Taraneh Salke's near misses with deadly attacks in Afghanistan haven't deterred the public health professional from working to combat the nation's very high maternal mortality rates.

Nor has she been discouraged by the obstacles she faces working with women's issues in a strongly male-dominated society.

As the founder and executive director of Family Health Alliance, Salke has focused on women's reproductive health and development in resource- poor environments such as Afghanistan, Iran and Sierra Leone.

Taraneh, who will speak about her work Wednesday at the Arcadia Women's Club, even initiated what she believes is the first program in Afghanistan to train male health care providers on women's reproductive health and family planning issues…

Added by JF 11/2/10