Your Care Team

The invaluable role our nurses play in helping patients become parents is now formally recognized by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) through its distinction of Shady Grove Fertility as a Nursing Center of Excellence. Whether it is guiding our patients through their treatment plans, explaining protocols, or supporting our patients through the process, our nurses are dedicated to providing our patients with the highest standard of care.

For a practice to be considered a Nursing Center of Excellence, half of their full-time nursing staff must complete the ASRM’s certificate course indicating their expertise in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) nursing. Completing the course is no small feat, as it involves covering the scope of 16 modules of REI nursing. After a full day of work, many of our nurses went home to study multiple evenings or formed weekly study groups to review the materials prior to completing their certificate testing. And for a practice our size, the largest in the nation with over 125 nurses on staff, we are the largest practice to date to have earned this distinction.

Read what some of our patients have to say about our incredible nurses:

“The staff and nurses are amazing. They always welcomed me with open arms, a friendly smile, and encouraging words. They are there with you on this journey and riding it out until the end.”

“The nurses were positive and always willing to answer a question or offer an encouraging word or smile. We couldn’t have asked for a better experience.”

“The nurses and doctors were with me every step of the way. I cried and laughed with them on many occasions, and they always made me feel so comfortable. They never gave me false hope and provided the most honest answers and information.”

We are so thankful for our remarkable nurses who constantly challenge themselves and exceed expectations in order for Shady Grove Fertility to receive this prestigious designation. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine, as well as Shady Grove Fertility, deem patient satisfaction as a top priority that nurses help play such a critical role in achieving. Our nurses’ commitment to advance their practice and provide the utmost service to our patients is just one of the many reasons why 96% of patients would recommend Shady Grove Fertility to a friend/family member to start or grow their family.

Interested in joining the Shady Grove Fertility team?
Visit ShadyGroveFertility.com/careers to see how your work could impact someone’s life in a truly meaningful way.

Shady Grove Fertility’s team of dedicated New Patient Liaisons are available to answer your questions and schedule a consultation with a physician. Call 877-971-7755 or click to schedule an appointment. 

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 are within reach. 

We are proud to announce the addition of this year’s third new physician to the Pennsylvania region: Board certified reproductive endocrinologist, Caleb Kallen, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Caleb Kallen joins the physician team at Shady Grove Fertility’s Chesterbrook, PA location.

“I am deeply impressed with the intelligence and commitment of my colleagues and staff at Shady Grove Fertility,” says Dr. Kallen.  “The practice’s approach to evidence-based and state-of-the-art care, coupled with a focus on personalized care—not to mention vast clinical experience, ongoing discovery, and a cadre of world-class providers—is what makes Shady Grove Fertility unique,” adds Dr. Kallen.

About Dr. Caleb Kallen

Caleb Kallen, M.D., Ph.D. earned his medical degree and doctorate in philosophy (Molecular and Cellular Biology) from the University of Pennsylvania. He went on to complete his residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Dr. Kallen completed his subspecialty training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut.

Dr. Kallen then served as Assistant Professor at Emory University for 7 years, followed by a position as Associate Professor at Thomas Jefferson University where he was elevated to the position of Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. During his time as a full time academician, Dr. Kallen performed NIH-funded basic biomedical research, received numerous teaching awards, and built active clinical practices.

Dr. Kallen has expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of infertility, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), ovulation induction with intrauterine inseminations (IUI), donor egg treatments, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. He applies the latest clinical data, state-of-the-art technology, and his extensive clinical experience to optimize pregnancy rates while minimizing patient stress with his supportive approach to care.

Scheduling with Dr. Caleb Kallen

Dr. Kallen will provide patients in Chesterbrook, PA with a full range of state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options for female and male infertility, as well as fertility preservation and elective egg freezing.  He is now seeing patients in the Shady Grove Fertility Chesterbrook, PA office.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kallen or any other SGF physician, call 1-877-971-7755 or click here.

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 are within reach. 

Acupuncture, the insertion of very thin, sterile needles into specific points on the body to manipulate and balance the flow of energy through the body, is part of an ages-old body of physical medicine practices called Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). According to TCM, when energy flow in the body is balanced, our body’s systems function properly and we experience optimal health. Lifestyle challenges like stress, poor sleep, inadequate diet, and too much or too little exercise create imbalance. Other complementary alternative medicines such as massage and dietary therapy can also help individuals restore balance.

While acupuncture has been used for thousands of years to treat various women’s health issues and improve fertility, it came into focus in the infertility community in 2002, when a group of German clinicians found that women who received acupuncture before and after an in vitro fertilization (IVF) embryo transfer had higher pregnancy rates than controls (1). This study brought acupuncture to the forefront of modern fertility medicine, and many researchers and clinics began to try to replicate the study and its outcomes. While the outcomes of subsequent trials have been inconclusive, many physicians who treat fertility have come to embrace acupuncture for their patients and believe that a more customized course of multiple acupuncture treatments may increase the chances of successful fertility treatment by up to 60%. For these physicians, the results they have seen in their patients’ mood, stress levels, and overall health have made this once “foreign” treatment something they now recommend to their patients as a complement to medical treatment.

Here are just a few ways acupuncture may benefit a couples’ fertility treatment:

Stress reduction: Fertility treatment can be stressful, and while stress does not cause infertility, when it’s not managed it can cause other health challenges including poor sleep, sluggish or overactive digestion, emotional distress, and relationship challenges.

Increased blood flow: Studies have shown that acupuncture can impact local blood flow. In the case of infertility, increased blood flow is beneficial.

Ease mood and menstrual symptoms: Cramps, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and other uncomfortable symptoms associated with the menstrual cycle—loosely grouped under the term dysmenorrhea—are an area where acupuncture has been shown to have a beneficial effect.

Improved sense of control: Fertility treatment can be overwhelming. One of the most powerful elements of working with a SGF Wellness Center practitioner is the focus on self-care. Beyond just performing acupuncture, our practitioners provide partnership, advice, and guidance that empower our patients to become active participants in their overall health and wellbeing. Used in conjunction with medical fertility treatment, this increased sense of control and improved overall health may have positive benefits on treatment outcomes. And because medical fertility treatment may take more than one cycle to achieve success, acupuncture can help patients stay in treatment and help alleviate the emotional and physical toll.

1. Paulus WE, Zhang M, Strehler E, El-Danasouri I, Sterzik K. Influence of acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo assisted reproduction therapy. Fertility and sterility 2002; 77(4): 721-4.

The Wellness Center at Shady Grove Fertility is focused on treating the whole you—body, mind, and spirit. Specialized acupuncture, massage, and nutrition treatment during your fertility journey is available at our Rockville, MD, K-Street Washington, D.C., and Fair Oaks, VA locations.

At Shady Grove Fertility, we focus on all aspects of care during your fertility treatment. Beyond traditional care, we know that holistic and non-traditional treatments can also bring peace of mind and comfort to our patients. Recently, U.S. News and World Report featured an article on an Asian post-birth practice, confinement. Our nutritionist, Meghan Sylvester, gave her input on the confinement practice and spoke to some of the benefits of this non-traditional care.

What the Shady Grove Fertility Wellness Center Offers

The Wellness Center at Shady Grove Fertility offers a range of holistic services to help support your mind and body during traditional fertility treatment.

• Acupuncture – The ancient art of acupuncture has been credited with the ability to reduce stress by increasing the endorphins in the body.
• Massage – Taking time for yourself can help you feel more in control during stressful situations.
• Nutrition – Women closer to their ideal body weight have a better chance of conception than those who are either overweight or underweight.

The Benefits of Holistic Care during Fertility Treatment

SGF’s board certified reproductive endocrinologist, Melissa Esposito, M.D., of our Frederick, MD and Harrisburg, PA offices says of Shady Grove Fertility’s Wellness Center services, “It is well understood that patients who deal with chronic medical issues often find the treatments exceedingly stressful and anxiety provoking. This is certainly the case for many couples who experience infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. Not only are the treatments physically taxing, but even more importantly, the emotional toll that patients experience can be very painful. We often see that over time, some patients become so stressed and overwhelmed that they stop treatment altogether, thus leading to even more sadness over not having a baby. It is exactly for these reasons that we are so proud to have our Wellness Center in place for our patients. The Wellness Center offers patients the opportunity to complement their fertility treatment with holistic treatments such as acupuncture and massage, both of which have been shown to markedly reduce stress levels thereby improving a sense of ‘well-being.’ Stress reduction is key for everyone, especially those who are suffering with medical issues over prolonged periods of time. Along with the benefits of stress reduction are the numerous physical benefits that have been attributed to these modalities, including but not limited to improvement in pelvic and uterine blood flow.”

Weight and Fertility

Dr. Esposito adds, “There is a large emerging body of evidence to show that extremes of weight can markedly decrease success rates, possibly due to alterations in various hormone levels important for successful reproduction. Shady Grove Fertility offers an 8-week weight loss program, Fit to be Fertile, that includes one on one counseling for patients with our dietitian, in addition to weekly group sessions where current or prospective patients are educated on various nutrition topics. Throughout, perhaps most importantly, participants in the program provide support for each other as each strives to lose weight and become healthier. We feel very strongly and passionately that our Wellness Center is a valuable resource to our patients and very strongly encourage all who are interested to check it out and see for themselves.”

The Shady Grove Fertility Wellness Center: Our Commitment to Your Care

Along with all of our physicians at Shady Grove Fertility, the Wellness Center practitioners are dedicated to the highest level of care for our patients. “Before treatment can begin (for any of our services—massage, acupuncture, or nutritional counseling) our practitioners take the time to review a patient’s medical history and detailed intake sheet. Only then do we meet with patients 1:1 to really work through all the contributing factors that may be affecting their health and wellness,” says Meghan Sylvester, Shady Grove Fertility nutritionist.

Sylvester adds, “We are all trained to treat the ‘whole person’—and will ask questions about physical and emotional health including medical diagnoses, diet and weight history, frequently experienced symptoms (i.e., frequent headaches, gas/bloating, anxiety/depression, poor sleep habits, irregular hair growth/loss), work/life balance, and overall stress levels. We understand that stress and anxiety often play a huge role in one’s fertility journey and, we as practitioners, must meet each patient where they are. We work with our patients to determine which holistic treatments and interventions are right for them. When a patient helps create their treatment plan, they are much more likely to adhere to and believe in the intervention(s), which can ultimately lead to great results and have a positive impact on their overall health.”

To learn more about Shady Grove Fertility’s Fit to be Fertile Program or any other of the Shady Grove Fertility Wellness Center services, please contact us.

We are pleased to announce the addition of our second new physician to the Pennsylvania region this year so far—board certified reproductive endocrinologist Ryan Martin, M.D. Dr. Martin joined the physician team at Shady Grove Fertility’s Bala Cynwyd, PA location.

Dr. Ryan Martin’s Background

Ryan Martin, M.D. earned his medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine and completed his Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale-New Haven Hospital. He pursued his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Yale University.

Dr. Martin is the recipient of multiple teaching awards and was an instructor at the Yale University School of Medicine. He is an active member of American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology (SREI), the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL), and the International Society for Fertility Preservation (ISFP).

Dr. Martin serves as a reviewer for various scientific journals and has published many peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, book chapters, and review articles on wide-ranging topics such as fertility preservation, fertility insurance mandates, and the biologic efficiency of reproduction. His interests include infertility, in vitro fertilization, pre genetic screening (PGS) and fertility preservation for oncologic or social reasons.

Dr. Ryan Martin’s Journey to Become a Doctor

“What attracted me most to the field of infertility was that I understand what it’s like to have a loss of control, which is a common feeling among those who are struggling to conceive. I can directly empathize with this in my own life,” said Dr. Martin.

Following a tragic injury at the age of 12 that left him paralyzed from the waist down, the highly competitive and determined athlete spent a good portion of his youth traveling an international circuit to compete in various tennis tournaments. He then turned his competitive nature into his pursuit to become a doctor. Dr. Martin became the first wheelchair-bound student to ever graduate from Yale Medical School.

Watch his inspiring story of perseverance and determination:

“Infertility teaches you how to handle obstacles and persevere during a challenging time—something I’ve experienced both personally and professionally. I can tell my patients, ‘I’ve been there, and I know what it’s like to deal with the uncertainty. I understand what you’re going through,’ and I found that this creates a unique bond between my patients and me,” Dr. Martin adds.

Scheduling with Dr. Ryan Martin

Dr. Martin will provide patients in Bala Cynwyd, PA with a full range of state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options for female and male infertility, as well as fertility preservation and elective egg freezing. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Martin or any other SGF physician, call 1-877-761-1967.

Dr. Martin is the second new physician to join Shady Grove Fertility’s practice in the PA region this year. Triple board certified reproductive endocrinologist, Kara D. Nguyen, M.D., M.P.H. is seeing patients in the Reading, PA and Harrisburg, PA locations.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Ryan Martin or any other SGF physician, call 1-877-971-7755 or click here.

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 35+ physicians to a friend. With 10 Shady Grove Fertility babies born each day, your dream of starting or growing your family is within reach. 

We are honored to have three of our reproductive endocrinologists named as Top Docs for Infertility by Northern Virginia Magazine and one named as Top Doc for Infertility by Virginia Living Magazine.

The annual Top Docs Northern Virginia Magazine list is compiled based on a combination of hospital committees and board nominations. Panels consist of physicians affiliated with medical centers around the region who nominate doctors based on internal evaluations, patient reviews, and overall quality of care.

Our physicians are leaders in their field providing exceptional fertility care at a practice that is at the cutting edge of reproductive technology. The three physicians selected as Northern Virginia Magazine’s Top Docs for Infertility are…

Stephen Greenhouse, M.D. – Fair Oaks (full service) and Haymarket, VA (new patient consults only)

Naveed Khan, M.D. – Leesburg (full service) and Dulles-Aldie, VA (new patient consults only)

David S. Saffan, M.D. – Annandale, VA (full service)

“We thank our patients, our peers, and Northern Virginia Magazine for their recognition and continued support of Shady Grove Fertility. As we enter our 26th year and more than 40,000 babies born, we feel so fortunate that for the past 25 years we’ve been making people’s dream of a family a reality.” – Stephen Greenhouse, M.D.

The physician selected by Virginia Living Magazine Top Docs for Infertility is…

Paulette Browne, M.D. – Fair Oaks, VA (full service)

Among our priorities is making access to care affordable and accessible to more people, which is why we opened our 19th full service office in Arlington, VA and two additional satellites in Dulles-Aldie and Haymarket, VA this past year. As the largest fertility center in the state, Shady Grove Fertility offers convenient access with now five full-service locations in Virginia (Annandale, VA; Arlington, VA; Fair Oaks, VA; Leesburg, VA; Woodbridge, VA).

In addition to our expansion in the Northern Virginia region, we recently held the grand opening for our brand new state-of-the-art laboratory and fertility center and located in Rockville, MD. This new expansive space totals nearly 51,155 square feet and is home to the largest freestanding and arguably one of the most sophisticated in vitro fertilization (IVF) labs in the United States. The new space provides even greater access to among the best-in-class fertility care in the Washington Metro region.

To get started on your road to parenthood, schedule an appointment with Dr. Greenhouse, Dr. Khan, Dr. Saffan, or Dr. Browne, or any one of our 39 physicians. Call 1-877-971-7755 or click here to complete this simple form.

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 35+ physicians to a friend. With 10 Shady Grove Fertility babies born each day, your dream of starting or growing your family is within reach.