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Our Team

Irwin Goldstein, MD - Director

Dr. Irwin Goldstein has been involved with sexual dysfunction research since the late 1970's. His interests include penile microvascular bypass surgery, surgery for dyspareunia, physiologic investigation of sexual function in men and women, and diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction in men and women. He has authored more than 325 publications in the field of sexual dysfunction, with 20 consecutive years of funding by the National Institutes of Health in this area. He is Editor-in Chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine, the official journal of the International Society for Sexual Medicine, its regional affiliate societies, and the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health. Dr. Goldstein has relocated to San Diego where he is Director of Sexual Medicine at Alvarado Hospital, Clinical Professor of Surgery at University of California at San Diego and Director of San Diego Sexual Medicine where he maintains his clinical practice.

Dr. Goldstein holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from Brown University, with an honors thesis in biomedical engineering.  In 1975, he graduated from McGill University Faculty of Medicine in his hometown of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  He was on the faculty of Boston University School of Medicine for 25 years where he was Professor of Urology and Gynecology and founding Director of the former Institute for Sexual Medicine at BUSM. Dr. Goldstein is currently President of The Institute for Sexual Medicine, Inc., a charitable corporation for education and research in the field. He is Secretary of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health, a former President of the Sexual Medicine Society of North America, a board member of the International Society for Sexual Medicine and a member of the International Academy of Sex Research, the American Urological Association, the American Association of Sex Educators, Counselors and Therapists, and the International Society for the Study of Vulvovaginal Disease.  Dr. Goldstein is a 2009 winner of the Gold Medal awarded by the World Association for Sexual Health in recognition of his lifetime contributions to the field. To see Dr. Goldstein's acceptance speech click here.

Rose Hartzell, PhD, EdS - Sex Therapist

Dr. Hartzell performs psychotherapy and is a sexuality researcher at San Diego Sexual Medicine, where she is responsible for addressing the sexuality, relationship, and intimacy concerns of individuals and couples who attend the clinic. Dr. Hartzell earned her doctorate in health behavior with an emphasis in human sexuality, and an EdS and Masters in mental health counseling with a minor in development from Indiana University. Dr. Hartzell is a registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern (IMF 60870 - supervisor, Eve Boyer MFT22772) who has worked in a variety of settings, providing psychotherapy for individuals, couples, and families.

Dr. Hartzell has written multiple publications and has presented at over 25 international and national meetings on sexuality matters. She has conducted sex research with the Kinsey Institute for Research in Sex, Gender, and Reproduction and the Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention (RCAP). Dr. Hartzell is an AASECT Certified Sexuality Educator and has taught numerous classes at Indiana University-Bloomington and the University of Arkansas-Fayetteville.

Dr. Hartzell is a member of the International Society for the Study of Women’s Sexual Health (ISSWSH), the International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM), the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality (SSSS), the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT), and the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT). She also serves as a reviewer for The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Catherine Gagnon, CNP - Nurse Practitioner

Catherine Gagnon joins SDSM after having experience as a Nurse Practitioner in a private practice in San Diego as well as Planned Parenthood. Prior to that she was an ICU nurse.

Ms. Gagnon holds a bachelor of science in nursing from Lake Superior State University and a masters of science in nursing from the University of San Diego. She is a board certified family nurse practitioner.

Sue W. Goldstein - Program Coordinator

Mrs. Goldstein serves as program coordinator for San Diego Sexual Medicine, where she is responsible for clinical trials and coordinates with the Sexual Medicine program at Alvarado Hospital and the University of California at San Diego. Mrs. Goldstein combines her knowledge of sexual medicine, her writing skills and her years of fund-raising for non-profit organizations in this position to create educational programs for health care clinicians, industry and the public while raising funds to support The Institute for Sexual Medicine, Inc, a charitable corporation dedicated to research and education in the field.

Mrs. Goldstein earned her bachelor's degree in American Civilization from Brown University. She has experience as a lab technician in endocrinology, teacher, musician and technical writer in the field of sexual dysfunction. Recently Mrs. Goldstein co-authored her first book When Sex Isn't Good, a collection of stories of women with sexual dysfunction, their pursuit of sexual healthcare, and an extensive science section with Dr. Goldstein as medical consultant.

Mrs. Goldstein is a member of the board of directors of the International Society for the Study of Women's Sexual Health and a member of the International Society of Sexual Medicine and the Sexual Medicine Society of North America. She also serves as editorial assistant for The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Robert J. O'Meara, MHA - CFO/Business Manager

Mr. O’Meara comes to San Diego Sexual Medicine with experience as Controller/CFO of a hospital, CFO and director of business development of a clinical trials facility and CFO/Practice Manager of a large medical group, as well as senior director of financial affairs for a non-profit agency. His combined skills will provide business support needed by both the clinical practice and clinical research.

Mr. O’Meara is a graduate of Tarkio College where he majored in business administration and psychology. His master of health administration degree was earned at the University of Southern California. Interested in alternative medicine, he earned a certificate of completion in Eastern Indian Medicine from the Ayurvedic Institute.

Sally A. Morgan - Clinical Research Manager

Sally is responsible for the day to day operations of the clinical research performed at San Diego Sexual Medicine. She is also responsible for all regulatory matters in research. Prior to coming to SDSM she was the administrator for the Alvarado Hospital Institutional Review Board which provided oversight for human subjects research on campus. Her earlier experience includes working in research at UCSD and Children's Hospital, San Diego, as well as working in sales.

Ms. Morgan earned her bachelor's degree from Kean University of New Jersey, and is a memberof the Association of Clinical Research Professionals.