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Home / Your Care Team / Page 7

Your Care Team

February 11, 2019 by Shady Grove Fertility

Shady Grove Fertility is proud to welcome Dr. Geof Tidey to the Richmond medical team. Dr. Tidey joins Drs. Erika Johnston, Michael Edelstein, Kenneth Steingold, and Anish Shah, and sees patients in SGF’s Richmond – Stony Point location.

An Echols Scholar and distinguished graduate of the University of Virginia, Dr. Tidey earned his medical degree at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Maryland. He then went on to complete a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at George Washington University, while conducting research at the National Institutes of Health.

Dr. Tidey has held professional roles at the University of Texas where he authored numerous papers, abstracts, and book chapters. He has lectured extensively on topics related to infertility and reproductive endocrinology and received University of Texas’s Award for Excellence in Teaching.

Prior to joining SGF Richmond, Dr. Tidey served as Medical Director of the Virginia IVF and Andrology Center, which he co-founded in 1998.

Dr. Tidey currently serves as a Clinical Professor in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Medical College of Virginia. He is a member of the Society of Reproductive Endocrinologists, Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Richmond Academy of Medicine.

More about Dr. Geof Tidey

Q: Why did you become a Reproductive Endocrinologist?
A: Eli Adashi–he was the Reproductive Endocrinologist during my residency training who opened my eyes to the emotional, intellectual, and technical complexities of helping women conceive. Dr. Adashi was the smartest person I had ever met. During that time, in vitro fertilization was a brand new tool that gave hope to thousands of women whose only option had been adoption. I have been fortunate to witness more successes than I ever dreamed possible.

Q: Who inspires you?
A: My mother. Grace, patience, encouragement, and empathy were traits my mother displayed on a daily basis as a high school guidance counselor working with 500 students and their parents. She supported their dreams and was there for all the successes and failures, both big and small. My mother was calm, positive, and constantly reassuring in a manner that resonates deeply with me. I try to emulate her every day.

Q: What are your hobbies and why do you enjoy them?
A: I love to cook, play golf, read, and solve crossword puzzles. I like anything challenging enough to require complete focus or an escape into the process. It may lead to the exhilaration of accomplishment or the motivation to do it better the next time. This is why I enjoy practicing medicine and performing surgery for these same reasons.

Q: What about SGF makes you the most proud?
A: I like that working on the SGF team feels like we are working toward a mission, not just for a business.

Q: What’s on your bucket list?
A: I would like to work in a professional kitchen for a week.

Q: What is your approach to helping a patient who is struggling?
A: I listen. I analyze. I try to imagine how I would help a friend or a relative in the same situation. I make sure to involve our tremendous team at SGF.

Q: How would you describe your personality?
A: Calm, patient, determined.

Q: What is something about you that would surprise most people?
A: I officiated one of my best friend’s weddings.

What Patients are Saying

“Dr. Tidey is a compassionate, highly intelligent, highly skilled physician and I would recommend him to anyone having fertility issues. He listened closely to my concerns as well as my husband’s concerns. He answered all of our questions (and we had a lot)! He made us feel very comfortable and we never felt rushed! The staff is excellent and always took time to answer our questions too! We are pregnant with a little girl and we feel SO blessed to have Dr. Tidey as our Fertility Specialist.”

“After several long years of trying to conceive our first child, a friend suggested that my husband and I talk to a specialist, and recommended us to Dr. Tidey and Dr. Shah’s office. We made the call and began seeing Dr. Tidey within a month. After a few tries of IUI (intrauterine insemination), we decided to move on to IVF. Everyone in the office was so supportive and understanding about the emotional rollercoaster we were on after trying so long. We came in for an ultrasound after completing one try with IVF and couldn’t have been happier to see a flickering heartbeat on the screen! Everyone there played such a special part in our time there, and although my husband and I were happy to be dismissed and sent back to our regular OB/GYN, we were sad to leave Dr. Tidey and his staff, who had been there through the long journey. Now we have a beautiful little girl, who is almost 2, who is worth every penny that we spent. We are also fortunate to be expecting again (this time without IVF and a surprise)! However, if we experience any other difficulties down the road, we will definitely pay a visit back to Dr. Tidey to rescue the other embryos that we have left!!! Thank you again to Dr. Tidey, and the wonderful nurses and staff for being a part of our dream come true!!!”

Schedule an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Geof Tidey, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete our online form.

Filed Under: Your Care Team

January 28, 2019 by Shady Grove Fertility

Shady Grove Fertility is proud to welcome Dr. Michael Edelstein to the Richmond Medical Team. Dr. Edelstein sees patients out of SGF’s Richmond – Stony Point office and provides a full range of state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options for female and male infertility, elective fertility preservation, fertility preservation prior to cancer treatment, and LGBTQ family building.

Michael C. Edelstein, M.D, completed his undergraduate degree at Cornell University where he graduated with Distinction in all subjects and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa. He then earned his medical degree from Washington University in St. Louis where he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He was a resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, and twice received the Resident’s Teaching Prize. He served a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at the Howard and Georgeanna Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine in Norfolk, America’s first IVF program. Dr. Michael Edelstein is board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Edelstein has extensive experience in the medical and surgical aspects of reproductive endocrinology, infertility, and assisted reproductive technologies. He is the author of numerous research papers, abstracts, and book chapters, and has lectured extensively on topics relating to infertility and reproductive endocrinology.

Prior to joining Shady Grove Fertility, Dr. Edelstein was a founding partner and served as Medical Director of Virginia Fertility Associates/Virginia IVF and Andrology Center in Richmond.

Dr. Edelstein is passionate about providing compassionate, respectful, state-of-the-art fertility care to each of his patients. He is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the Society of Reproductive Surgeons, and is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

MORE ABOUT DR. MICHAEL EDELSTEIN

Q: WHY DID YOU BECOME A REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST?
A: Growing up, I always enjoyed science. I was good at problem solving and liked working as part of a team, so medicine seemed like a natural career choice. In residency, I was quickly drawn to reproductive endocrinology. I like that my patients are motivated and inquisitive, and often very knowledgeable about the treatments they are undergoing. I am in a field that is always on the cutting edge of medicine and I love helping my patients achieve their dreams of parenthood.

Q: WHAT ABOUT SGF MAKES YOU THE MOST PROUD? 
A: I am constantly amazed by the dedication and intellect of everyone I work with at Shady Grove Fertility. My colleagues are the best and the brightest. SGF has over 50 physicians along with hundreds of talented nurses, therapists, embryologists, financial advisors, and managers that allow us to deliver the most up-to-date, compassionate, and successful care to patients.

Q: WHO INSPIRES YOU?
A: My greatest inspiration is Dr. Howard W. Jones Jr., the father of IVF in America and my mentor from fellowship training. Dr. Howard (as everyone called him) was a masterful physician and a gifted surgeon, researcher, and author. He was an expert in biomedical ethics, always searching for a way to provide the best care to the most patients. He took a sincere interest in my career, challenging me, and helping me to become a better physician and person. When he passed away in the summer of 2015, even though he was 104, it felt too soon. Dr. Howard still had so much left to teach.

Q: WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND WHY DO YOU ENJOY THEM?
A: I try to do something active every day. I run with my labradoodle, Chloe. I compete in sprint triathlons, am the player/coach of my softball team, and am an enthusiastic tennis player. My greatest relaxation is to sail my Sunfish Le Lauren, named after my daughter, on the lake near my home.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO HELPING PATIENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING?
A: I will be there for them every step of the way and address their concerns, whether they be medical, emotional, or financial. I will make sure that the patient has an excellent understanding of their treatment plan. I will respect their input and never make them feel rushed.

Q: WHAT IS SOMETHING ABOUT YOU THAT WOULD SURPRISE MOST PEOPLE?
A: I am an amateur presidential historian and a walking encyclopedia of presidential facts. (So was my father and so is one of my sons!)

Schedule an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Edelstein, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete our online form.

Filed Under: Your Care Team

October 29, 2018 by Shady Grove Fertility

A recent national survey conducted by RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, of whom SGF is a visionary partner, reveals the overwhelming majority of respondents (n=425) cite emotional challenges during fertility treatment is among the biggest hurdle to seeking help from a fertility specialist.

SGF is one of only a few national fertility centers who adhere to a patient-centered integrated care model that provides services beyond the physical, offering support resources to address the mental health care needs of its patients.

“Caring for a patient’s emotional well-being is as important as treating their infertility, and we understand each patient’s experience and needs are different,” says Sharon Covington, LCSW-C, SGF’s Director of Psychological Services. “This survey confirms what we know from numerous other research studies: the emotional burden from infertility and it’s treatment is a significant factor as to why patients drop out of treatment, even when they have full insurance coverage.”

How do we support our patients emotionally during fertility treatment?

In helping to support the “whole” patient, we provide many support resources integrated into our fertility program to help reduce the stress and emotional toll associated with infertility from a medical, emotional, and financial perspective.

  • Support groups: SGF’s support groups are free and offered throughout their regions, moderated by trained mental health professionals. Each therapist has extensive training and knowledge about all aspects of infertility counseling with individual, couples, and group therapies. The support groups offer highly effective ways to learn different techniques for managing the stress of treatment in a supportive and open environment.
  • Educational events: These free events are physician-hosted in-person seminars and virtual webinars. These events are intended to inform and educate current and prospective patients about what to expect when seeking care from a fertility specialist, types of testing to diagnosis infertility, infertility treatment options, affording fertility care, and much more. Each event concludes with an anonymous question and answer session so that attendees have the opportunity to get their personal questions answered by the practice’s physician experts.
  • Patient Stories: We place a high value on collecting and sharing stories through our website and social channels in order to inspire hope and belief. These stories provide an honest and heartwarming look into the trials and triumphs patients face during their infertility journeys.
  • Social Channels: The SGF Facebook page and Instagram page of over 28,000 followers offers a community of support and encouragement for many patients. Used as a platform for information seekers, current patients, former patients, and their loved ones, it offers an opportunity for the community to discuss and learn more about infertility, share experiences, and seek advice.
    • “Our Facebook community offers a safe place for patients to seek advice and share experiences with others who have walked the same path, helping to overcome the isolation felt by many patients,” adds Covington.
  • Emotional Support Articles and Blogs: These pieces help patients through some of the hardest parts of infertility including miscarriage, the impact fertility has on a person’s romantic relationships as well as friendships, and managing emotions during the infertility process. We encourage our patients to establish a support network by tapping into the practice’s resources.

What patients are saying about SGF’s support resources

“I remember the isolation I felt month after month, seeing pregnancy announcements and baby bumps all around me. Everywhere I looked I was bombarded with reminders of what I couldn’t achieve, the status of motherhood. And then I met a legion of people who cared, who understood, and my experience and mindset was transformed. I felt I had the wind at my back, and I could continue in pursuit of my dream. And I’m so glad I did, as I now am proud to have earned the name, Mom,” shared a former SGF patient.

“Hearing a patient’s experience with infertility in their own words and how they overcame this obstacle made me feel less alone and gave me hope to keep persevering,” says a former SGF patient.

“Seeking (and accepting) support is like weaving a safety net for yourself; the more connections or stands of support you have the stronger your net becomes, and the greater the likelihood of being able to move forward with treatment despite obstacles that may stand in the way,” says Covington.

Schedule an Appointment

To learn more about SGF’s support resources or to schedule an appointment with a physician, please contact the New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete this brief online form.

Filed Under: Your Care Team Tagged With: Emotional support

October 17, 2018 by Shady Grove Fertility

SGF welcomes Dr. Brianna Schumacher, to the Pennsylvania medical team. Dr. Schumacher will join physicians. Drs. Isaac Sasson, Caleb Kallen, and Ryan Martin and will be seeing patients at the Philadelphia and Chesterbook, PA locations.

Dr. Schumacher earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She then went on to complete a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility and a masters in clinical research at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

An advocate for early fertility diagnosis and treatment, as well as egg freezing for women to preserve their fertility for future family building options, Dr. Schumacher was a clinical instructor in gynecology at the University of North Carolina, and has held a variety of leadership roles within the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, New England Fertility Society, Pacific Coast Society, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and American Medical Association.

More about Dr. Schumacher

Q: WHY DID YOU BECOME A DOCTOR/REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST?
A:
Everyone deserves to be a parent and have the family they have always wanted. I went to medical school so I could help people overcome the medical barriers that prevent them from fulfilling this dream. I wake up every morning excited to start each day – so happy that it is likely going to involve helping at least one more person realize their dream of parenthood.

Q: WHO INSPIRES YOU?
A:
I am inspired by little people and small things. When my 4 year old says he is a “friend to everyone” and my daughter gives her “blankie” to her younger brother. The person who held the door, wrote a thank you note and paid it forward at the coffee shop – these people inspire me to work harder, love more and take time for those who need it most.

Q: WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND WHY DO YOU ENJOY THEM?
A:
My free time is spent outside looking for tadpoles and chasing water bugs (with my kids). I follow my husband to breweries and hot yoga – and then I drag him to new restaurants and Canada (I’m Canadian) :)). I LOVE the cold and snow storms give me energy. I am an avid tea drinker and warm rain combined with puddle jumping is one of my favorite past times.

Q: WHAT ABOUT SGF MAKES YOU THE MOST PROUD?
A:
I went to medical school because I wanted to look after people. At Shady Grove – every decision comes back to the patient. In almost every difficult situation we ask – what would I want if I were this patient? That’s why I love Shady Grove and it is what makes me so excited to be joining the SGF team.

Q: WHAT IS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
A:
An African Safari, taking the kids to Alberta to see their cousins, a Yoga retreat in Greece and experiencing another huge snowstorm on Christmas Day.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO HELPING PATIENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING?
A:
I let patients know that I am here for them and that they are understood. My first step is to talk to the couple to come up with a plan. In my own life, having a plan helps look toward the future and feel like I know where I’m going. Whether it’s trying again, moving to a different treatment, or deciding that a couple wants to take a break to breathe and reassess – I’m here to help guide them through the process of reaching their goal.

Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
A:
Curious, enthusiastic, and positive. I like making connections with people, finding common ground and making people laugh.

Schedule An Appointment With Dr. Brianna Schumacher

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Brianna Schumacher, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete our online form.

Filed Under: Your Care Team

September 19, 2018 by Shady Grove Fertility

Shady Grove Fertility’s Director of Psychological Services, Sharon Covington, joined NPR’s Here & Now podcast to discuss the emotional impact of suffering a miscarriage or miscarriages. Read the transcript below or listen to the interview by clicking the link below.

Listen to the full podcast episode: link

Host: “In 2015, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg announced that he and his wife, Priscilla Chan, had experienced three miscarriages, an admission that led to an outpouring of stories from women and families who had faced the same thing—a public mourning that would have been unthinkable just decades ago. There has been a sea change in the way we as a society mourn miscarriages, which is estimated in one in four pregnancies, and the hopes and dreams that went with them. At one time couples were told things like, “thank goodness you can have another one” or “these things happen for a reason.” In the 1980s, things changed. Couples were encouraged to join support groups, name the child they’d imagined, hold a funeral, maybe even hold the child if it was fully formed to say goodbye. But today, not everyone knows that they can do these things. And our next guest says men in particular aren’t getting the attention they need. Sharon Covington is the Director of Psychological Services at Shady Grove Fertility. Sharon, you say men are the forgotten mourners in a miscarriage. Can you explain that?”

Sharon Covington: “When a pregnancy loss or miscarriage occurs, it typically focuses on the mother and the woman and what she’s going through. They’re frequently put in this role of certainly looking after her, being the strong one, and often being concerned about her health and well-being too.”

Host: “Irving Leon, who’s a psychologist at University of Michigan, says that sometimes men are afraid if they do show their hurt or their sadness, they will bring their wife down.”

Sharon Covington: “I think that’s true. I think that, again, they get in that protector role where they feel that her feelings are what is most paramount and what’s most concerning, so they tend to bury their feelings. In reality, wives often long to hear that their husbands are experiencing the grief and the loss in the same sort of way.”

Host: “Let’s explain a little bit about what we’re talking about because there is some confusion and I have heard people say, ‘oh, how early in the pregnancy was it? Oh, just a few weeks or couple of months? Oh, well then that doesn’t matter.’ That’s so hurtful to parents for whom a miscarriage was shattering. But on the other hand, people who’ve had late pregnancy losses sometimes balk at the notion that it’s the same as an early loss. So, what are we talking about?”

Sharon Covington: “Well, a miscarriage is termed an involuntary loss of a pregnancy before 20 weeks. That being said, I think commonly we think of it before 12 weeks of pregnancy. After 20 weeks of pregnancy, it can either be a preterm birth or a stillbirth. So, people do get the terms confused. In fact, sometimes it can be hurtful for someone who has had a full-term stillbirth and people are calling it a miscarriage because they feel that somehow it minimizes what they went through.”

Host: “On the other hand, when people say others who have an early pregnancy loss after just a month, ‘Oh, it’s a good thing you didn’t get attached. Well, of course she did.’”

Sharon Covington: “Research has shown that the grief can be just as profound early in a pregnancy as it is at birth. Whether it’s early or whether it’s late, it can really have a profound effect. Recently, I was working with a couple and she had multiple miscarriages. By the time they came to me, she had nine miscarriages and they were having a terrible time. In the course of us working together, this last Mother’s Day, she decided that she was going to get a necklace for herself. She got a necklace that had nine little tiny beads on it. She said she didn’t want anything that looked like there were babies or something that would really bring attention to her, but each of those nine little beads reminded her of the babies that she lost.”

Host: “My mother back in her day, women just were told to buck up and move on. I don’t think she ever got over it possibly because she wasn’t allowed to get through it. But to the men – I mean if women feel, and they often do, that somehow their bodies had failed them, what has been your experience with men?”

Sharon Covington: “What happens when they come to either a group or to the counseling, it often just gives them the opportunity to talk about things that they didn’t really feel that they were allowed to talk about.”

Host: “And what were some of their feelings?”

Sharon Covington: “First and foremost, they’re usually concerned about their wife and what their wife is going through and the pain that she is experiencing. When they see her hurting and feel that they can’t make her better, it really increases those feelings of helplessness. That being said, they are also dealing with their own feelings of sadness and loss because they can be equally as attached to the baby into the pregnancy just as she’s experiencing.”

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Host: “In the reading, one man said, ‘you know when you lose a dog, people give you a card. Nobody gives you a miscarriage card.’ Although I think it’s a good idea to express your sorrow for someone, but he said you know there’s not a birth or a death certificate in some cases.”

Sharon Covington: “I think in our society, we do a very poor job of helping people grieve and mourn in general. And when it comes to the loss of a pregnancy or a baby at birth, it’s even worse. So, when that person gives the example of not sending cards, well, why don’t we send cards? We really need to help people find socially acceptable avenues for mourning, as we do with other kinds of losses.”

Host: “What are some of the other tools that you give them?”

Sharon Covington: “Well, they want to find something that is going to make this baby real and tangible because there’s really nothing there. I mean they’re left with nothing afterwards. If it’s a later loss, you might be able to have a funeral or a memorial service, but if it’s an earlier loss, you don’t have anything. Another thing that can be very useful and this is something that I do when I’m seeing people in counseling, is to write a letter of goodbye to their baby—to be able to talk about what their hopes and dreams and wishes had been, and about the reasons they need to say goodbye to their baby. Then to take that letter in their hands and to do something with it—take it to a river and let it go downstream. But to do something tangible that allows them to release those words and those feelings.”

Host: “I mean even just saying it is very profound. They could put the letter in a frame—as you say, do something tangible. What else?”

Sharon Covington: “They’ve ended up doing poems, painting pictures. I had a dad one time make a memory box. He worked with his hands real well and had a hard time articulating his feelings. But the idea of making a box that he could somehow put these things into that they had accumulated, like a sonogram picture. If the baby’s a little older, a lock of hair or something like that they could put in there and then they can have it and hold onto it.”

Host: “Well, in particular, again we’re talking about men, addresses that need to do something. You were talking about how men want their partners to feel better and very often, the partner might not want to feel better just yet. You know it’s too soon. How have you seen this impact couples and their relationship?”

Sharon Covington: “The things that I really try to help couples understand, is that as men and women they’re different – they’ve grown up in different families, they had different experiences, and they will feel and deal with this differently. In a relationship, you have to be able to tolerate that and understand it. Now, different doesn’t mean one’s doing better and the other is doing worse. It just means it’s not the same. And so, you have to be able to kind of accept and understand this.”

Host: “Given how powerful this is and how shattering this is, where do you fall on this notion of keeping a pregnancy secret for the first 12 weeks? The thinking was always to get through 3 months and then if everything’s going OK, tell people because you don’t want to have to tell them if things don’t go well. But it seems that leaves people maybe shattered at 2.5 months with a miscarriage and no one knows.”

Sharon Covington: “That’s a hard question to answer because I think it can go either way for people. I have people working in a reproductive medical practice where people are trying desperately to get pregnant and when they do, they want to tell the world. They’re so excited they’ve been waiting for this for so long. And then if they do and then they end up miscarrying, it adds to their sense of failure that they have been dealing with and often they say, ‘gosh, I wish I hadn’t said anything to anyone before.’ So, they share it because they want to share the joy. And it’s so much harder to share in the despair. I think it goes both ways that if people don’t know, they can’t support you. If people do know, then you feel like you’re dealing with their feelings and a sense of shame that is really profound with a pregnancy loss.”

Host: “Certainly something to think about. What’s the best thing to say to someone who has told you? We don’t want to say what was said 50 years ago, which was ‘oh, move on.’”

Sharon Covington: “Well, you don’t want to say anything that’s going to minimize what they have been through. I think the best things to say are things that come straight from the heart. I’m so sorry this must be so hard. I feel so bad. If you’ve experienced it yourself, you can say I know how this feels. Anything that acknowledges and supports the feelings that they have, as opposed to minimizing it or diminishing it. There’s nothing that’s more off putting than that.”

Host: “And for guys too?”

Sharon Covington: “Absolutely for men too. Men will sometimes say they don’t talk about it because it’s too hard to talk about. Because they’re afraid that if they start to talk about it, that their emotions will really come through and they don’t want to look that vulnerable to other people. You know with men, it can be something maybe simpler. Take your buddy out for a beer and sit and say, ‘what’s it like?’ ‘How have you been feeling?’ ‘How’s Sally been feeling?’ You know, make it kind of general, but doing it in a time and place that allows someone to talk. It usually doesn’t work too well if you’re passing in the hallway at work. That’s not a time people want to be vulnerable. The best hope is the help can be done at a time where people can really open up and share those feelings.”

To learn more about Shady Grove Fertility’s Psychological Support Services, click here.

Schedule an Appointment

For additional information or to schedule an appointment at Shady Grove Fertility, please contact our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or click here to complete this brief online form.

Filed Under: Your Care Team Tagged With: In the news, Miscarriage, Sharon Covington

September 11, 2018 by Shady Grove Fertility

Dr. Nancy Durso is one of Shady Grove Fertility’s newest physicians at SGF’s Fredericksburg, VA location. The new Fredericksburg location will offer a broad array of fertility services, including diagnostic testing, low-tech treatment options such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), highly advanced infertility treatments such as donor egg treatment, oncofertility, andrology services, LGBTQ family building, and egg freezing to name a few.

Dr. Durso graduated from Valparaiso University with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology and chemistry. She then earned her medical degree at the University of Virginia, and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at St. Louis University and fellowship at Washington University both in St. Louis, MO.

She returned to the Washington area to practice in 1990. She had been in several private practices in the D.C. area until 2016. She joined the faculty at Virginia Commonwealth University in 2016 and practiced in Richmond for 2 years.

Dr. Durso joined Shady Grove Fertility in July 2018 and is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

More about Dr. Nancy Durso

Q: WHY DID YOU BECOME A DOCTOR/REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGIST?
A:
I was doing my residency in Ob/Gyn and did a rotation on REI in my third year. I was fascinated by the technology and felt that his would be an area that would be changing and moving forward in my lifetime. I love helping couples become families.

Q: WHO INSPIRES YOU?
A:
Mother Teresa

Q: WHAT ARE YOUR HOBBIES AND WHY DO YOU ENJOY THEM?
A:
I am a Candy Crush addict. I like the mental challenge of the different levels and I feel good when I complete the level. I am very involved in my church and do activities that help disadvantaged people.

Q: WHAT ABOUT SGF MAKES YOU THE MOST PROUD?
A:
I have been in several practices in my career. I find that Shady Grove is well organized and centered around patient care as the main objective. The lab is top notch. For such a large company there really is a feeling of family between the staff.

Q: WHAT’S ON YOUR BUCKET LIST?
A:
Cruise to Alaska

Q: DESCRIBE A TIME WHEN YOU WERE INSPIRED BY A PATIENT.
A:
I am inspired by patients continuously. Many patients have to conquer such obstacles even to come in for the first appointment. The courage they show inspires me to give them the best treatment every day.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH TO HELPING PATIENTS WHO ARE STRUGGLING?|
A:
Listening to their story and how it affects different aspects of their life. Talking about other things in their life and to let them know their value to me as a person, not just a patient.

Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
A:
Quiet, introverted, positive and an optimist. I notice small details. I have deep feelings that don’t always show on the surface. I care about others’ welfare.

Schedule An Appointment With Dr. Nancy Durso

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Nancy Durso, please call our New Patient Center at 1-877-971-7755 or complete our online form.

Filed Under: Your Care Team

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