Your Care Team

May 9, 2013 by Shady Grove Fertility

This week we celebrate National Nurses Week. Shady Grove Fertility has a team of over 125 nurses devoted to patient care – ranging from your primary nurse, nurses in our surgical centers, and resource nurses who help improve nursing processes throughout our practice. Infertility nurses come from a variety of training backgrounds, but the vast majority have previous experience in Women’s Health Care. Each nurse plays an indispensable role in making treatment go smoothly and improving the patient experience.

Patients often develop a deep connection to their primary fertility nurse. These nurses are often on the phone with patients giving status updates and helping explain the next steps in a patient’s treatment plan developed by you and your physician.

Connect with Other Patients & Share Your Experience with Your Nurse On Facebook

What Patients of Shady Grove Fertility Can Expect from their Primary Fertility Nurse

Following the New Patient appointment, where patients often meet with their primary nurse in person, your nurse will contact you to answer any additional questions. Your nurse will aid you in scheduling initial testing appointments and to ensure that these test results return promptly. Unique to this medical specialty, fertility testing and treatment involves specific timing around the menstrual cycle that for some may be unpredictable requiring efficient and effective attention. To be an infertility nurse requires exquisite organization to detail and timing to care for these special patients.

Your nurse will also call following each appointment to keep active communication with their patients. Our nurses truly do their best to make sure this expectation is met. While many times patients will speak with their nurses directly when they call, at other times nurses will need to verify information with the physician; in those cases, the call backs will be a bit later. They work very hard to make sure they can attend to everyone as soon as possible. A primary nurse’s day is broken up into answering phone calls, meeting with new patients and follow-up patients, timing out patient’s upcoming protocol dates, ordering medication, and teaching injection classes, to name just a few activities. Given that, if you are having difficulty reaching your nurse and need assistance, please refer to the following schedules to reach a contact:

Answering Service for Emergency Questions – 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. is answered daily by one nurse with a physician on-call for questions. Patients should call (800) 239-5613.
Weekend and Holiday Service — 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. is answered by a nurse for non-emergency calls at (301) 340-1188. Patients may be prompted to leave a message and the call will be returned within 30 minutes.
Weekend Front Desk Line to Make/Change/Cancel Appointments – 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Patients should call (301) 340-1188. There may be a prompt to leave a message and calls will be returned as soon as possible.

What the Shady Grove Fertility Nurses are Saying

“Being a fertility nurse is a wonderful calling. Fertility nurses get to use their scientific minds, as well as compassionate hearts and caring skills, to help patients on one of the most difficult and emotional journeys of their lives. Nurses give, but also receive. We give our knowledge, understanding, and advice to our patients. But we receive our patient’s joys, tears and fears, failures and successes. It is simultaneously an overwhelming, encompassing, and the most gratifying relationship to share with a patient.”
– Kathy Bugge, RN

“After 35 years as a Nurse and several years as an infertility patient before “resolving” to remain childless, my work as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner at Shady Grove Fertility has proven rewarding from a variety of perspectives. Most of our patients don’t realize how many staff members at Shady Grove Fertility have struggled with infertility and may or may not have ended up as parents. During my first few years on the Donor Team, I worked as a Primary Nurse coordinating the stimulation cycles of donors with recipients of donor egg. More than once, I heard, “but you don’t understand” when discussing infertility, negative pregnancy tests, feelings regarding “everyone else who is pregnant”, etc. Most infertility patients feel that there are not many other women who have had the same experiences they have had, when in fact there are many, including many of the staff members, who are cheering them along.”
– Margaret Ann Connors, CRNP

This week, Shady Grove Fertility honors our dedicated team of nurses – thank you for all the hard work over the past 22 years!

If you are having trouble conceiving, it may be time to speak with a fertility specialist, please call Shady Grove Fertility to schedule a consultation at 1-877-971-7755 or click here.

January 17, 2013 by Shady Grove Fertility

Welcome to the Shady Grove Fertility Staff Blog. Our dedicated staffers are sharing short articles about ways they are here to help you, share their experiences, and what they have learned while being at Shady Grove Fertility. This week Michelle, a Practice Liaison, shares how she plays a special type of matchmaker.
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Name: Michelle
Team Member Since: February 2012
Title: Practice Liaison
Not Your Average Matchmaker

A good friend of mine set me up with my now fiancé and her only request was that I “pay it forward.” While I haven’t done it yet for anyone in the dating game, it dawns on me that I do it all of the time in my daily work life. It’s my job.

As a Practice Liaison at Shady Grove Fertility, I have all sorts of jobs – budgets, forecasts, spreadsheets, PowerPoints and more. But when I really sit down and ask myself what I do, the answer becomes clear – I am fundamentally a matchmaker. Myself and the other liaisons try to make connections between our doctors offices and the referring community – the ob/gyns, urologists, midwifes, nurses and many more. We don’t just bring around donuts and promo giveaways; we forge through the muck of paperwork and automation to get to the pulse of each office. We want your docs to meet our docs, so they know who it is YOU see for your fertility care.

Yes, we feel rejection and heartache just like the dating game, because our jobs are about getting in the door to meet the point people that make the referrals. We know patients like you are out there looking for the answers just like a hopeless romantic is trying to find ‘the one.’ And we know you’ve found ‘the one’ when you give us a call.

Yes, we are on the road from office to office a lot, trying to keep the hundreds of referring physicians on track with the latest and greatest information about Shady Grove Fertility, but it feels more like the Amazing Race! We don’t want to take away time from you seeing your ob/gyn or family practitioner for an annual check-up, so we take up only the time we need to provide you with the best access to care.

We feel a true sense of pride when we walk out of a potential referring physician’s office with contact information so he/she can receive our e-newsletters and direct mailings. Or when we connect with a nurse manager who has had two happy patients recently return after a successful fertility journey. Or better yet, the doctor calls ME to ask me on MY advice on how to help a patient get the help she needs.

We aren’t your average representatives. We help facilitate relationships among the referring physician community. That’s a special role. While that may sound like a walk in the park, it’s not as easy as it sounds. Think about how long a steady relationship in your life took to be where it is now. It didn’t happen overnight. And we all know relationships need to be mended. They all take time and nurturing, just like you to do with your family, friends and/or spouse. Some love us, and some think we are just another drug rep. But that’s okay because what matters is you getting the care that you need.

Your doctors do have a vested interest in your well-being. They care. They ask how you are doing. They interact with our physicians. And everyone feels like they have done their part to get you one step closer to fulfilling your dreams.

So when you graduate after a positive 8-week pregnancy with a little bean on the ultrasound picture, even though we haven’t met, know you have a small army of matchmakers out there who care about you just as much as those you have touched throughout your fertility journey.
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If you are been trying to conceive without success and would like more information or to schedule an appointment with one of the Shady Grove Fertility physicians, please speak with one of our New Patient Liaisons at 877-971-7755.

January 10, 2013 by Shady Grove Fertility

Introducing the debut of the Shady Grove Fertility Staff Blog – short articles submitted by our dedicated staffers. Each week we’ll highlight a team member and ways they are here to help you, share their experiences, and what they have learned while being at Shady Grove Fertility. To kick us off, Nikia, a New Patient Liaison, shares her experience.
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Name: Nikia
Team Member Since: June 2011
Title: New Patient Liaison

You are not alone.

It seems like everywhere you look there is another cute little baby or pregnant belly or pregnancy announcement. Everyone is getting pregnant it seems, but you. You’ve taken your temperature, pee’d on sticks, only to be disappointed month after month after month by the arrival of that mean witch Aunt Flo. You’re sad, you’re scared, frustrated and tired. All you want is your body to do what it was meant to do, make a baby. There is no one to talk to about it because your friends don’t get it. They went on vacation and got pregnant. They just looked at each other and got pregnant. They JUST RELAXED and got pregnant.

I am Nikia, one of eight New Patient Liaisons at Shady Grove Fertility, and I’m here to let you know that you are not alone. My job is to help answer your questions and schedule your first appointment. When I get calls, I can hear it in your voice. You’re afraid, nervous, not sure what to expect and you definitely do not want to make this phone call. All you want is to have a baby and it was never supposed to be this hard. We know this, we understand your pain and more than that, we understand your goal. We have answers, we have some of the best doctors right here, ready to see you and make your dream come true. This is where my confidence comes from, this is how I can say with certainty, you’ve come to the right place. This is how I can confidently say “Just Breathe” it’s going to be okay. Do not be afraid.

When you pick up that phone to call us, if you’re afraid, it’s OK. If you’re sad, it’s OK. I have cried with callers before and I end the call still in tears because I know you’re in good hands but YOU don’t know that yet. It’s one of the most emotional jobs I’ve ever had. I try to give hope when I can, honest hope. The kind of hope that is backed up by amazing doctors, nurses, and staff behind the scenes that you may not be aware of. And the biggest thing I want to get across is that this is the place to come for answers, for a shoulder, for support, even for a laugh. Don’t be ashamed or embarrassed, you’ve come to the right place at the right time and you will not walk alone any longer.
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Meet Michelle: “Not Your Average Matchmaker“

November 21, 2012 by Shady Grove Fertility

Serendipity

Fifteen years ago, Megan and Dan traveled to Lucca, Italy for work. While they had only been dating for a few months, they knew they were going to be together forever. It was there that they began talking about their dream of a child. A child that would be named after the beautiful city where they truly fell in love, Lucca.

In the summer of 2006, the couple began trying to have a baby. Having a child turned out to be not as easy as they thought it would be. They tried everything from ovulation kits, fertility watches, homeopathic doctors and fertility specialists from around the country.

The Cause of Infertility

The cause of Megan’s infertility stemmed from when she was a freshman in high school. She had a surgery to remove an ovarian cyst that was the size of a grapefruit. In doing so, they had to take a portion of her right ovary. At the time the doctors were so thrilled to tell her that it was not cancerous but what they didn’t realize at the time was that the shock of the surgery put her body into a premenopausal state.

They tried several cycles of intrauterine insemination (IUI) treatment, however, after years of trying to conceive, they were finally told that IVF alone would not work for them and the only way that we could have a family was through IVF with donor egg.

A Chance Encounter

Megan explains, “At first, I honestly didn’t know how I felt about donor egg. I found it so difficult to talk about so I found myself researching…and researching. Until one day it was as if a switch flipped as I read an online blog. I ran in to tell my husband, ‘…an egg is just an egg without my blood, without my oxygen, without your sperm to fertilize it. That we were making that egg into an embryo. We were giving life to that baby.’”

As luck would have it, shortly after that, Megan’s father spoke with a friend that had been told he would never have a child. It wasn’t until another doctor told him about a place that might be able to help him. A place called Shady Grove Fertility. After watching their friend glow as he spoke about his beautiful daughter, a daughter he was told he would never have had it not been for the help of Shady Grove Fertility, Megan began researching the center.

That research brought them to a news story about Shady Grove Fertility Center’s donor egg program. The fertility center was offering a free donor egg seminar near her home in Philadelphia, PA. Megan attended and was awestruck by the science behind treatment and encouraged by the success rates and financial programs. At the end of the day, Megan and Dan made the decision to seek treatment with Dr. Eric Levens at Shady Grove Fertility.

Megan explains, “We were very happy with our current fertility specialist. But the moment that the elevator doors opened at Shady Grove, I turned to my husband and said, “THIS is where babies are made…”

Preparing for Donor Egg Treatment

Megan and Dan prepared for treatment by reviewing available donors and planning financially. Insurance did not cover any of their expenses and so they submitted grant applications to every fertility foundation that they could find. Dr. Levens wrote letters to support their case to every single one.

“It had been a long road for us, as it is for most couples that face infertility… but we were finally at the place where we were ready to pick our egg donor and looking forward to getting started,” says Megan.

That’s was in October 2012, just days before Hurricane Sandy approached the East Coast.

Accidental Fate

“They say it is always darkest before the dawn… That week we were reminded of just that.” said Megan. On Monday, Hurricane Sandy hit. On Wednesday, as the horrible devastation to the East Coast was unveiled, Megan realized that her childhood home was destroyed. “The home was a place that held some of my most cherished memories,” said Megan. “A place where I felt a sense of peace and comfort, was suddenly gone.”
Yet that very same day we had such a ray of hope within a very sad time. Megan’s donor was matched to her.

The next day, her parents were admitted to their neighborhood to take pictures for insurance purposes. “It was an incredibly hard day on my parents,” said Megan. “My mom was incredibly strong. After realizing that day that her house was considered a total loss, she just said… ‘We will hold onto the memories and make even more when we rebuild. We are okay and that is all that matters.’”

Megan went on, “As my mom was talking, I noticed our landline ringing, of course I didn’t pick up, and then my cell began to ring, and when I looked at the caller ID, I realized that I recognized the number. It was the name that I had addressed a grant application to for Pay It Forward! I remember thinking after so many emails saying that we didn’t get all of the previous grants, why would this grant call? I quickly answered and it was Lori Moscato from Pay it Forward Fertility. She called to tell us that we were just awarded an $8000 grant to use toward fertility treatment!! You can’t imagine hearing such news at such a sad time! We couldn’t stop crying!!”

And Megan is already paying it forward. She recently spoke at another Shady Grove Fertility Center donor egg seminar in Philadelphia. She was able to share with the attendees that she was once in their seats, wondering how they were going to mentally prepare for treatment, how were they going to pay for treatment, how were they going to complete their families?

Megan is happy to share her story. As she explains, “My story is not over yet, but I have faith that it will have a happy ending.”

Pay it Forward – Fertility Grant

Shady Grove Fertility is partnering with Pay it Forward Fertility Foundation to fund a fertility grant for one patient who will receive care at Shady Grove Fertility.

Shady Grove Fertility is kicking off the fundraising effort with a $1,000 contribution.

Help us pay it forward by:

Liking us on Facebook. For every new like, Shady Grove Fertility will donate $5 to the Pay It Forward Fertility Foundation.
Donating. Donations can be made directly to the help increase value of the SGF grant.
Apply for the grant. Deadline is Dec 1st. Go online now to download the application.

If you would like to make a New Patient Appointment with a fertility specialist, please click here to call 1-877-971-7755.

Our Partners in Fertility Care

October 11, 2012 by Shady Grove Fertility

Shady Grove Fertility is proud to welcome Joseph Doyle, MD to our Rockville office. If you are currently frequenting the Rockville office for procedures or monitoring, you might see him around, so here are some facts to help get to know him better.

Dr. Joseph Doyle on the Field of Reproductive Endocrinology

Dr. Joseph Doyle recently completed his Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School. “I always thought I would be a surgeon,” explains Dr. Doyle. But once he met a Reproductive Endocrinologist during medical school and was introduced to the fascinating research and a wonderful field of reproductive medicine, he realized Reproductive Endocrinology was the perfect fit for him. He has since pursued it whole-heartedly, and is passionate about making great contributions and delivering exceptional care. “This isn’t a field of medicine with a long history like cardiology. There is so much to be learned and so many breakthroughs waiting to happen as we work to help couples realize their dream of building a family. It’s incredible to be involved in the early chapters of all of this.”

Dr. Joseph Doyle on Work

Dr. Doyle couldn’t be happier at Shady Grove Fertility. What means the most to him is the culture of exceptional care for every couple, backed by the incredible medical experience and excellence to perpetuate this. “Offering the best to my patients is paramount to me. There are very few places like Shady Grove Fertility, and it is centers like this that will ensure the best care possible and success rates among the highest in the country.”

Given his diligence and attentiveness, patients can be confident in the care that they receive from Dr. Doyle. His patient philosophy is to help patients build a family in the best way for them, wherever that road may go.

Dr. Joseph Doyle at Home

Dr. Doyle was born and raised in Virginia, and after seven years in Boston, he is very happy to be close to the mild winters and hot summers of home again. He jokes that he met his wife in a story that sounds right out of Grey’s Anatomy. He is very much the outdoorsy type – enjoying triathlons, skiing, hiking, and even gardening. Some of his best life memories include vacationing in Italy, skiing the Austrian Alps, and all sorts of scuba diving adventures. He’ll add skydiving to that list as soon as he gets a chance!

Dr. Joseph Doyle is currently available for new patient appointments in our Rockville, MD office. To schedule you appointment, call 1-877-971-7755 or click here.

August 9, 2012 by Shady Grove Fertility

by Dr. Isaac E. Sasson, MD, PhD

After medical school and my formal training, it was my aspiration to work with a world-class fertility center to help couples who are having trouble conceiving. My dream has become reality, and I am proud to be Shady Grove Fertility’s 25^th Reproductive Endocrinologist practicing in their newest office outside of Philadelphia in Chesterbrook, PA.

Have Hope

My medical training taught me about the science of reproductive biology, but beyond the science, there are people. Having a medical team that you can trust and depend on can help lift some of that burden off of patients’ shoulders. I am passionate about bearing that burden with my patients. I am not afraid of tears in my office – tears of joy and, sometimes, disappointment. While providing excellent medical care and cutting edge technology, at Shady Grove Fertility we also listen to your hopes, dreams, fears, and frustrations.

A Little About Dr. Isaac Sasson

Even from an early age I knew I wanted to be a doctor. As the son of a pediatrician, the culture and practice of helping others was part of the daily tide in our house. Over time, I came to appreciate that the lessons in life we carry deep inside ourselves are often taught by our parents at a very early age. Parents teach their children everything – to drink from a cup or eat with a spoon, to read and study, and in our house growing up, how to care for others. Even now when I speak to couples, I can still hear my father’s voice supporting his patients and listening to their needs and allaying their fears.

Perhaps because of the medical influences early in my life, I have always loved science. Real science, like nature and biology, from ecosystems to crystal structures. I think they are fascinating, learning about what things are and why they exist. In medicine, that means being able to teach people what is happening in their bodies, why it is happening, and what we, as a team, can do to change it. For me, assisted reproductive technologies represent the shortest distance between the lab bench and the patient’s bedside. It is the cutting edge of medical science, and I believe that both the therapies and biology that underlies our treatments can be readily accessible to everyone.

Originally from a small town on the Jersey Shore, I traveled north to complete the Medical Scientist Training Program at Yale Medical School where I was awarded both a medical degree and a Doctorate in Genetics. I remained at Yale-New Haven Hospital for residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology, after which I moved to Philadelphia to pursue fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Pennsylvania.

Fertility Treatment in Philadelphia

I am proud to join the team at Shady Grove Fertility and honored to share Shady Grove Fertility’s philosophies and successes in Philadelphia, PA where even more patients will be able to access the fertility care they need.

To schedule a New Patient Appointment with Shady Grove Fertility please call 1-877-971-7755 or click here.