Compassion-driven care for intimate pain
Our mission is to harness science and patient insights to address urogenital pain, restoring dignity and enhancing well-being.
We believe no one should suffer in silence.
Purpose, vision, and the values behind our work
Our Mission
To improve the quality of life for individuals living with chronic intimate pain by breaking gender barriers, removing shame, and uncovering the true origins of pain and how to treat it. We believe in integration over isolation.
Our Vision
A world where no one suffers in silence or feels dismissed—where discomfort is openly discussed, accurately understood, and compassionately treated, and where science, care, and community restore confidence and dignity.
Our Values
Patients first, always. We bridge research and lived experience, raise the standard of care, and advocate loudly to end the stigma around sensitive health.
Four commitments we hold to
Patients First
We listen deeply, believe fully, and prioritize comfort and care in everything we do.
Closing the Gap
We bridge the disconnect between clinical research and real patient experiences to bring timely, effective solutions.
Raising the Standard
We push for a new era of care—rooted in empathy, evidence, and respect for those experiencing intimate pain.
Education & Advocacy
We educate physicians, empower patients, and challenge stigma around sensitive health issues, especially for women and underserved communities.
Dr. Denniz Zolnoun, MD
Dr. Zolnoun founded ZenNovid with a profound vision: to alleviate pelvic pain and confront the societal stigma tied to sexual wellness. Her work is shaped by scientific rigor, the challenges she witnessed in patient care, and an unwavering determination to do better for those too often dismissed.
Building on that legacy, the ZenNovid Foundation emerged as a beacon of hope—pairing cutting-edge science with deep patient collaboration to restore dignity and quality of life.
In 2011, Dr. Zolnoun received the Women’s Health Research Medtronic Prize, recognizing her research on sex differences and her influential role as a mentor.
Their pain is real—and relief is possible
Guided by science and shaped by real patient voices, we work to uncover compassionate solutions that honor the whole person. Through research, advocacy, and innovation, we are restoring comfort, reclaiming confidence, and reminding every individual that they are not alone.
From the clinic to a movement
A foundation born from science, shaped by patients, and driven by the belief that intimate pain deserves to be understood—not dismissed.
Dr. Denniz Zolnoun, MD
Dr. Zolnoun founded ZenNovid with a profound vision: to alleviate pelvic pain and combat the societal stigmas tied to sexual wellness. This endeavor was deeply influenced by her scientific acumen, the challenges she faced in patient care, and an unwavering determination.
Her early translational research centered on the science of the skin barrier and urogenital comfort: understanding how protection, moisture, and friction shape intimate health. That clinical insight now anchors the foundation’s research, education, and patient advocacy.
In 2011, Dr. Zolnoun’s dedication to women’s health was recognized with the Women’s Health Research Medtronic Prize, celebrating her research on sex differences and her influential role as a mentor.
A beacon of hope in the nonprofit sector
Building on this legacy, the ZenNovid Foundation emerged with a commitment to self-care and holistic well-being. The foundation employs cutting-edge science to offer tangible solutions to urogenital pain. Rooted in compassion and driven by robust patient collaboration, its mission is to restore dignity and enhance quality of life. Every donation directly propels the foundation’s research and educational endeavors—championing a future where pain is a relic of the past.
Mission, vision & values
Mission
To improve the quality of life for individuals experiencing chronic intimate pain—breaking gender barriers, removing shame, and building a path toward understanding the true origin of pain and how to treat it. We believe in integration over isolation and the power of compassion-driven research.
Vision
A world where no one suffers in silence or feels dismissed. Where discomfort “down there” is not taboo, but openly discussed, accurately understood, and compassionately treated—where science, care, and community restore comfort, confidence, and dignity.
Values
Patients first. We listen deeply, believe fully, and prioritize comfort and care in everything we do.
Patients First
We listen deeply, believe fully, and prioritize comfort and care in everything we do.
Closing the Gap
We bridge the disconnect between clinical research and real patient experiences to bring timely, effective solutions.
Raising the Standard
We push for a new era of care—rooted in empathy, evidence, and respect for those experiencing intimate pain.
Education & Advocacy
We educate physicians, empower patients, and challenge stigma around sensitive health issues, especially for women and underserved communities.
Board of Directors & Leadership
The people guiding the foundation’s mission: clinicians, advocates, and operators committed to restoring dignity in urogenital health.
Denniz Zolnoun, MD
Founder & Executive Director
Board-certified OB/GYN, researcher, and recipient of the Women’s Health Research Medtronic Prize. Dr. Zolnoun leads the foundation’s scientific and clinical vision.
Tiffany Brackens
Chief Operating Officer
Tiffany leads the foundation’s day-to-day operations, systems, and team coordination, turning the mission into execution across clinical, research, and outreach programs. She brings deep experience in operations and project management for healthcare and wellness organizations.
Nataly Faddoulnader
Programs & Development Intern
A sophomore in the biopharmaceutical program at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy in Raleigh, North Carolina, Nataly plans to pursue a career in medicine. A Red Cross volunteer and Teen Board Member at Note in the Pocket, she supports the foundation’s programs and development work and its mission to break the stigma surrounding chronic intimate pain.
Thomas (Tom) Coleman
Board Member
Life sciences executive with a background in organic chemistry, pharmaceutical R&D, and market access, including more than 17 years at Eli Lilly and Company leading formulary access and launch performance. He founded HealthStar Solutions, LLC in 2019.
Kristin Giuliani
Board Member
Experienced chief executive in the health, wellness, and consumer products industry, with deep expertise in business development, market planning, sales, and retail.
John Berkey
Board Member
Managing Partner of J. Berkey and Company in Bradenton, Florida, with more than two decades of experience serving the financial needs of individuals and small businesses. He also serves on the board of Easterseals.
Advisors and collaborators supporting the foundation in research, education, and community outreach will be featured here.
The Team Behind the Mission
From research dissemination and medical illustration to creative direction, this team turns the foundation’s mission into daily work.
Mohammadamin Parsaei, MD
Director of Education & Curriculum Development
Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Family Health Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. Amin coordinates the scientific dissemination of the foundation’s research: data analysis, abstracts for scientific meetings, manuscript development, and the publication process that advances women’s health.
Alireza Arvin, MD
Medical Illustrator & Scientific Visualization Specialist
Physician and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Tehran University of Medical Sciences, CEO of Banyan Innovation Center, and founder of ScienceFigs. Alireza transforms complex anatomical concepts into clear, accurate illustrations for manuscripts, education, and patient materials, making the invisible understandable.
Chander Shekhar Gilhotra
Creative Director, Brand & Design
Founder of AVA Design Media with more than a decade of experience building brands, campaigns, and digital experiences. Chander leads the foundation’s visual identity and creative direction, shaping the design systems that carry its educational mission.
Science in service of dignity
Rigorous, patient-centered research into the origins and treatment of urogenital and pelvic pain, led by clinicians who listen first.
What we study
Pain mechanisms & sex differences
Understanding how chronic intimate pain develops, why it is so often overlooked, and how sex differences shape both the experience of pain and the path to relief.
Vulvar & urogenital pain
Advancing the clinical understanding of vulvodynia and related urogenital pain conditions, from anatomy and physiology to practical, compassionate treatment.
Patient-centered outcomes
Bridging the gap between clinical research and lived patient experience so that findings translate into real relief, not just publications.
Selected work & recognition
Our founder’s peer-reviewed research on vulvar pain, pain mechanisms, and sex differences spans two decades of clinical scholarship.
Women’s Health Research Medtronic Prize (2011)
Awarded to Dr. Zolnoun in recognition of her research on sex differences in pain and her role as a mentor to emerging scientists.
Peer-reviewed publications
Dr. Zolnoun’s published work on vulvodynia, pelvic pain, and pain anatomy is indexed on PubMed. Browse her publications.
Manuscripts in progress
Active manuscripts and population studies are underway in collaboration with academic partners. Details will be shared here as they are published.
Collaborate with us
We welcome academic collaborators in sociology, epidemiology, public health, and women’s health. Start a conversation.
Opportunities to work with us
The foundation hosts practicum students and research assistants beginning Fall 2026. Positions may include a stipend.
Scientific writing
Analyze manuscripts, support literature reviews, and help move active research toward publication. Suited to graduate students in the health sciences.
Public health education
Create evidence-based health education content for social media and community outreach. Suited to health behavior and health education students.
Epidemiology & data
Support population studies and data analysis with our clinical and academic partners. Suited to epidemiology and biostatistics students.
From the bedside to the workbench
Turning unmet clinical needs into practical, patient-centered solutions through disciplined engineering and real-world clinical insight.
What we are building
Patient Consulting
Primary Initiative
Specialized consultations for chronic pelvic and urogenital pain with Dr. Denniz Zolnoun, delivered by telehealth and in person. Every engineering effort begins here: listening to patients and identifying the needs that standard care leaves unmet.
Patient Centered Pelvic Care
Patent Pending
A patient-informed engineering initiative enabling a higher standard of care through supportive tools for pelvic care and comfort. Details will be shared as development and protection of the work progress.
Rethinking hygiene and dignity in bedridden care
How patient-centered engineering can transform daily hygiene, skin health, and wound monitoring for bedridden patients and their caregivers.
Meet our Engineering Innovation Advisor
Ahmad Ekhlassi
Engineering Innovation Advisor
Ahmad Ekhlassi is a mechanical engineer and engineering executive with more than four decades of experience designing complex systems, specialized tooling, and mission-critical hardware for the aerospace industry. Supporting NASA programs at Kennedy Space Center, he led multidisciplinary teams of more than 100 engineers responsible for the design, certification, testing, and deployment of ground support equipment for the Space Shuttle, Orion spacecraft, and Space Launch System.
Today he applies that same disciplined approach to improving the lives of patients. Collaborating closely with our physicians, and working from his own fully equipped machine shop and fabrication studio, Ahmad designs, machines, and manufactures functional prototypes ranging from specialized medical instruments and measurement devices to patient positioning systems, rehabilitation aids, and hygiene products.
Every innovation follows an iterative design process grounded in real-world clinical experience. Physician observations, patient feedback, and analysis of prototype testing shape each design cycle, allowing ideas conceived at the bedside to become thoughtfully engineered solutions that improve patient comfort, safety, and quality of life.
Partner with us to bring relief closer to patients
Our Launch Partner Program is a meaningful collaboration between healthcare providers and the Foundation—expanding awareness, improving access, and generating sustainable funding for the communities we serve.
A no-risk way for practices to help patients and the mission
Through this partnership, we provide your practice with educational materials, patient handouts, informational flyers, and select mission-supporting products that align with our goals and values.
To ensure partners benefit too, products are initially supplied without upfront purchase requirements. Once products have sold, we invoice your office only for the agreed wholesale cost—so your practice retains the retail margin while contributing to a charitable mission.
Educational patient handouts and informational materials
Promotional flyers and awareness resources
Access to mission-supporting products for patient purchase
The opportunity to generate additional revenue through retail sales
Recognition as a community partner supporting our nonprofit mission
Direct support of research and education with every product sold
Four simple steps
Apply
Tell us about your practice and patient community using the short form below.
Connect
We’ll reach out to align on goals, products, and what your patients need most.
Receive
Products are supplied to your office up front—no purchase required to start.
Grow
Sell to patients, keep the retail margin, and we invoice only the wholesale cost of items sold.
Become a Launch Partner
Tell us a little about your practice and we’ll be in touch. Questions? Email partnerships@zennovidfoundation.org.
Care that starts with believing you
If you live with chronic intimate or pelvic pain, you deserve care that listens deeply, takes your pain seriously, and treats you with dignity.
What we help with
Chronic vulvar & pelvic pain
Specialized consultation for vulvodynia and related pain conditions, grounded in decades of clinical research and patient care.
Urogenital discomfort
Evaluation of persistent urogenital pain and discomfort, including symptoms that have been dismissed or unexplained elsewhere.
A second opinion
If you have been told it is all in your head, we start from a different place: your pain is real, and it has an origin worth finding.
How a visit works
Reach out
Request an appointment through the patient portal or by email. Online scheduling is coming soon.
Choose your setting
Visits are available by telehealth or in person at our Tampa, Florida office.
Your first visit
A thorough, unhurried consultation focused on your history, your symptoms, and your goals. You will be heard.
Ongoing care
A personalized plan with follow-up visits, education, and support through the patient portal.
Patient Portal Request an appointment
This website is for general information and is not a substitute for medical advice. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911.
Help us turn silence into support
There are many ways to advance the mission—every one of them brings comfort, dignity, and relief closer for someone who needs it.
Donate
Your gift directly funds research and patient education. Give securely through our Voices for Vaginal Wellness fund.
Share your story
Real patient voices shape everything we do. If you’re comfortable sharing your experience, it helps others feel less alone.
Volunteer
Designers, marketers, medical professionals, writers, and organizers: every skill has a place in this mission.
Partner with us
Are you a healthcare provider? Offer mission-supporting products in your practice and advance our work.
Request an Appointment
Consultations with Dr. Denniz Zolnoun are available by telehealth or in person in Tampa, Florida. Tell us how to reach you and we will follow up to schedule.
Get in touch
We’d love to hear from you.
The ZenNovid Foundation
PO Box 369, Carrboro, NC 27510-0369
partnerships@zennovidfoundation.org
www.zennovidfoundation.org
Join our newsletter
Occasional updates on research, education, and ways to help. No spam—ever.
Lend your talent to the mission
Every skill has a place here. Volunteers power our research, education, and outreach, and help us reach people who have been suffering in silence.
Ways to contribute
Graphic & Web Design
Visuals, social graphics, and web improvements that carry our educational message with clarity and warmth.
Marketing & Social Media
Campaigns, content, community management, and outreach that grow our reach and end the silence around intimate pain.
Medical & Research
Clinicians, researchers, and students who can support education, literature review, and patient resources.
Writing & Education
Blog articles, patient handouts, newsletters, and curriculum support that make good science understandable.
Events & Community Outreach
Organizing drives, community events, and awareness efforts that bring the mission to more people.
Administrative & Operations
Scheduling, coordination, and the behind-the-scenes work that keeps every program moving.
Volunteer sign-up
Tell us a little about yourself and how you would like to help. We will reach out to find the right fit.
Notes from the foundation
Education, research updates, and honest conversation about urogenital health from Dr. Zolnoun and the foundation team.
You Are Not Imagining It: Why the ZenNovid Foundation Exists
You Are Not Imagining It | ZenNovid Foundation On the blog You Are Not Imagining It:Why the ZenNovid Foundation Exists Believing. Understanding. Advancing Care. ♡ By…