JOPPPAH Editorial Team
Editor in Chief: Christiana Rebelle, PhD
Dr. Christiana Rebelle is a perinatal health consultant and researcher dedicated to educating medical professionals to enhance health literacy and communication between patients and providers. With 20 years of experience, she has served as a health coach for pregnant women and new mothers, written extensively on prenatal health, and conducted seminars and workshops in her community. Her doctoral research focused on pregnant women's health beliefs and behaviors, highlighting the inequities and inadequate care that can lead to adverse outcomes for women and children in the South. She has also studied the impact of provider counseling on prenatal physical activity and sedentary behavior. As Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health, Christiana is currently focused on expanding the reach and scope of the journal to be an essential resource in the field. On weekends, she enjoys outdoor activities with her wife and three young children.
Associate/Copy Editor - Ekaterina Cupelin, PhD
Dr. Ekaterina Cupelin is the Director and Head of Research at the Postnatal Support Network in The Netherlands. With a diverse background, she has served as a Teaching Assistant at the IHEID Graduate Institute of International and Developmental Studies in Geneva, Switzerland, a Consultant for UNICEF, an English Language Instructor in Bulgaria, a Project Manager for the ACORN Foundation in Mumbai, India, and Manager and Legal Assistant at a law firm in New York, NY, USA. Her academic achievements include a PhD in Sociology and Anthropology from the Institute of International and Development Studies, Geneva, Switzerland. Additionally, she holds a Master of Science degree in Children’s Rights from Universiteit Van Amsterdam in The Netherlands and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations from Middlebury College in Middlebury, USA. Ekaterina is not only an accomplished author but also a Birth, Postnatal, and Bereavement Doula, a Kundalini Yoga Teacher, and an international volunteer in multiple countries.
Assistant Editor: Emily Sauer, PsyD
Dr. Emily Sauer studied clinical health and school psychology at Kean University (Union, NJ) and is currently completing her psychology postdoctoral fellowship with an emphasis in Clinical Health Psychology and Interprofessional Training in Primary Care at the VA NY Harbor Healthcare System (Margaret Cochran Corbin Campus, Manhattan). Dr. Sauer's research and clinical areas of focus include perinatal health psychology, women's health, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Compassion-Focused interventions, health psychology, and eating disorders.
Associate Editor: Thomas Verny, MD, DPsych, DHL (Hon), FRCPC, FAPAM
Dr. Thomas R. Verny is a psychiatrist, writer and academic. After publishing his book, The Secret Life of the Unborn Child (1981), he founded the Pre- and Perinatal Psychology Association of North America (PPPANA) in 1983 (renamed APPPAH in 1995) and served as its president for eight years. In 1986 he launched the Association's Journal (JOPPPAH), which he edited until 1990 and continues to serve on the JOPPPAH Editorial Board. Thomas continues to lecture and lead workshops on Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Psychotherapy through-out Canada, the United States, Europe, South America and Southeast Asia. He is a member of the Ontario Review Board (ORB).