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Meet the Board of Directors
The Chicago Menopause Collective is guided by a dedicated Board of Directors whose collective expertise spans medicine, wellness, law, executive leadership, healthcare innovation, and business strategy. United by a shared commitment to improving menopause care, our board members bring years of professional experience and a deep passion for empowering midlife women with trusted resources, education, and access to evidence-based care. Together, they provide the leadership and vision that drive our mission to build a stronger, more connected menopause community across Chicagoland.
Jill Foos, NBC-HWC
Co-Founder & Executive Director
Jill is a Chicago-based National Board-Certified Health & Wellness Coach, Functional Medicine Health Coach, and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach specializing in menopause and longevity for midlife women. She is a member of MINT (Motivational Interviewing Network of Trainers) and uses evidence-based strategies including Motivational Interviewing, Positive Psychology, and the Stages of Change Model to help women build their personal disease prevention and longevity equation.
Jill is the founder of Jill Foos Wellness, host of the Afterpause with Jill Foos Podcast, and Head Coach at Respin Health, Halle Berry's app-based platform for menopausal women. She speaks regularly at corporate women's events and co-founded the Chicago Menopause Collective to bridge the gap between midlife women in Chicagoland and the trusted menopause care they deserve.
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Dr. Dana M Russo, DO, OBGYN
Co-founder and Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Russo is a board-certified gynecologist, functional medicine physician, and the
founder of Essenza Health, a medical practice dedicated to health optimization and
transformative care. With over two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Russo combines
precision medicine, advanced therapies, and compassionate care to help patients
achieve balance, vitality, and longevity.
After recognizing a significant gap in physician training and patient support around
menopause, Dr. Russo immersed herself in advanced education and has dedicated her
practice to menopausal care since 2017.
Courtney Mayster
Managing Partner, Much Shelist
Courtney is a seasoned real estate attorney and Managing Partner at Much Shelist, one of Chicago's premier law firms, where she was unanimously elected by the firm's equity principals in 2023.
A trusted advisor to buyers, sellers, investors, and financial institutions on complex commercial real estate transactions, she is known for her legal acumen, strategic leadership, and ability to get deals done.
Courtney brings to the CMC Board the governance expertise, organizational leadership, and strategic depth to help advance our mission of connecting midlife women across Chicagoland with the menopause care they deserve.
Erin Cook
Partner at Connect Search
Erin leads a national executive search and recruiting firm, where she oversees search engagements across finance, accounting, financial services, real estate, and technology.
With nearly two decades of experience, she has built a reputation for connecting exceptional talent with growing organizations and helping businesses scale through strategic hiring.
Nina Nashif
Entrepreneur, Investor & Healthcare Innovator
Nina is an entrepreneur, investor, and board director with over 25 years of experience building and backing healthcare companies. She founded Healthbox, one of the first healthcare innovation and venture platforms, and served as Managing Director at Sandbox Industries, managing the Blue Cross Blue Shield Venture Fund.
Currently focused on the intersection of hormonal health and chronic disease prevention for midlife women, Nina's vision aligns directly with CMC's mission. She serves on the boards of INSPIRIEN, WelWaze, and HER Medicine, and has been recognized as a Crain's Chicago Business 40 Under 40 honoree and World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.