About SGF

With 25 locations throughout Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., Shady Grove Fertility announced earlier this week that we are merging with Georgia Reproductive Specialists (GRS)—with three locations across the Greater Atlanta metro. By combining the successful clinical, scientific, and operational approaches under the brand “SGF Atlanta,” the merger offers an exceptional opportunity to provide enhanced fertility services to more patients in Atlanta and its surrounding areas.

In light of the big news, the Washington Business Journal reached out to SGF Chief Executive Officer, Mark Segal, to discuss the advantage of the merger and how this opportunity provides greater access to enhanced fertility care for residents of the Greater Atlanta metro and beyond.

About Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) and Georgia Reproductive Specialists (GRS)

Shady Grove Fertility, the largest, privately-owned fertility practice in the nation, was founded in 1991 by Michael. J. Levy, M.D., and Arthur Sagoskin, M.D. Today, the practice, under the leadership of SEO, Mark Segal, offers evidence-based fertility solutions that have resulted in more than 40,000 babies and counting. Today, with 38 physicians (plus three more joining us from GRS), and a specialized team of more than 700 Ph.D. scientists, geneticists, and staff, we are amidst our 26th year of continued growth with new opportunities and expansion on the horizon.

Founded in 2000 by Mark Perloe, M.D., Georgia Reproductive Specialists is the third largest IVF practice in the Greater Atlanta region. GRS offers a full range of reproductive medicine and fertility treatments and more than 50 years of combined experience in reproductive medicine and infertility treatment provided by board certified physicians. The goal of the practice is to provide innovative, advanced, high value fertility care in an environment that patients feel comfortable in.

GRS’s combination of high success rates and their approach to care complements well the structure of SGF.

More SGF Expansion on the Horizon

Mark Segal will remain CEO of the combined company that is based in Rockville, MD. Segal anticipated “continued expansion over the next few months” for SGF. According to Segal, there is potential for partnerships with existing practices and opening new locations where “there is an opportunity to provide great service in markets that are underserved.”

Continued growth and new opportunities are something that SGF strives for in order to help patients access care. With hopes to be the first of many expansions, the merger with GRS is SGF’s first move beyond the Mid-Atlantic region. SGF Atlanta will bring the practice to 28 locations and more on the way.

This merger brings excitement to both practices. It unites a common mission to help more individuals and couples realize their dreams of a family.

“Among the reasons we’re excited about this collaboration is because it connects practices and providers who share similar values and goals. SGF has been at the forefront of many advances and services that have helped patients access care. A practice of this size offers a unique advantage and current and new GRS patients will benefit from a range of financial packages pioneered by SGF.

Among them, SGF’s signature Shared Risk 100% Refund Program for IVF and Donor Egg that will bring a new affordable guarantee option to the patients of Greater Atlanta,” remarks Dr. Perloe.

Uniting the Two Practices

Uniting the two practices seemed like a natural fit, especially as the two already share a unique talent in the form of internationally renowned Scientific Director of IVF and Embryology Laboratories, Dr. Michael Tucker, one of the world’s top scientists in early human reproduction.

“I have known Dr. Tucker for decades, and over the last few months have come to know the other members of the clinical and management teams. We have developed a mutual admiration and respect for one another. We share much of the same business, medical, scientific, and operational values and culture. The true success of this merger will be measured by the growing numbers of individuals and couples who achieve their dreams of parenthood, which we firmly believe will happen. We are delighted by this new partnership,” adds Segal.

“I have long admired being among the remarkably dedicated physicians, embryologists, and specialty staff of both practices. Each share the same patient-centric care model, and this merger synergistically combines the unique skills of each practice and provides a tremendous advantage to patients. While patients at GRS will benefit from interacting with the same staff they’ve come to know and trust, new benefits include a full range of affordable treatment packages and electronic medical records that make for seamless communication, among others,” adds Dr. Tucker.

Shady Grove Fertility and Georgia Reproductive Specialists have the same goal of providing among the best-in-class, evidence-based, affordable infertility treatment solutions. And both believe in always putting the needs of the patient first.

To learn more about SGF’s merger with Georgia Reproductive Specialists or to schedule an appointment with one of our physicians, please contact our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete this brief online form.  

Recently, multiple prominent media outlets have been noticing and discussing Shady Grove Fertility’s size, influence, and high success rates. Following the article, “Baby Boom,” in Washingtonian’s May Issue, The Washington Post published the article, “How a tiny clinic turned into the biggest U.S. babymaker,” with Shady Grove Fertility as the central focus in both. It is easy to see why these news outlets are taking notice since 40,000 babies have been born with the help of SGF. To bring this number into perspective, The Washington Post article notes, “That’s larger than the student body of the University of Maryland. It’s about double the number of seats at Verizon Center. It’s just shy of the total population of Manassas, Va.” This large number is not only a testament to SGF’s success rates, but also to the strategic growth, relentless drive, and innovative mindset the fertility center encompasses.

What led to SGF’s 40,000 babies?

Originating in Rockville, Maryland, the three-physician practice with one location has now grown to 38* physicians with 25 locations spread across four different states. Being the largest fertility center in the country has allowed SGF to be able to “afford the bells and whistles” including, “a custom alarm system on the egg and embryo storage tanks that will call the lab director’s cell phone at any hour if the tank temperature changes,” state of the art equipment, and spacious laboratories that offer extensive space for embryologist training. How Shady Grove Fertility became the largest fertility center in the Country, though, is through unwavering dedication to patients.

Through clinical excellence, patient education, national and local advocacy, and affordable financial programs, Shady Grove Fertility has been able to help more patients build the family of their dreams than any other center in the nation.

Infertility Patient Education through Physician-Led Community Events

The team at SGF knows infertility is a difficult, uncertain place for most people, which is why physician-led seminars and webinars offer a tremendous resource for patients. The goal of these events is to help educate and support potential and current patients on a range of topics, relevant to the most common struggles or questions that can arise at any part of their journey. The Washington Post and Washingtonian both found it notable, “This year, SGF has 120 patient events on the calendar, including infertility support-group meetings and webinars about financing treatment.”

Physicians Who Advocate for Increased Benefits for Patients

Shady Grove Fertility physicians consistently act in the best interests of their patients, and when it comes to actively advocating for improved coverage and access to treatment for those facing infertility, it’s no different. One factor conducive to SGF’s ability to be at the forefront of this charge is its headquarter location being located in Maryland, “one of a few states that require insurers to cover IVF” (under the Maryland Mandate). Shady Grove Fertility physicians such as Drs. Gilbert Mottla and Stephanie Beall have testified at local and state levels for fertility preservation prior to cancer treatment to be included in the Maryland Mandate.

The benefit of having some type of insurance coverage when it comes to paying for fertility treatments is enormous, but the financial aspect is still a strenuous factor for most couples. This is the reason why co-founder, Dr. Michael Levy, created the Shared Risk Program 100% Refund Program.

Financial Options that Meet Varying Needs

The Shared Risk 100% Refund Program is a financial option, “in which patients who meet certain health standards—for instance, women must be under age 39 at the completion of their IVF cycles—can choose to pay roughly twice the amount for IVF with the promise of a refund if they don’t go home with a baby,” states the Washington Post. Sooner after he created the Shared Risk program, Dr. Levy introduced the Shared Donor Egg Program. The continuous assistance and advantage these financial programs provide is one example of how Dr. Levy and all SGF physicians continue to fight for more affordable treatment options for patients.

While every decision to grow is strategic and well thought-out, the focus was and still is to always care for one patient at a time. Our mission, or as co-founder Dr. Michael J. Levy calls it, our Golden Rule, has always been to do what’s in the best interest of the patient. “It’s all about the patient. It’s that simple,” Dr. Levy says.

Your dream of growing or expanding your family is within reach. Schedule an appointment to get started, today. Call our New Patient Center at 877-971-7755. 

At Shady Grove Fertility, we’re here to give you the caring support you deserve as you start or grow your family. As a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence, we offer patients individualized care, innovative financial options, over 30 accepted insurance plans, and pregnancy rates among the highest of all national centers. We offer patients the convenience of 19 full-service and 6 satellite locations across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. More than 1,700 physicians choose Shady Grove Fertility to refer their patients, and more than 96 percent of our patients say they would recommend Shady Grove Fertility’s 38 physicians to a friend. With 10 Shady Grove Fertility babies born each day, your dream of starting or growing your family is within reach.

*SGF is listed in Washingtonian as having 39 physicians. Dr. Simon Kipersztok of the SGF Waldorf, MD office just retired, making 38 SGF physicians.

Local station NBC4 talks to Washingtonian and Shady Grove Fertility in: “A Look Inside the Country’s Largest Fertility Clinic.” Why did Washingtonian take the time to investigate Shady Grove Fertility?

With the May issue of WashingtonianWashingtonian magazine’s feature on Shady Grove Fertility, NBC4 Washington invited the article’s author Caroline Cunningham, and one of its subjects, SGF’s co-founder Michael J. Levy, M.D. to discuss the practice’s approach to care and how we’ve become the largest fertility center in the nation.

As a three-physician practice based in Rockville, Maryland, Shady Grove Fertility did not set out to become the nation’s largest fertility center with over 40,000 babies born over 25 years. Hearing from women around the region, Washingtonian decided now was a good time to visit Shady Grove Fertility’s Rockville headquarters to see just what factors contributed to the practice’s growth.

One Patient at a Time

Cunningham describes the balance SGF strikes between the highly technical nature of fertility treatment while looking out for each patient’s emotional well-being. This focus on the whole patient is one of the reasons patients and colleagues in the medical field believe Shady Grove Fertility has experienced such success.

When asked about the practice’s origins to now, Dr. Levy told NBC4 that there was never a grand plan. While every decision to grow is strategic and well thought-out, the focus was and still is to always care for one patient at a time. Dr. Levy described empowering people with knowledge even before they come through the door so that once they do seek treatment, they understand the diagnosis and treatment options. As a general rule, he advised that women under 35 seek help after trying to conceive for 1 year and that women 35 and over try for 6 months.

Awareness Eliminates the Stigma

As to what makes the Washington region a prime location for a fertility center to flourish, Levy and Cunningham both credit the area as being a place where highly motivated and career-driven women wait longer to build their families. Dr. Levy also says that the stigma of fertility treatment is slowly peeling away, and people are discussing it more openly.

One Innovation after Another

Regarding treatment, Cunningham told NBC4 about how SGF pioneered the Shared Risk 100% Refund Program, an initiative led by Dr. Levy, citing the program as one of the practice’s many innovations. For a flat fee, eligible patients can get up to six fresh IVF cycles (plus any FET cycles from those fresh cycles). The goal is to go home with your baby or your money back. Dr. Levy described circumstances where patients were facing a bottomless pit of paying for expensive treatment without any safety net or guarantees that they would be successful. At SGF, more than 82% take home a baby and more than 15,000 patients have participated in this program.

Read the full Washingtonian article, “Shady Grove Fertility Started as a Tiny Maryland Clinic. Now It’s the Country’s Biggest Babymaker,” as seen on their website. Call our New Patient Center at 877-971-7755 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Levy or one of our other physicians.

At Shady Grove Fertility, we’re here to give you the caring support you deserve as you start or grow your family. As a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence, we offer patients individualized care, innovative financial options, over 30 accepted insurance plans, and pregnancy rates among the highest of all national centers. We offer patients the convenience of 19 full-service and 6 satellite locations across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. More than 1,700 physicians choose Shady Grove Fertility to refer their patients, and more than 96 percent of our patients say they would recommend Shady Grove Fertility’s 39 physicians to a friend. With 10 Shady Grove Fertility babies born each day, your dream of starting or growing your family is within reach.

It was February 2017 when we received the call. The award-winning Washingtonian magazine was on the line. Associate editor, Caroline Cunningham, was interested in learning about the humble beginnings of Shady Grove Fertility and the fervent determination yet consummate humility behind its 25 years of steady growth. She wanted to learn about SGF from every perspective. She wanted to talk to our business leaders, physician scientists, our staff, as well as referring physicians who send their potentially infertile patients to seek our care every year. In the words of Cunningham, “how it came to be and how it grew to the largest in the country.” Who had the vision and who are the players involved that led the SGF baby boom from 1 office and 3 physicians 25 years ago, to now 25 offices across 4 states, 39 physicians, and over 40,000 babies born? We were honored to say the least. We love the opportunity to talk about our visionary leaders who never dreamed of the success we’ve achieved today. Read the full article, Shady Grove Fertility Started as a Tiny Maryland Clinic. Now It’s the Country’s Biggest Babymaker, as seen in as seen in Washingtonian magazine online.

The SGF “Golden Rule”

The seemingly simple answer behind our growth would be that it was our plan all along, to be the largest. But that’s not the case. Our mission, or as co-founder Dr. Michael J. Levy calls it, our Golden Rule, has always been to do what’s in the best interest of the patient. “It’s all about the patient. It’s that simple,” Levy says. What this means takes different shape for each unique patient who walks through our doors every day, but at the heart of it is providing the best service, creating better access to care by making treatment more affordable, and by doing everything possible to help the one in eight couples who will need help in order to conceive.

Cunningham spent hours over several days with many of the key SGF players who were here from the beginning to learn how the Golden Rule has manifested in many different ways through the years. She spent time with co-founders Michael J. Levy, M.D. and Arthur W. Sagoskin, M.D.; CEO, Mark Segal; Laboratory Director, James Graham; Medical Director, Eric A. Widra, M.D.; VP of Strategic Development, Patty Stull; and Interior Designer, April Hatton. But Cunningham didn’t stop there. She wanted to hear how others, outside of SGF, revered the practice so she reached out to local OB/GYNs, RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association President, Barbara Collura, and former SGF patients.

Conscious Growth

Cunningham learned again and again from all of her SGF interviews, that there wasn’t a “master plan” for our expansion, but as stated by Cunningham, “nothing about SGF is lacking in careful consideration – a sense you pick up on the minute you step through the door.” Visually and physically, the offices, especially the new offices, are entirely designed with the patient in mind. This visual representation reflects the attention to detail in every other aspect that impacts the patient’s journey. But, as shared by Dr. Levy, none of the detail matters unless patients can afford treatment.

Access to Care

The cost of financial treatment is and has always been a barrier for couples needing the help of a fertility specialist to have a baby. In 1992, Dr. Levy sat listening to a patient sitting before him with an impossible decision – pay for IVF or adoption. Both had high risk, high reward, and both were costly. It was then that SGF’s flagship Shared Risk 100% Refund Program, which guarantees a baby or a full refund, was borne, inspired by the tearful testimony of a patient who felt as though she lacked options.

At the time, Shared Risk was a controversial idea—was it ethical to pair patient success with a financial program? The ethics review committee at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) said yes.

Success

Even with access to care, Cunningham learned that the possibility a patient will take home a baby is quite possibly the most important aspect of fertility treatment. Will it work? According to Barry Rothman, an OB/GYN with Inova Alexandria Hospital, who has attended SGF physician-led educational events for OB/GYNs and other providers, he refers patients because of our numbers (success rates).

According to the most recent 2014 SART data, SGF live birth rates for women under 35 was 48.8%, 18.4% higher than a local competitor. Success rates for women ages 35-37 and 38-40, were also significantly higher.

This success comes from years of refining protocols and techniques, an incredibly high level of attention to detail, and volume. Challenging rare cases at smaller fertility centers are performed regularly at SGF due to our pure volume and therefore, with experience comes, refinement. According to OB/GYN Dr. Nancy Sanders of Women OB/GYN Physicians, in D.C. “In such a highly technological field, there’s something to be said for seeing a lot of patients, when do you volume, you get good at what you to.”

Compassionate Care

Renee Trotter and her husband, Scott, live in Springfield, VA. After five miscarriages, Renee didn’t believe she could carry a child, yet, upon her husband’s suggestion, they scheduled with Dr. Stephen Greenhouse of SGF’s Fair Oaks and Haymarket, VA offices, as a final hope to have a baby.

Renee’s experience with Dr. Greenhouse
“First of all, he talked to me when I had my clothes on, which sounds like something insignificant, but when you go through the process for a long time, you can almost start to feel like you’re just this object. We were talking across his desk, and he looks me in the eye and I started to cry. He got up, and he walked around from his desk and grabbed a tissue and handed it to me. It just struck me that I felt like a person.”

They are now the proud parents of a 6-year-old-girl.

Educational Services

No one ever really expects to need fertility treatment to have a baby, so it is our mission to make sure we share the correct information when the couple, or individual, needs it. Our dedicated Practice Development Managers and Practice Liaisons host physician-led educational events for both referring physicians, as well as prospective patients.

This year alone, SGF will host close to 120 free events designed to educate patients, and nearly 250 events designed for the medical community, mainly OB/GYNs. We have an amazing network of OB/GYNs and other providers who attend our events to stay up-to-date on infertility treatment and to know when precisely to refer for specialized fertility care.

Infertility Advocacy

At Shady Grove Fertility, doing what’s best for the patient doesn’t just mean for the patient we have today, it’s also about our future patients and the future couples who will learn they need assistance to have a baby. This is why raising awareness about infertility is a responsibility we do not take lightly. It is our belief that advocacy is about raising awareness and giving a voice to the many who suffer in silence, and the responsibility falls on everyone who can, and is able and willing, to make a difference. For us, this means sharing patient stories with the public, educating referring physicians, advocating our cause to lawmakers, and even providing patient testimony in front of Congress when needed (by reaching out to our family of 60,000+ current and past patients with whom we stay in touch regularly).

According to president of RESOLVE, “I know state legislators value the opinion of physicians and want to hear from them. It helps my patients. It helps our community,” says Collura. Advocacy is a joint and continued effort, and we are proud to have been involved in the victories and changes in legislation as well as the continued fights for improved access.

The Full Picture. Behind the SGF Baby Boom

Even after dozens of interviews and hours of research, Cunningham walked away with a brief glimpse into what makes Shady Grove Fertility unique. Despite the many hours she spent with us, she didn’t get to see the daily interaction between physician and patients—the hugs, the smiles, the tears. She also didn’t get to see the friendships that have formed among the team members, for many a friendship that has spanned decades, as working alongside colleagues on such an important mission can often create an impenetrable bond.

It takes a compassionate group of people who are dedicated to make fertility treatment understandable, accessible, and affordable. And through continued innovation, focus on improving success rates, and never settling for “good” or “good enough,” we have continued to grow.

It’s important to mention, doing what is best for the patient is not limited to just SGF patients, and it’s not limited to patients in MD, PA, VA, and D.C., (where our offices are located). It means doing what is in the best interest for all couples who face infertility around the world, and being ready for them if they come to SGF.

Your dream of growing or expanding your family is within reach. Schedule an appointment to get started, today. Call our New Patient Center at 877-971-7755. 

At Shady Grove Fertility, we’re here to give you the caring support you deserve as you start or grow your family. As a leading fertility and IVF center of excellence, we offer patients individualized care, innovative financial options, over 30 accepted insurance plans, and pregnancy rates among the highest of all national centers. We offer patients the convenience of 19 full-service and 6 satellite locations across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. More than 1,700 physicians choose Shady Grove Fertility to refer their patients, and more than 96 percent of our patients say they would recommend Shady Grove Fertility’s 39 physicians to a friend. With 10 Shady Grove Fertility babies born each day, your dream of starting or growing your family is within reach.