About Us
A Coalition Built on Urgency
The PMDD Policy Council was founded on a simple conviction: that Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder is too serious, too prevalent, and too consequential to remain on the margins of national health policy.
Our Mission
Catalyzing a National Response
The PMDD Policy Council is a bipartisan coalition committed to catalyzing and informing a national response to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) through policy that expands research, strengthens education, increases awareness, and improves lives. We work at the intersection of lived experience, clinical expertise, and legislative action to ensure that PMDD receives the recognition, resources, and response it demands.
Our Vision
A Future Where PMDD Is Taken Seriously
We envision a United States in which PMDD is universally recognized as the serious, biologically-based condition it is — where those affected receive timely, accurate diagnoses; where clinicians are trained to identify and treat it; where federal research funding reflects its prevalence and severity; and where no one suffers in silence because the system failed to prepare for them.
What We Stand For
Our Values
Bipartisanship
PMDD does not discriminate by political affiliation. Neither do we. We build coalitions across the aisle because effective policy demands it.
Evidence
Our policy positions are grounded in peer-reviewed science and the lived experience of those affected. We do not advocate for what is popular — we advocate for what is true.
Urgency
Millions of people are suffering now. We operate with the urgency that reality demands, moving quickly without sacrificing rigor.
Perspective
We center the voices of those with lived experience alongside clinicians, scientists, and policymakers. Every perspective strengthens our work.
Who We Are
One Coalition. One Mission.
Our coalition brings together a wide range of stakeholders united by a single purpose. From people navigating PMDD in their daily lives to researchers publishing in leading journals, from parents and partners to members of Congress — we are one coalition with one mission.
People with Lived Experience
Individuals who live with PMDD and whose voices are central to everything we do.
Parents & Partners
Family members who understand the full impact of PMDD on households and relationships.
Clinicians
Physicians, psychiatrists, OB-GYNs, and mental health professionals committed to better care.
Research Scientists
Scientists advancing our understanding of PMDD's biological mechanisms and treatment pathways.
Public Leaders
Elected officials and policy professionals working to translate advocacy into legislation.
Advocates
Organizers, communicators, and community leaders amplifying the call for change.
Leadership
Our Team
Emily Blout
Founder, President
Dr. Emily Blout, PhD, is a writer, scholar, and former professor with a background in media and public policy. She is author of a peer reviewed book and numerous op-eds and journal articles, and has taught at leading universities, including the University of Virginia and Georgetown University. She is the founder and curator of PMDDInfo, an educational resource offering practical guidance and accessible summaries of the latest research on Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD). A PMDD sufferer for 26 years, Dr. Blout recently began medical menopause to suppress ovarian function and eliminate the hormonal fluctuations that trigger PMDD. The treatment stopped her symptoms and gave her the clarity and time to focus on a new mission: helping others affected by the condition. Building on her experience as a congressional staffer, legislative director for a nonprofit, founder of a policy advocacy organization, and longtime participant in Washington D.C. policy circles, Dr. Blout founded the PMDD Policy Council, where she serves as president. The PMDD Policy Council is a bipartisan coalition working to advance federal policy on PMDD research, education, awareness, and healthcare. By bringing together people with lived experience, clinicians, researchers, and other stakeholders, the Council is well positioned to become the go-to hub for PMDD policy and advocacy in the United States. Learn more about Emily’s journey on PMDDInfo.org and in Newsweek magazine.
Marybeth Bohn
Co-Founder, Vice President
Marybeth Bohn is a PMDD advocate, speaker, and Co-founder and Vice President of the Christina Bohn Foundation, established in memory of her daughter, Christina, who died by suicide related to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) in 2021. She is also Co-founder and Chief Advisor of the PMDD Policy Council, a bipartisan coalition working to advance federal policy related to PMDD research, education, awareness, and healthcare. Marybeth has spoken about PMDD for the National Institutes of Health and at the Women’s Mental Health Conference at Yale, as well as to healthcare and behavioral health professionals, educators, suicide prevention leaders, and community organizations. In 2023, Marybeth worked with the Missouri General Assembly to establish October 2—Christina’s birthday—as Missouri PMDD Awareness Day, the first state-recognized PMDD Awareness Day in the nation. On the inaugural Awareness Day, she addressed Missouri’s Maternal Mortality Review Board and, with her husband, Steve, organized and funded a statewide awareness event at the Missouri State Capitol, where they joined government leaders and advocates in speaking about PMDD. Marybeth served on the International Association of Premenstrual Disorders (IAPMD) Board of Directors from 2023–2025. Learn more about Marybeth’s work at ChristinaBohnFoundation.org
JoLynn Meirovitz
Co-Founder, Vice President
JoLynn Meirovitz, LMSW, is a social worker and PMDD advocate whose passion for reproductive mental health is informed by both professional training and lived experience. She earned her Master of Social Work from the University of Houston Graduate College of Social Work, with a clinical concentration, and completed her advanced practicum in Maternal Behavioral Health at Houston Methodist The Woodlands. Her experience includes maternal mental health, behavioral health, crisis assessment, and work with women and families across healthcare settings. After living with severe Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) for decades, JoLynn underwent surgical menopause, an experience that profoundly changed her life and deepened her commitment to improving the lives of others affected by PMDD.
Join the Coalition
Whether you are a clinician, researcher, advocate, or someone living with PMDD — there is a place for you in this work.
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