We are very proud to introduce you to our highly trained and skilled professional staff who will care for you with the greatest compassion and concern for your health needs. Each is exceptional in its own right; Together they make CHOICES one of the finest medical centers anywhere.
Merle Hoffman is an internationally known leader in the struggle for women’s rights, a healthcare pioneer, founder of women’s health, political, and reproductive rights organizations, and a prize-winning writer and publisher. Her work has spanned from 1971 to today, proving to be more essential and relevant than ever in the ongoing fight for women’s human rights, including the ability to make their own reproductive choices. Merle Hoffman established Choices Women’s Medical Center, one of the country’s first abortion centers, in 1971. Read Merle’s full biography here.
Dr. Joseph Ottolenghi is a board-eligible OB/GYN physician who brings a great deal of compassion, experience, and knowledge to the patients of Choices Women’s Medical Center. Dr. Ottolenghi has experience in diagnostic and operative laparoscopy, general obstetrics, abortions up to 24.6 weeks, infertility, ultrasonography, colposcopy, operative hysteroscopy and tubal sterilization. Prior to coming to CHOICES, he worked as an independent abortion provider and OB/GYN Hospitalist in Seattle, WA.
Dr. Ottolenghi completed his OB/GYN Residency at Maimonides Medical Center, where he went on to become Education Chief his 4th year. There he received awards for excellence in Family Planning, Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, and Student Teaching. Prior to that, he earned his Medical Degree from Florida International University in Miami, FL. Dr. Ottolenghi completed his undergraduate degree in Psychology, earning an MA from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, TX.
Dr. Ottolenghi currently has community privileges at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center and is licensed to practice medicine in New York and Washington State. Dr. Ottolenghi has conducted research on student learning, contraceptive pharmacology, and health care workers. You can view his research by clicking here.
Book an appointment with Dr. Ottolenghi via ZocDoc:
As Chief Administrative Officer, Kelly is responsible for overseeing the administrative operations within CHOICES. Since joining the leadership team in 2012, Kelly has been instrumental in advancing operational excellence and reinforcing the center’s unwavering commitment to compassionate, high-quality healthcare.
Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master’s in Healthcare Administration, Kelly integrates her understanding of human behavior with a solid foundation in healthcare management. In her executive role, she oversees the center’s core administrative departments and daily operations, working in close partnership with the Medical Department and the Executive Team to ensure seamless coordination and exceptional patient care.
Evans Crevecoeur, M.D. earned his doctoral degree at the SUNY Health Science Center in Brooklyn NY. He completed his Medical Internship at Booth Memorial Hospital in Flushing, NY, and residencies in Anesthesiology, Obstetrical Anesthesia, and Pain Management at New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. Prior to attending SUNY, Dr. Crevecoeur earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at St. John’s University in Brooklyn. He has served as a Captain in the U.S. Army, Medical Corp since 1988. A dedicated physician, medical writer, researcher, and philanthropist, Dr. Crevecoeur is a member of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, New York State Society of Anesthesiologists, and the American Society of Regional Anesthesia, and the International Anesthesia Research Society. He was Board certified in 1994 and received an MBA degree from Regis University in 2004. He is currently the Director of OB/Anesthesia at Jamaica Hospital and President of Omnicare Anesthesia.
Dyonne brings more than 17 years of experience in women’s health and ambulatory care as Director of Nursing at CHOICES. She is committed to high-quality, patient-centered care and excels at leading multidisciplinary teams, strengthening clinical operations, and fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement. Dyonne holds an MSN in Nursing Leadership and Administration from Capella University and is a recipient of the DAISY Award for Extraordinary Nurses (2024).
Ms. Banks comes to CHOICES with over 30 years of experience and knowledge. She has worked as an OB/GYN physician’s assistant at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, Planned Parenthood in Nassau and New York City, HIP in Brooklyn, Brooklyn Hospital, and Interfaith Hospital in Brooklyn. She was educated at Kingsborough College and Touro College where she majored in Biology and is licensed and registered as a physician’s assistant in the State of New York.
At Choices Women’s Medical Center and under its GYN/Prenatal physician’s direction and supervision, Ms. Banks provides pre-‐operative and post-‐operative abortion follow-up, GYN services, colposcopies, contraceptives management, patient evaluation and dispenses prescriptions according to guidelines. She records and reviews patients’ medical and psychological histories, performs physical, breast, and bi-‐ manual pelvic examinations, analyzes lab data, orders testing, screens for STI, STD, and HIV, and also follows standing orders, guidelines, and criteria established by the Clinic’s Medical Director.
Ms. Banks is actively involved in the CHOICES team’s approach to patient care. She understands the needs of nursing, social service, and medical personnel and responds in kind. She is disciplined and dedicated to providing, maintaining, documenting, and monitoring the quality of patient care. She is active in staff training and education and acts as a resource person for staff regarding health-‐related topics.
Ms. Banks participates in a wide array of medical conferences focused on GYN and pregnancy termination topics. She is devoted to the continuing improvement of the level of care that she offers patients. Ms. Banks was the recipient of a Clinical Achievement Award from the Department of Physician’s Assistants.
Rebecca Glassman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over ten years of experience in abortion care including within clinic settings, as a Regional Case Manager on the National Abortion Hotline, and as the project lead of the quarterly Community Care events for Exhale Pro Voice. As Choices’ Social Work Supervisor, Rebecca oversees the social work department and provides support to patients throughout their visit. She also assists in coordinating care for our Out-of-Town patients. Rebecca has a BA in Sociology from Muhlenberg College, an MSW from the Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research, and has additional experience in working in acute psychiatry, victim services, and private practice. Rebecca is enthusiastic about equitable, patient-centered, collaborative healthcare and strives to bring these values to her work every day.
Dmitriy is an experienced Accounting Manager with a diverse background encompassing both the laboratory and hospitality sectors. His career began as a bookkeeper, and through dedication and skill enhancement, he progressed to a Full Charge Bookkeeper and ultimately to the role of Accounting Manager. Dmitriy possesses high proficiency in Microsoft Excel and QuickBooks, and his strong organizational skills have been pivotal to his career advancement. He is committed to continuous learning and skill development, particularly when it comes to mastering new software, leveraging his tech-savvy nature. Outside of work, Dmitriy values quality time spent with his wife and children.
John Pavuk is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 15 years of extensive experience in medical center finance, operations, and leadership. He began his finance career as a Senior Auditor at the public accounting firm of Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP, where he discovered his passion for healthcare accounting and financial reporting. Subsequently, he assumed the role of Assistant Corporate Controller at Northwell Health Peconic Bay Medical Center. Prior to his current role, he held various progressive executive positions at Nassau Health Care Corporation, starting as Comptroller, advancing to Director of Audit, and culminating as Director of Finance. John is an alumni of Long Island University – CW Post, holding a Bachelor of Science Degree in Finance, and he furthered his education with a post-graduate Certification in Accounting from Hofstra University.
Anna is a full-spectrum doula, student midwife, and childbirth educator from New York. She trained with Carriage House Birth in Brooklyn and supports individuals and families through major life transitions, including birth, postpartum, abortion, adoption, loss, and end-of-life care.
Anna believes these experiences deserve to be met with dignity and respect. She approaches her work with deep trust in the body and offers both evidence-based education and emotional presence. Anna is deeply committed to community and equitable care- as a doula, she prioritizes meeting people where they are, honoring their lived experiences, and providing informed support during vulnerable and transformative moments.
Jamila Smith brings more than 20 years of experience in women’s health and revenue cycle operations to CHOICES. As Senior Outpatient Coding Specialist, she is committed to ensuring that coding and billing processes run smoothly so every patient can access the care they need without barriers.
Before joining CHOICES, Jamila served as Senior Director of Revenue at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York, where she led multi-site revenue cycle operations, improved billing accuracy, and strengthened compliance across a large network of locations.
Jamila holds an AAPC Certified Professional Coder (CPC) credential, is a credentialed Epic Trainer, and is proficient in multiple EHR systems. She is passionate about collaboration, operational excellence, and supporting the providers and patients who make up the CHOICES community.
Our team of board-certified medical professionals and support staff offer safe, trusted, comprehensive care and services at the highest level. Our state-of-the-art facility is located in the heart of Jamaica Queens, NY.
Schedule an appointment with CHOICES today.
CHOICES is closed in observance of Independence Day on Saturday, July 4, 2026. We will reopen for normal business hours on Monday, July 6, 2026. Click the button below to contact us or learn more about scheduling an appointment.
