Our Team
PreemieWorld was founded to help create a “new normal” for preemie families in the midst of the NICU chaos. Our organization is run by a dedicated team of writers, educators, and creatives who strive to make accurate, easy-to-understand information available to parents of premature children, and offer a safe and supportive environment to ask questions or just have their voices be heard. Our team also performs outreach work to improve awareness of preemie rights and enhance current research efforts in the professional community.
DEB DISCENZA – Preemie Mom | Founder | CEO | Publisher
Combining fields in technology and publishing, Deb has created PreemieWorld as the go-to space for education, support and resources for the preemie community including the acclaimed book, The Preemie Parent’s Survival Guide to the NICU. Prior to PreemieWorld Deb founded and ran the award-winning Preemie Magazine.
When not sought after for speaking engagements, media and news-related spots for the medical and general public, Deb provides public service to her community in the form of being a founding member and steering committee member of the National Premature Infant Health Coalition and a founding member and former Leadership team member of the Preemie Parent Alliance. She is also is a regular Column Editor for the Neonatal Network’s Neonatal Network Journal, and a columnist for both the quarterly newsletter for the Council of International Neonatal Nurses (COINN) and for Neonatal Intensive Care magazine.
JENNY MCCORMICK – Preemie Mom | Editor-in-Chief
Jenny is a former Children’s Librarian with a Degree in Library Science, a former Executive Assistant to various public safety and service agencies and now, Senior Editor of PreemieWorld. Jenny is a proud mother of two young boys. Her youngest son, Joshua Drake is a former 26-week micro-preemie who spent 129 days in the NICU. Having traveled the arduous preemie journey, Jenny is incredibly passionate about promoting prematurity awareness as well as encouraging other preemie moms who are on this journey.
Jenny also enjoys reading and inculcating a love of reading in children. A “rocker chick for life,” she loves attending rock concerts, plays and listening to live music of all genres. She enjoys writing and sharing her story as a way to encourage others in similar situations. Many have enjoyed her blogs on grief and widowhood on “A Warrior’s Battle” Facebook Page and reading her preemie experiences with her youngest son, Joshua in “The Year of the Dragon” blog posts.
NICOLE CONN – Preemie Mom | Founder | Consultant
Nicole Conn has been a die-hard romantic and black and white film fan from the age of ten.
Nicole has written five novels, a teleplay, eight screenplays, and has produced two soundtracks. Her latest venture, little man, is a documentary she wrote, directed and produced about her own premature son born 100 days early and only weighing one pound. The feature documentary went on to win 12 Best Documentary Awards, along with the prestigious Cedar Sinai’s Courageous Beginnings Award and Family Pride’s Family Tree Award. The film made three TOP TEN FILMS OF 2005.
Showtime picked up little man and ran an Emmy campaign on this hard-hitting story about Conn’s son’s premature birth and subsequent 5-month hospital stay in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).
BRI ZIGANTI – Graphic Designer | Web Designer
Bri Ziganti owns Felice Media, a graphic design and branding strategy firm that offers creative collateral and strategic brand development services. Bri specializes in helping businesses or organizations in niche industries improve their visual impact and presence in the market. She has worked with companies in the neonatal space since 2013.
THAVERY NGETH – Preemie Mom | Digital Creator Intern
Thavery has been in the beauty industry for over 15+ years. That path has led her to take on a new journey to transition to the digital marketing & graphic design world. Thavery is a recent graduate with a multitude of creative talents. Whether it’s behind the chair being a hair artist or in front of her laptop and mobile device; curating content to implementing social media brand strategies …. to being a full-time unicorn mama.
Thavery is a proud mom to a former 27 weeker —her daughter Solikha Maya; just shy of 2lbs, spent 98 days in the Nicu. Having endured the trials and tribulations of her Preemie journey, it has become her passion to help promote, advocate, and raise awareness for these tiny lil’ Preemie Warriors & their Families.
JEAN MARGARET KATONGOLE – Preemie Mom | Personal Assistant
Jean Margaret Katongole is originally from Kampala Uganda. She is a mother, grandmother to four preemie babies, and now a widow. She has worked with PreemieWorld since 2018.
Jean really loves the work she does to make a positive difference and is inspired by her colleagues.
Become a PreemieWorld Advocate
Want to help spread our mission? PreemieWorld is seeking volunteers for our PreemieWorld Ambassador Program.
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