF-CINCY ADVISORY COUNCIL

Tracy Juran is a Principal Consultant and Employee Owner at Systems Evolution Inc. A local boutique consulting firm; SEI's primary focus is IT and business transformation projects.  Tracy attended THE Ohio State University and studied business with a focus in Operations Management. She moved to Cincinnati in 2011 to pursue a career in IT consulting before moving on to IBM. In 2013, Tracy met her husband Josh, a finance executive, and they were married on New Year's Eve three years later. She is actively involved in the Jewish community currently serving on the Board of Trustees for both Rockwern Academy and the Young Adult Division of the Jewish Federation of Cincinnati. Tracy loves to plan parties with friends and travel the world; her favorite destinations include Thailand, Peru, and Israel. 

Why JFF? “Having undergone fertility treatments myself, I am no stranger to the  emotional, physical and financial challenges that women and men face while trying to start a family. I have been inspired to bring JFF to Cincinnati in the hopes of creating new life in our community and offering support to those in need. I feel so lucky that I have found an outlet to turn my own struggles into something positive."

Rachel Loftspring is a Partner at Essig & Evans, LLP, where she practices Fertility Law exclusively. As a Fertility Law attorney, Rachel counsels clients from the United States and around the world on family-building through surrogacy as well as egg, sperm, and embryo donation. Her clients are intended parents and gestational carriers, recipients and donors, married and single, and of all sexual orientations. 

Rachel is a Fellow of the prestigious Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys and a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the American Bar Association's Assisted Reproductive Technology Committee. Rachel posts about Fertility Law on Instagram at @FertilityLawAttorney.

Rachel received her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where she was inducted into the Order of the Coif, and earned her BA from Emory University, where she graduated magna cum laude and as an alumna served as President of the Emory College Alumni Board. Between college and law school, Rachel earned her culinary arts degree from Mausi Sebess in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on a Rotary International Ambassadorial Scholarship awarded to her by the Buckhead Rotary Club.

Outside of her legal practice, Rachel is an active participant and advocate in her community. She is on the board of the American Jewish Committee Cincinnati, Chair of the Jewish Fertility Foundation - Cincinnati, and regularly organizes and hosts events for an array of organizations and causes. Rachel and her husband, a cardiologist, live in Cincinnati, Ohio with their 4 year old Lady Gaga loving daughter and airplanes obsessed 2 year old son. In her spare time, Rachel is teaching her kids (and herself) how to grow a vegetable garden and is working on her Peloton groupie status.

Why JFF? In my Fertility Law practice, I provide legal counsel for clients experiencing infertility who are building their families through third party reproduction. But I felt a need to do more. When I learned of the Jewish Fertility Foundation and its incredible work in Atlanta, I immediately thought the Cincinnati community would benefit from having Jewish Fertility Foundation in Cincinnati. We’re now working to achieve that. 

I am a Cincinnati local that returned back home after time in Bloomington, Indiana and New York City almost 9 years ago with my husband Joel.  Joel is a long way from home, hailing from across the pond, London! He and I met in NYC, got married in Cincy, stayed in NYC for a few more years and then came home to start a family.

I currently work part time for the JCC as the PJ Library Coordinator.  When I’m not working you can still usually find me at the JCC, swimming laps, taking Traci’s fun dance class, or hanging around the café!

Why JFF? When Joel and I started talking about trying for a family my first stop was my OBGYN.  She told me to go off the pill, give it 3 months and if I don’t get my period, we can start discussing options.  So in those 3 months, I waited.  I even ran the NYC Marathon with a tampon in my sports bra just in case I shook out my first period! During this time, Joel and I left NYC and moved back to Cincinnati where we put the whole thing on hold.  My dad was very sick at the time and we were just getting settled in to Cincinnati while still living at home with my parents! After months went by, no period, and going back to the doctor and tests and clomid and tests and clomid later, we learned our problems. On both sides.  In the end, after rounds of IUI’s and one successful round of IVF…..our boy/girl twins will be turning 8 in March!

Infertility is something so many people struggle with and not enough talk about.  When I was approached about JFF, I did not hesitate for a moment that this was something I wanted to be involved in.  I am honored and feel privileged to be a part of this from the very beginning.

Dr. Scheiber graduated with distinction from Stanford University, received his MD from the University of California at San Francisco, and completed his residency in OB/GYN at the University of California at San Diego. 

He completed his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Cincinnati and holds graduate degrees in both Public Health and Health & Medical Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley.

Dr. Scheiber is board-certified in both OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.  Dr. Scheiber is Director of Reproductive Research and Co-Director of the IVF program at IRH.  He is also a Volunteer Associate Professor at the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine.

In addition to performing laparoscopic laser, robotic, and pelvic reconstructive surgery, Dr. Scheiber has conducted research and has special interests in embryo development, ovarian stimulation, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Dr. Scheiber lives in Cincinnati with his wife and three daughters.

Why JFF?  I am incredibly lucky to have a job that I love and excites me. When you work as many hours as we do as physicians, it is a blessing to look forward to our work interactions and the special role in people’s lives that we get to fulfill. Our spirituality is an important part of our family and home lives as well. Volunteering and partnering with the JFF seemed like a great opportunity to give back to our community with the specific skill set for which I have trained, while fulfilling a true Mitzvah about which I feel really good.

Sarah Ganson Shmoel was born and reared in Cincinnati, Ohio. She attended Ohio University in Athens Ohio to earn her Bachelors in Specialized Studies. Following graduation, she moved to Tel Aviv Israel for six months and worked at Tel Aviv University Hillel through a MASA program called Career Israel. Following the program, she moved back to Cincinnati where she worked as the Program and Engagement Associate at Cincinnati Hillel on the University of Cincinnati's campus. After an amazing three years working with students, she attended Miami University and earned her Master's degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education. After graduation, she moved back to Cincinnati and became the Development Officer at Rockwern Academy, Cincinnati's community Jewish Day School. Sarah continues to work at Rockwern Academy as the Associate Director of Development. Sarah and her husband, Oren, have one child, Eliza. She is 2.5 years old. 

Why JFF? Sarah is passionate about JFF-CINCY as she wants to help others who are struggling with infertility. It is important to Sarah that Cincinnati has an organization that can help Jewish couples build their families. Sarah feels fortunate that her background in fundraising and advancement can help benefit JFF-CINCY.

Rabbi Karen Thomashow serves as Associate Rabbi at Isaac M. Wise Temple in Cincinnati. In addition to specializing in a number of areas within the congregation, it is one of her greatest privileges to lead YoFI, a  community dedicated to the nurturing of young families.

She is also on the board of Rockwern Academy, where she is also a parent, and NOAM, the Reform Mohalim of North America, where she serves as a rabbinic advisor.

Why JFF? Rabbi Thomashow is supportive of the seeding of a Jewish Fertility Foundation in Cincinnati, believing in its potential to make a difference in the lives of our community.

Alana Klinkowitz is a Cincinnati local who returned back home after spending a number of years in NYC and Long Island, along with her husband and 3 daughters. Alana currently works with a home-based business and is someone who considers herself an active member of the Cincinnati Jewish community as a whole. You can often find her at the J working from her laptop in the courtyard and grabbing lunch from the J cafe. 

Why JFF? 
Alana has volunteered and has given her time to a variety of different causes, whether it’s through the J or the Federation itself. However, this year she decided that she was going to hone in on only one volunteer opportunity, but she wanted to make sure it was meaningful to her as a woman and as someone wanting to give back to the community. A couple of months ago, JFF had a kick-off event here in Cincinnati for a group of women, and it was then that Alana realized how powerful this organization is. Infertility is real, and Alana wants to be a part of the change.

Dan Feldman is originally from Chicago, but after graduating from Miami University with a BS in Accountancy and Finance he settled down in Cincinnati.  After completing his MBA at Xavier University, he leveraged his business skills to tell the business story based on the numbers.  Dan lives in Cincinnati with his wife and three young children.  He enjoys spending time with his family, going to the zoo, exploring local hiking trails, and cooking.

Why JFF?

Dan felt like this would be a natural opportunity to give back and help those struggling with infertility.  Infertility is generally not spoken about and even less so in male circles.  I hope through my participation I can help others feel more comfortable talking about and navigating through a very personal and uncomfortable topic.