Dr. Katherine Wisner, the visionary and founder of the Perinatal Mental Health Society, convened a group of perinatal specialists (listed below) at the Perinatal Mental Health Conference in Chicago, IL in November 2015 at the Allerton Hotel.  During the meeting, the specialists agreed unanimously to the proposal to launch a Marcé regional group for North America, MONA (formerly known as the Perinatal Mental Health Society ) was born. The group discussed several introductory topics of focus that were deemed essential for the foundation of the organization. The founding board members envisioned advancing an agenda specific to North American members and their specific health care systems, advocacy needs, educational goals, and aspirations to create leadership opportunities for younger faculty. The desire for a strong financial health plan from the initiation, with capable and affordable organizational management was determined as a critical factor to proceed. That evening everyone committed to actively engage in and develop the new organization locally.

Cindy Lee Dennis was nominated to be the Canadian representative and Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo to represent Mexico and North American Spanish speaking countries.

With the help of Debby Tucker (Debra Tucker Associates, LLC) who agreed to be the organizational manager, the Constitution and Articles of Incorporation were developed. The startup funding was generously provided by the members of the founding board. The inaugural officers included: Katherine Wisner, President; Samantha Meltzer-Brody, President-Elect; Crystal Clark, Secretary; Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo, Treasurer.

We owe thanks for our acronym, MONA, which was suggested by Mike O’Hara in January 2018, short for Marcé of North America.

FOUNDING MEMBERS:

Katherine Wisner, MD MS (Psychiatry), Chair
Cheryl Beck, DNSc (Nursing)
Sandraluz Lara-Cinisomo, PhD
Crystal Clark, MD MSc (Psychiatry)
Cindy-Lee Dennis, PhD
Camille Hoffman, MD, MPH (MFM)
Margaret Howard, PhD (Psychology)
Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH
Emily Miller, MD MPH (MFM)
Michael O’Hara, PhD, Psychology
Barbara L. Parry, MD (Psychiatry)
Debra Tucker (administration for conference)