Our Founders’ Family Story
No parent should ever have to accept that there is no hope to save their child’s life. Having battled TTTS, we experienced firsthand the power of hope. Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome (TTTS) should have taken our daughters’ lives, but after our frantic search for information and resources, fetal surgery saved them.
Today, as grateful parents of healthy identical twin girls, we are proud as founders to continue to lead the Fetal Health Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to hope for expectant parents who’ve received a fetal syndrome diagnosis.
You can read more of our story here: The Somers’ Story
FETAL HEALTH FOUNDATION MISSION
Fetal Health Foundation supports families receiving a fetal syndrome diagnosis, funds life-saving research, increases fetal syndrome awareness, and shares leading medical information on fetal syndromes.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ERIKA WOLF-FERRACO
Executive Director
Erika first connected with the Fetal Health Foundation in 2008 while coaching a local Girls on the Run group and participating in the 5K that benefits the Foundation. Over the past 15+ years, she has supported FHF in multiple capacities, helping grow programs, expand partnerships, and raise awareness through innovative initiatives and signature events such as the Great Candy Run 5K. A cancer survivor and published author, Erika is recognized for her strategic thinking, creative problem-solving, and talent for storytelling. As Executive Director, she provides direction, drives growth, and ensures the Foundation’s mission reaches more families facing fetal diagnoses.
LONNIE SOMERS
Founder, Chairman of the Board of Directors
Though he’s known for organizing, running, and announcing many beloved national events, Lonnie has over twenty years’ experience in many executive positions as an investment banker/venture capitalist having also worked with and for startups to fortune 500 companies. Lonnie still maintains an active CPA license, and received Summa Cum Laude honors from Regis University. Lonnie is also a board member of Running USA, and Kipture Primary School Foundation. In his free time, you’ll find Lonnie running, cycling, and most importantly enjoying his family. Together with Michelle, and in honor of Aspen and Ashley, his goal is to fight fetal syndromes.
MICHELLE SOMERS
Founder
An avid runner and proud mother of TTTS survivors, Michelle hopes to someday watch her daughters perform on Broadway (or cure cancer). A proud alumna of Bowling Green State University, Michelle built a career working in corporate accounting, finance and managing a global billing department. She respectfully stepped away to pursue more rewarding endeavors; raising her daughters, supporting families journeying through a fetal syndrome diagnosis and working in endurance sports. We like to brag about her eight marathon finishes, two of which earned podium spots and five were Boston qualifiers.
MATTHEW M. COOPER, MD, MBA, FACS, FAsMA, FCAMA
Dr. Cooper is Principal and CEO of Peak Aerospace Medicine & Cardiovascular Surgery. He previously served as Vice President of Medical Affairs, Corporate Health & Safety at 3M Health Care, including Chief Medical Officer for Medical Solutions.
A board-certified thoracic and general surgeon, he is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, the Aerospace Medical Association, and the Civil Aviation Medical Association. He trained at New York University, the University of Iowa, Columbia University, and the National Institutes of Health, with additional fellowship training in pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at Great Ormond StreetHospital in London. His research has included cardiac xenotransplantation and cardiovascular adaptation to altitude and flight.
An expert in aviation physiology, Dr. Cooper is also a commercial pilot, flight instructor, aerobatic performer, and advisor on aerospace medical safety.
MARY BETH MARTIN, BSN, MBA
Distinguished Leader in Fetal & Perinatal Health Innovation
With more than 35 years of experience, Mary Beth has been a driving force in fetal intervention and maternal-fetal medicine. From her early work at Baylor College of Medicine, she has held leadership roles at top medical centers, including OHSU Doernbecher, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and Texas Children’s Hospital.
Her expertise in building high-risk maternal-fetal medicine programs and fetal surgery units has led to proven growth and improved clinical outcomes across the nation. A recognized thought leader, she is a founding member of the International Fetal Think Tank and serves on the board of the Fetal Health Foundation.
Mary Beth’s strategic vision and commitment to innovation have shaped the future of perinatal care on a global scale.
TIMOTHY M CROMBLEHOLME, MD, FAAP, FACS
Dr. Crombleholme graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and attended medical School at Tufts University.
He trained in General Surgery at the University of California, San Francisco and did a fellowship in Fetal Surgery under Michael R. Harrison, MD considered the father of Fetal Surgery.
Dr. Crombleholme completed his training with a Fellowship in Pediatric Surgery at the Floating Hospital for Infants and Children at Tufts Medical Center before joining the faculty of Tufts University School of Medicine.
He currently serves as the Director of the Fetal Care Center at Children’s Connecticut in Hartford.
ABIGAIL WILPERS, PH.D., WHNP-BC
Dr. Wilpers comes from the small, but rapidly growing field of maternal-fetal surgery, which falls under her broader passion and focus on Reproductive Justice and intersectional equity in reproductive science and health care.
She received her undergraduate degree from Barnard College and her Master of Science from the Yale School of Nursing. She received her doctorate at the Yale Graduate School of Arts and Sciences as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Future of Nursing Scholar.
After graduation, Dr. Wilpers was appointed to the Maternal-Fetal Health Postdoctoral Research Associateship at the Yale School of Medicine where she completed a year of mentored training in clinical research to improve the health of mothers and infants.
DR. KEN MOISE
Kenneth J. Moise Jr., M.D., is Co-Director
The Comprehensive Fetal Care Center – Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin.
Moise’s interest in fetal therapy spans a 30-year period. He is recognized worldwide for his contributions in the fetal treatment of Rh disease including the development of middle cerebral artery Doppler for the noninvasive detection of fetal anemia and the use of free fetal DNA to determine the fetal RHD status in the U.S.
He was instrumental in the formation of three fetal centers: the Center for Maternal and Infant Health at the University of North Carolina, the Texas Children’s Fetal Center in Houston and the Fetal Center at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston.
TRAVIS LEISSNER
A registered architect, Travis Leissner is knowledgeable of the healthcare market and its delivery system, including care models reshaping the industry.
Since 1990, Travis has engaged academic medical centers, health systems, community hospitals, and physician groups and worked on a variety of healthcare facility designs, including but not limited to women’s and children’s, acute care, surgical and outpatient care, cancer, psychiatric and medical offices.
Because of this wide range of project experience, he understands planning and design needs that address concerns of both clinical and administrative stakeholders.
“I really appreciate Fetal Health’s assistance during a time like this. It was truly a blessing, and has helped a great deal. I will never forget the help you all provided and look forward to becoming a donor one day.”
– A family the Fetal Health Foundation helped in 2010
Financial Documents
Non Profit Organization Status
The Fetal Health Foundation is a registered 501 (c)(3) non profit organization, and your contributions are tax-deductible. Our Federal Tax Identification number is 20-0837174
Tax Documents
2022 Form 990
2022 Schedule B
2021 Form 990
2021 Schedule B
2020 Form 990
2019 Form 990
2018 Form 990
2018 Schedule B
2017 Form 990
2017 Schedule B
2016 Form 990
2015 Schedule B
2014 Form 990
2013 Form 990
2012 Form 990
Previous documents can be found on our GuideStar Profile
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Be a part of our work to give hope to families facing a frightening diagnosis
Medical Advisory Board
Leaders in maternal- fetal medicine advise us and allow us access to information on the newest and most promising treatments.
Dr. Ahmet Baschat
Director, Center for Fetal Therapy
Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics, The Johns Hopkins Hospital
Dr. Stephen R. Carr
Director of Prenatal Diagnosis Center
Fetal Treatment Program of New England
Dr. Ramen Chmait
Director, Los Angeles Fetal Surgery
CHLA-USC Fetal-Maternal Center
Dr. Timothy M Crombleholme
Director, Fetal Care Center
Fetal Care Center at Connecticut Children’s
Dr. Anthony Johnson
Co-Director
The Fetal Center at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital
Dr. Hanmin Lee
Surgeon-in-Chief/Co-Director, Fetal Treatment Center
UCSF BCH Fetal Treatment Center
Dr. Francois Luks
Pediatric Surgeon-in-Chief
Fetal Treatment Program of New England
Dr. Kenneth Moise, Jr.
Co-Director
The Comprehensive Fetal Care Center – Dell Children’s Medical Center & UT Health Austin
Dr. Ruben Quintero
Co-Founder
The Fetal Center, Miami
Susan S. Spinner, MSN, RN
Senior Director, Richard D. Wood Jr. Center for Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment
Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Dr. Courtney D. Stephenson
Director of Fetoscopic Intervention
Cleveland Clinic
Leandra Tolusso, MS, LGC
Genetic Counselor
Cincinnati Children’s Fetal Care Center
Dr. Martin Walker
Co-Director, Maternal Fetal Medicine Intervention and Surgery Program
Seattle Children’s Fetal Care and Treatment Center