Member Recognition & In Memoriam

Angela Messer, MS

Angela is recognized for her energy, creativity, and strong support across multiple OTIS and MotherToBaby programs. She:

• Coordinates MotherToBaby Fact Sheets, including updates, translations, and NLM submissions.
• Oversees the MotherToBaby Chat service, including training, schedules, and troubleshooting.
• Contributes actively to the Membership Committee and the Marketing & Website Committee.
• Helps identify and support student presenters for OTIS Seminars.

Angela’s enthusiasm and problem-solving skills make her an incredible asset to our organization.

— From her nominator

Christianne (Chrissy) Senechal, MS

Chrissy is honored for her compassion, teamwork, and willingness to step into leadership when needed. She:

• Helped manage MotherToBaby CT operations during a leadership absence while also completing a full-time genetic counseling graduate program.
• Actively offers and requests support to ensure families receive timely, evidence-based information.
• Communicates with warmth, empathy, and professionalism.

Chrissy’s positivity and commitment shine through in every interaction, and she is already an important part of the OTIS/MotherToBaby community.

— From her nominator

Lorrie Harris-Sagaribay, MPH

Lorrie is recognized for her leadership, thoughtfulness, and commitment to professional growth within the TIS community. She:

• Approaches every counseling interaction with fairness, compassion, and respect for all perspectives.
• Created and led a small counselor meeting to support learning and engagement.
• Shares timely updates on emerging topics — such as COVID-19 and Zika — to keep specialists informed.

Lorrie inspired the idea for this recognition program. She is knowledgeable, kind, and consistently puts the needs of families first.

— From her nominator

Sharon Lavigne, MS, LCGC

Sharon’s leadership at MotherToBaby CT has strengthened connections across UConn Health and expanded access to evidence-based exposure counseling. She:

• Built strong partnerships with reproductive health, genetics, occupational medicine, maternal mental health, and neurology services.
• Uses her background as a genetic counselor to educate colleagues across New England and beyond about MotherToBaby’s services.
• Teaches an online graduate course in embryology and teratology and helps train future genetic counselors, MFM fellows, and OB/GYN residents.
• Supports patients navigating mental health concerns by connecting them to trusted local and national resources.
• Leads culturally responsive outreach to Native American communities and helped develop tailored educational materials for tribal families.

Sharon’s dedication to education, collaboration, and culturally informed care is making a meaningful difference for families and providers.

— From her nominator

Sonia Alvarado

Sonia Alvarado is recognized for embracing every responsibility with remarkable enthusiasm and professionalism. She:

• Supervises the MotherToBaby Chat operations, ensuring smooth workflow and high-quality services.
• Proactively developing new educational tools that enhance health education efforts and improve the quality of information provided.
• Consistently demonstrates dedication and a collaborative approach in her work, contributing positively to her team and the organization.

Sonia’s initiative, reliability, and collaborative spirit have made a meaningful impact on our team and the organization as a whole.

— From her nominator

Sura Alwan, MSc, PhD

Sura is recognized for consistently demonstrating a commitment to the highest good of our organization and those we serve. She:

• Exhibited professionalism and thoughtfulness in providing an expert OTIS webinar on SSRIs and pregnancy during a critical time.
• Recently founded a non-profit organization, the PEAR-Net Society, to provide an ongoing home for the TERIS database.
• Takes on significant tasks of logistical planning for an upcoming OTIS annual meeting in her hometown of Vancouver.
• Contributes time and valuable input on the OTIS board and multiple committees.

Sura is a brilliant researcher and engaging presenter, she also exudes a calm, friendly energy that puts her colleagues at ease and encourages collaboration. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work with and learn from Sura, and for her friendship.

— From her nominator

Vincent T. Armenti, MD, PhD

Dr. Vincent Armenti was a respected transplant surgeon and the founder of the National Transplantation Pregnancy Registry (NTPR). His work created essential guidance for transplant recipients planning their families and continues to influence clinical care today. Dr. Armenti’s scientific leadership and compassion remain an inspiration to the OTIS and MotherToBaby community.

Vincent welcomed me with kindness and treated me as an equal. I’ll always remember how gracious and encouraging he was.

— From his nominator

Gerald (Jerry) G. Briggs, BPharm, FCCP

Gerald G. Briggs was a nationally recognized clinical pharmacologist whose lifelong contributions significantly advanced the understanding of medication used during pregnancy and lactation. He co-authored Diseases, Complications and Drug Therapy in Obstetrics with Michael Nageotte and Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation: A Reference Guide to Fetal and Neonatal Risk with Sumner Yaffe and Roger Freeman, Cragi Towers, Alicia Forinash and Carrie Brusseau to support health professionals in the safe treatment of pregnant women with chronic conditions. Recognizing that medication safety in pregnancy required stronger evidence base, he became deeply involved in research organizations including OTIS, ENTIS, and the Society for Birth Defects Research & Prevention. His legacy continues to guide the field, improve clinical practices, and enhance the health of women and children. 

During his tenure at LBMMC, Jerry published over 60 articles, chapters and periodical as well as two books. He received frequent inquires about the safety of medications used in pregnancy or during lactations. He realized then that there was a huge gap in the availability of safety data for pregnancy and breastfeeding exposures.

— From a written tribute