At Shady Grove Fertility, we have dedicated our practice to enriching our patients’ lives. To realize this goal, we hire a team that cares and who embodies the values of our practice; exhibiting excellence, integrity, compassion, and commitment. We recently filmed a video with our staff, asking them about their experience being a part of the Shady Grove Fertility family. Kathleen Bugge, BSN, Supervisor, Clinical Education, told us her story:
One of the most disappointing aspects of dealing with infertility is the realization that there is so much out of your control. You can eat healthy, exercise, and do all the ‘right things,’ but it does not mean that it will all work out exactly the way you had planned. I know this disappointment first-hand because I – like so many of our patients – struggled with infertility.
After several years of trying to conceive a second child, my husband and I met with a reproductive endocrinologist not far from our home. The doctor was nice, listened to our story, and after some testing, told us we had male factor infertility. We tried a few IUI cycles, and then spoke about moving on to IVF. The fertility center seemed vague about their statistics though, so I had some reservations and continued to do research on other centers.
While I was searching for information about reproductive medicine, I saw a nursing position advertised at Shady Grove Fertility in Rockville, MD. I thought that in pursuing a clinical nursing position there, I’d get a good education about this disease that was affecting my life. Sure enough, SGF provided me with a wealth of information, and they were transparent about their statistics in a way that my previous treatment center was not. I began treatment at SGF and finally after multiple fertility centers and seven long years of trying, I welcomed my beautiful daughter Molly into the world.
My story of employee-to-patient isn’t unique: several of my colleagues have shared with me that they, too, are current or former patients. I think that going through this experience explains our deep understanding and commitment to each individual patient. We have a level of care and understanding that says I know what you are experiencing, because I have been where you are.
Over the past 20 years, I’ve had the opportunity to help thousands of couples. It has become clear to me that not only did the team I worked with have an emphasis on sharing information and knowledge with patients, but that they also cared deeply about the patients in a way that I have never seen in the medical field. Even when I was a patient, I found it astonishing and also very comforting that my medical team treated my most prized wishes and dreams with the same level of importance that I did.
Recently, Shruti Malik, M.D. joined our medical team. When we first met, we spoke about our initial thoughts of infertility care. She was able to sum up my experiences from the past two decades into one simple thought: “This was the first time as a doctor that I truly felt like a team with my patients. I found that with every patient, we wanted the same things and we were working towards the same goal: a baby.” Our staff and our patients are working together so that our patients can ultimately achieve their dreams.
Over the years, I have had the opportunity to grow and support couples with infertility in ways I could have never imagined. Each year, a group of SGF team members participate in RESOLVE’s Advocacy Day. We carpool down to Capitol Hill to work one-on-one with other infertility advocates, patients, and lawmakers to support the need for continued funding through state-mandated insurance coverage and tax breaks for patients going through infertility. We know that these changes can take years before an impact is felt for all couples struggling with infertility, not just our patients, but in the end, the time and effort is well worth it because we know we will be able to help more people realize their dreams of having a family.
In my time at Shady Grove Fertility, I have been a nurse, a patient, an educator, and an advocate. Many of my fellow employees have also had the benefit of embodying so many roles, while having the opportunity to help so many of our patients. We recently released a video to show our patients how they inspire us and shape our lives, and we would love to share this narrative with you.
A Team That Cares: Careers That Transform Lives
If you would like to learn more about your fertility options or are ready to schedule your appointment, call 1-877-971-7755 or click here.
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