Meet your UCLA study team

Andrea Rapkin, MD [Principal Investigator]

Dr. Rapkin received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University in 1975. She went on to study medicine at the University of New York in Buffalo where she received her M.D. in 1979.

Dr. Rapkin completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at UCLA School of Medicine in 1983. She is also Board Certified and is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. After obtaining her M.D., she joined the faculty at UCLA where she is a Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Rapkin directs the UCLA Pelvic Pain Clinic. She has published extensively in the areas of premenstrual syndrome, chronic pelvic pain and women’s reproductive health, with numerous research articles and contributions to textbooks in the area of menstrual-cycle-related mood disorders and pelvic pain.

Dr. Rapkin was one of the first Obstetrician-Gynecologists to adapt the multidisciplinary pain management approach to the evaluation and treatment of women with pelvic and vulvar pain. Founded by Dr. Rapkin, the UCLA Chronic Pelvic Pain and Vulvodynia Program includes professionals in psychology, anesthesiology, and physical therapy and provides patient care, resident medical student education, and a fruitful environment for clinical research.

Haley Cutting, MS, PA [Physician Assistant]

Haley received a bachelor’s degree in 2013 and a master’s degree in 2017, both from USC. She has been a practicing Physician Assistant (PA) in Los Angeles for the past 2 years and is excited to begin work in a position that merges two of her interests – women’s health and research. Haley looks forward to meeting each study participant. Her goal is to make everyone feel comfortable, safe, and informed throughout the study process. Together, we will contribute to a greater knowledge of VBD for the benefit all current and future patients.

Eva Gonzalez, BA [Study Coordinator]

Eva Gonzalez is a first generation Latina who graduated from UCLA in 2014 with a degree in anthropology. She focused on biological anthropology while in college, but changed career courses after her pleasurable experience working as a research coordinator in the emergency department at UCLA’s Olive View Medical Center. She is now a post-baccalaureate student at UCLA working toward pursing medical school. She loves science and wishes to combine her love of social justice with medicine in the future. Now working for UCLA’s OBGYN department, she wishes to provide support and comfort to the participants involved in research studies that are aimed to promote the wellbeing of women. She spends her free time teaching tricks and playing with her parrot, Mr. Wobbles.

Jasmyn Akaninwor, BA [Study Coordinator]

Jasmyn Akaninwor is a Los Angeles native, who completed her undergraduate degree in 2011 at UCLA. She majored in History as well gaining exposure to the sciences as a pre-med while an undergraduate. Since graduating she has worked in various fields and has spent the past 3 years working in research. She has worked at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center as a Research Assistant for one of the top heart transplant programs in the country. She has recently joined UCLA Department of OBGYN and Urology as a Clinical Research Coordinator with the hope of bringing her knowledge and experience to such a valuable and necessary study for women with vulvodynia. She wants our patients to feel safe and supported throughout the study. In her spare time she loves reading, cooking, and watching a lot of football.

Contact Us

The University of California, Los Angeles

Women’s Health Clinical Research Unit
UCLA Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
10833 Le Conte, CHS Room 22-265
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1740

* General enquiries

obgynresearch@mednet.ucla.edu

* Study Coordinator

Jasmyn Akaninwor, BA

JAkaninwor@mednet.ucla.edu

Phone: (310) 267 – 4331

Phone: (310) 794 – 7687 x47687

* Physician Assistant

Haley Cutting, MS, PA

HCutting@mednet.ucla.edu

* Principal Investigator

Andrea Rapkin, MD

ARapkin@mednet.ucla.edu