Speakers

Thomas Glessner received his Bachelor of Arts in 1974 at the University of Washington in Seattle, majoring in Political Science and his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Washington School of Law in 1977. He is the founder and CEO of the National Institute of Family and Life Advocates (NIFLA), with headquarters in Virginia. NIFLA serves 1400 pregnancy resource centers in all 50 states, of which over 1,700 operate on (or are in the process of converting to) a medical model.

Anne serves as Vice President of Legal Affairs for NIFLA and has been part of the NIFLA team since 1993. She is a graduate of Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, California, where elected to the Coif Order of the Coif. Anne joined the Board of the Right to Life League of Southern California and later became its Executive Director. She was instrumental in helping the League’s centers convert to medical clinics and has since helped many centers across the nation in the medical clinic conversion process. Now residing on the East Coast, Anne is a California and New Jersey Bar Association member.cerra, 138 S.Ct. 2361 (2018).

Dr. Byron C. Calhoun, MD, FACOG, FACS, FASAM, MBA is a 1979 Distinguished Graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and graduated from the University of Iowa Medical School with an MD in 1983. Dr. Calhoun completed his residency in OB/GYN at the University of Missouri-Columbia in 1987 and finished a Fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine at the Oregon Health Sciences University in 1989. Dr. Calhoun is a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology with board certification in general Obstetrics and Gynecology and in the sub-specialty of Maternal-Fetal Medicine. He also is also board certified in Addictions Medicine.

He has authored 80 peer review articles in the obstetric and gynecologic literature, presented over 100 scientific papers, participated in over 40 research projects, and has published numerous articles on medical aspects of obstetrics and gynecology.

Dr. Calhoun serves as Professor and Vice-Chair in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the West Virginia University-Charleston and is directly involved in resident and medical student education. He is licensed in several states and continues to actively practice maternal-fetal medicine, perform diagnostic obstetrical ultrasound, participate in prenatal diagnosis counseling, and provide education to residents and medical students.

Dotsy Davis is an instructor for NIFLA and has over 30 years of obstetrical ultrasound experience in OB/GYN offices, pregnancy medical clinics, and as a college program director. She started a college-based medical sonography program and facilitated the program’s accreditation through the JRCDMS. Ms. Davis has a heart to serve for His purposes and His glory.

Lynne Marie Kohm serves as the John Brown McCarty Professor of Family Law at Regent University School of Law. She earned her law degree from Syracuse College of Law and is a graduate of Albany University. She was honored with the Chancellor’s Award for Faculty Excellence as the Regent University Professor of the year in 2005 for her work in defending marriage, life, training lawyers in family restoration, and discipling female law students.

Kohm has published prolifically on legal areas of concern to families, including marriage, women, children, families, trusts, and support obligations at death. She teaches Family Law, Wills, Trusts & Estates, Elder Law, Bioethics, and Gender and the Law. She teaches law students and lawyers many of the legal concepts and techniques that assist individuals and families in planning for incapacity and estate distribution. Her most popular book is Estate Planning Success for Women, which has been nominated for several awards because of its unique perspective on women and their influence over the transfer of wealth in the next generation.

Prior to teaching, Kohm practiced law in New York concentrating in the areas of estate planning, probate administration, real estate and family law. She is licensed to practice law in Virginia, New York, Florida, Massachusetts and the District of Columbia. She is also a Certified Guardian ad Litem. Her professional affiliations include and have included the Virginia State Bar Family Law Section Board of Governors, Virginia Bar Association Domestic Relations Council, Christian Legal Society, American Bar Association, Eagle Forum, Alliance Defense Fund, Concerned Women for America, and Bethany Christian Services. Lynne Marie Kohm has a missionary heart, having served with the full-time staff of Campus Crusade for Christ for six years prior to and during law school.

Karen D. Poehailos, MD is a family physician in Charlottesville, VA and serves as Assistant Medical Director for NIFLA as well as a member of the board of directors.

Her involvement in pro-life work dates to 1997, when she became a physician volunteer for the Charlottesville Pregnancy Center and moved on to serve as its volunteer medical director. From 2018-2021, she was the Regional Medical Director for ThriVe Central VA Women’s HealthCare and supervised medical services including pregnancy tests, performing and reading limited OB ultrasounds, and STI/STD testing and treatment at its four locations in Central Virginia. Dr. Poehailos has been a member of the Abortion Pill Reversal hotline since 2015 and has been honored to help many women continue their pregnancies through this work. She serves on the Medical Advisory Team for the Abortion Pill Rescue Network.

Dr. Poehailos is a graduate of the University of Virginia School of Medicine and its Family Medicine Residency. She has worked in primary care and urgent care settings, with additional Restorative Reproductive Medicine training. She is a Certified Fertility Care Medical Consultant and a FEMM Medical Provider working with women on recurrent miscarriage, infertility, and irregular cycles without IVF or hormonal contraception.

Local secular media and national Catholic media outlets have interviewed Dr. Poehailos on abortion pill reversal and other pro-life issues and Natural Family Planning. She has greatly enjoyed becoming part of the team for NIFLA’s monthly webinars.

Parker was lead counsel for Norma McCorvey, formerly “Roe” of Roe v. Wade, from 2000 to 2012, and Sandra Cano, the “Doe” of Doe v. Bolton, until 2014 in their efforts to overturn the two landmark cases that brought legalized abortion on demand to America.

A ministry of The Justice Foundation, Operation Outcry, seeks to end the pain of abortion by mobilizing women hurt by abortion to become witnesses who share their true stories of the devastating effects of abortion through courts and legislatures. Operation Outcry holds the largest collection of legally admissible, written testimonies from women hurt by abortion.

Parker is a former Professor of Law at St. Mary’s University in San Antonio, Texas. He was a Visiting Professor at the University of Texas, and studied International Human Rights at the International Human Rights Institute in Strasbourg, France. He taught International Human Rights at the St. Mary’s Institute on World Legal Problems in Innsbruck, Austria, in 1992.

Parker received his JD degree with high honors from the University of Texas School of Law in 1979. He was an Associate Editor of the Texas Law Review, a Chancellor, Order of the Coif, and Order of Barristers for his outstanding advocacy skills. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Oklahoma with a BA in Economics in 1974.

Mischa Long currently serves as the Director of Nursing at LifeChoices Health Network in Joplin, Missouri. She oversees the Ultrasound and STI medical services provided at their clinic of Choices Medical Services of Joplin, as well as the services provided on the mobile van of Choices Mobile Medical Unit.

Mischa Long began her career with LifeChoices in 2004 as a volunteer, then became a staff member in 2005. With the help of the medical volunteers and staff, she has implemented medical services for thousands of clients since 2005 and was involved in the addition of two satellite clinics and a mobile van clinic.

She completed Limited Obstetrical Ultrasound Training with NIFLA in 2005 and has performed thousands of ultrasounds since that time. She attends annual STI trainings – at either the State or National level – to ensure all medical information and services are up-to-date. Since 2007, Mischa has provided all medical training for the staff and volunteers of LifeChoices and oversees the annual OSHA training.

Since 2007, Mischa has co-presented with Karolyn Schrage, RN, BSN at the STI Training Seminars that are held bi-annually at LifeChoices. These two-day trainings educate the medical and administrative staff of pregnancy medical clinics around the United States to implement STI testing at their own facilities. Mischa has also had the honor of co-presenting at national affiliate conferences annually since 2014.

With the FDA’s ruling of the continued allowance of abortion pill distribution through telehealth options and under-the-radar online sales of these pills skyrocketing, abortions have become even easier for individuals to obtain. In addition, national rates of gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis continue to increase exponentially, as national STI service priorities took a backseat to COVID-19 contact tracing and vaccine distribution. Mischa looks forward to assisting others in expanding their medical services to better serve patients, as we continue our battle in pregnancy and sexual health choices!

Aden is a highly experienced litigator, having appeared in court against Planned Parenthood and the abortion industry dozens of times and was appointed by the attorneys general of six states to defend pro-life laws. Aden secured court victories that upheld an Arizona law that resulted in six abortion businesses ceasing to offer abortion, applied Missouri’s abortion laws to chemical abortion and upheld the right of Louisiana regulators to shut down dangerous abortion facilities.

A prolific author and analyst on sanctity of life issues and constitutional jurisprudence, Aden is admitted to the bars of the District of Columbia, Virginia, and Hawaii (inactive) and is a member of the bars of the U.S. Supreme Court and numerous federal circuit and district courts.

He has practiced law since 1990 and earned his J.D. (cum laude) from Georgetown University Law Center and his B.A. from the University of Hawaii.

Joseph Kohm serves as Director of Public Policy at Family Policy Alliance (FPA), where he leads FPA's policy strategy, provides policy and legislative expertise, and drafts and advocates for pro-family legislation at the state and federal levels. He has worked extensively on FPA’s Help Not Harm, After Roe, Let Parents Parent, and Save Girls Sports campaigns, collaborating with legislators and state and national allies to enact policies that protect women’s safety and opportunities, vulnerable children and families, parental rights, and born and unborn children. He also regularly hosts FPA's podcast, the SoConReport Podcast, to inform and generate action amongst thousands of listeners and viewers.

Joseph is a U.S. Army veteran of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry), where he served as an officer in First Brigade Combat Team. His previous legal experiences are in commander-directed Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) investigations within the armed forces as well as anti-trafficking in persons (human trafficking) legal efforts, both in foreign and domestic jurisdictions and states.

Joseph earned his J.D. from Regent University School of Law and holds a B.A. in English Literature from Virginia Military Institute, Class of 2014. He is licensed to practice law in Washington, D.C. and New York. He resides in Virginia Beach, VA, where he attends and serves Wave Church’s Great Neck Campus.

Tom Brejcha is a renowned legal expert with over five decades of experience in federal and state courts. As the Founder, President, and Chief Counsel of Thomas More Society, he has spent the last twenty-six years championing the sanctity of life, religious liberty, family values, and election integrity. Hailing from Chicago’s South Side, Tom graduated with honors from Notre Dame and earned a Root-Tilden Scholarship to New York University Law School, where he was Note & Comment Editor of the Law Review. As an Army Captain in Vietnam, he received a Bronze Star and an Army Commendation Medal.

 In 1986, Tom volunteered to defend pro-life leader Joe Scheidler in the landmark NOW v. Scheidler case. After overcoming numerous challenges and three U.S. Supreme Court appearances, Tom prevailed, leading to the formation of the Thomas More Society in 1997. The organization has since evolved into a leading public interest law firm with active cases and skilled attorneys nationwide. Tom has testified before U.S. Congressional Committees, appeared in national and local media, and received numerous awards for his work. As a respected speaker, he shares his expertise at prestigious conferences.

Kevin Theriot serves as senior counsel with Alliance Defending Freedom, where he is a key member of the Center for Life Team working to defend pro-life speech and protect medical rights of conscience.

Since joining Alliance Defending Freedom in 2003, Theriot has been successful as lead counsel or co-counsel in numerous cases, protecting the unborn and preserving the freedoms of speech and religion. In NIFLA v. Becerra, he was part of the Supreme Court team that protected California pregnancy centers from being forced to refer for abortion. In Women’s Health Link v. City of Ft. Wayne, Ind., Theriot defended the freedom of a pro-life pregnancy center to access an advertising forum in city buses. He was also one of several ADF attorneys who assisted Mississippi’s legal team with defending Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization at the Supreme Court. This victory reversed Roe v. Wade.

In Kelvin Cochran v. City of Atlanta, he defended Chief Cochran’s free speech rights from government censorship, receiving a settlement of $1.2 million dollars. Theriot also co-authored the 2017 law review article, Free to Do No Harm: Conscience Protections for Healthcare Professionals.

Theriot earned his J.D. in 1991 from Vanderbilt University Law School. He is admitted to the bar in the states of Tennessee, Texas, Florida, Virginia, Georgia, Missouri, Kansas, and Arizona. He is also a member of the U.S. Supreme Court and numerous federal district and appellate courts.

Tricia Lewis is a national and international grief care educator and co-founder of the Reproductive Loss Network. Tricia had the privilege of spending many years as an executive director for a pregnancy clinic in Northern California. She now provides biblical grief education to individuals and groups, especially in pregnancy help organizations. Tricia holds a Ph.D. in Counseling and Psychology, with concentrations in trauma, crisis, and grief.

Tricia takes great pleasure in cultivating enduring relationships with individuals, regardless of location. She finds joy in educating, empowering, and inspiring others to contribute to their communities through practical and compassionate care.

Tanya is a certified counselor with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC) and is the Director of Client Services + Education at a medical pregnancy clinic outside Sacramento, CA. She leads a team of Reproductive Grief Care Advocates who provide care and support for men and women experiencing loss due to miscarriage, stillbirth, hysterectomy, infertility, and abortion.

Tanya also serves as a lead biblical counselor at her local church. From her extensive years in training and advocacy, she is passionate about sharing her expertise through co-founding the Reproductive Loss Network. She is devoted to increasing awareness and care for reproductive grief throughout churches and community organizations.

• Medical Director, Choices Women's Center, Fredericksburg
• Medical Director, Board of Directors, Pregnancy Service Center, Farmville
• Ultrasound reader Fredericksburg, Farmville, and Pregnancy Help Center of Chesterfield
• 35 years of OBG practice: US Air Force, private practice, Intermountain Healthcare (Utah), and Kaiser Permanente (Maryland, Virginia)

Ms. White supports the pregnancy help movement by providing research and advice on trends and various issues impacting Heartbeat International and its affiliates. Her work involves general business, organizational, and nonprofit issues, as well as interfacing with other life-affirming organizations and attorneys.

She is admitted to practice law in the State of Ohio and is a member of the United States Supreme Court bar, where she filed amicus briefs in high-profile First Amendment and abortion-related cases, including NIFLA v. Becerra and Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health.

Danielle earned her Juris Doctor degree from Ave Maria School of Law, where she ranked in the top 10 percent of her class and served as a senior editor of the Ave Maria Law Review. She has worked in federal and state courts at the trial and appellate levels. She is a member of the Christian Legal Society and an Allied Attorney with ADF.

A former Congressman with a track record of advancing pro-life initiatives, Mr. Renzi was an original co-sponsor of life-affirming legislation known as the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban Act of 2003 – the first direct national restriction on any method of abortion since Roe v. Wade.

He also authored a bill that significantly increased benefits for our military personnel, including more than tripling the death benefit for military personnel killed in the line of duty. As the patriotic son of a 2-star general, Mr. Renzi was honored to be a part of this legislation and was nationally recognized by President Bush. While working on the House Intelligence Committee, Mr. Renzi also sponsored an amendment disallowing NSA’s surveillance of American citizens who do not present “a national security threat and imminent danger,” narrowing the previous language that allowed sweeping use of government surveillance activities in violation of citizens’ rights.

Prior to winning his seat in Congress Mr. Renzi worked on Capitol Hill and received his Juris Doctorate from Catholic University’s Columbus School of Law with a specialty in Law and Public Policy.