The PHreedom Foundation for Pelvic Health is a 501(c)(3) organization started from a personal experience Ann Margaret Howard, CEO of IT Broadcasting had after a hysterectomy. Despite having amazing care and an uncomplicated procedure, she was unaware that half of her pelvic floor needed retraining to function properly, resulting in a painful injury to her pudendal nerve.
Her experience during the next three months with Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation enlightened her to the lack of education, research and early access to pelvic floor physical therapy that exists. In reaching out to medical professionals, friends and colleagues, she quickly found she was not alone!
The pelvic floor is instrumental in bowel, bladder, & sexual function
Hysterectomies are very common - 1 of 3 women in the United States has had one by age 60 (CDC)
1 in 3 women will experience a pelvic floor disorder in her lifetime
1 in 4 adults meet the criteria for functional bowel disorders
(Palsson et al, 2020)
1 in 4 women over the age of 18 reported at least one episode of urinary incontinence (UI), while UI was present in 43% of people (men and women) over the age of 65 (CDC, 2014)
Estimates of pelvic organ prolapse range between 1-65% of the population (Brown, H.W., et al 2022). 20% of women undergo surgery for POP or UI (Dieter, et al, 2015)
4 Pillars of Work
Awareness, Education, Research & Action in Healthcare
Global Purpose
Domestic Purpose
Inaugural Board Members
Ann Margaret Howard, Founder & President
Dr. Lora Mize, Chief Education Officer
Linda Boles, VP of Growth, Healthcare
Pete Schoemann Esq. Secretary, Treasurer
Executives
Dr. Cecilia Deidan, Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Christine Cabelka, Chief Research Officer
Creation & Non-Profit Filing - WE ARE A 501(c)(3) AS OF 12/27/2022
Q4 2022: PHreedom Foundation, Inc. - COMPLETE!
Advocacy & Awareness
Q4 2022: First annual practitioner survey - COMPLETE!
Breaking Down Barriers
Q4 2022: First Airing of You Have the Floor Podcast - AIRED 12/7/2022
First Prospectus
Q4 2022: Outline of Our Three Year Plan - COMPLETE!
2023: Creation & Distribution of Educational Tools
2023: Education & Research Pilots
2023: Membership Drive
Copyright © 2022 PHreedom Foundation, Inc. - All Rights Reserved.
We use cookies to analyze website traffic and optimize your website experience. By accepting our use of cookies, your data will be aggregated with all other user data.