Tributes

It is with heavy hearts that we must announce the tragic passing of our colleague, Stephen Greenhouse, M.D. Steve died in an accident on July 28, 2018. He is survived by his wife Robyn, and his three sons, Ryan, Tyler, and Dylan.

If you would like to share a tribute to Dr. Greenhouse with our SGF Community, fill out the form below.

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"I just found out Dr. Stephen. I'm in shock in really sad. Dr. Greehouse was my angel and assisted to bring happiness to our family when my second son joined us. You will always be in our hearts Dr. Greenhouse."

"It's been 11 years since we went to Shady Grove Fertility. We were blessed with two boys (ages 13 and 10) thanks to Dr. Greenhouse and his staff. Going through infertility treatment is a long and sometimes difficult process. Dr. Greenhouse was always a wonderful doctor to work with! Our family just recently heard about his passing. It was heartbreaking to hear. I hope that he knew how much his work helped so many families! Thank you to all the staff of Shady Grove for the work you do. Dr. Greenhouse, you will always be remembered and truly missed."

"I am so sorry to hear the passing of Dr. Greenhouse. We live in Kentucky and wanted to do a Shared-Risk program. He was wonderful and understanding through our many phone consultations. He encouraged me to keep trying not to give up. After two failed IVF's, We were successful with number 3. I can still hear the sound of his voice, sharing the good news with us. We are the proud parents of a perfect 10 year old, and I thank God for Dr. Greenhouse everyday. I will continue to remember his family in prayer!!!"

"I would never have been able to bring my amazing son Dylan into this world without the help, encouragement, patience gentle spirit of Dr. Greenhouse. I’m truly sad because I wanted to see him again but he definitely lived his true purpose while he was here with us and a blessing to many. May his beautiful soul Rest In Peace. - Sefa Laurence."

"Our condolences and love go out to Dr. Greenhouse's Family. This world will truly miss such a wonderful, loving, and compassionate person. We heard about the passing of Dr. Greenhouse literally on our son's second birthday, July 29th - who would not be here if it weren't for the help of Dr. Greenhouse and his team/colleges. It was a major shock (tears and all) as we were looking forward to seeing him again for baby #2 and sharing pictures of our son. He was a person who had a natural gift for easing peoples worries in just a couple words or sentences - the perfect person for this difficult field. We will now always wonder what he would have said to ease our emotions as we embark on our next IVF journey. Rest in Peace Dr. Greenhouse - I'm sure your watching over all of us."

"So sorry to hear of my fellow med school classmate's tragic passing. My heart goes out to his wife, his sons, his patients and to all others who acutely feel the loss of this kind and caring physician."

"It has been weeks and I am still a mess over Dr. Greenhouse's passing. If it weren't for him and his team we wouldn't have our amazing miracle today. Dr. Greenhouse never gave up on us and tried everything he could think of to get us to a baby (3 IVF cycles). We had just recently started up the process of trying for baby #2 when he passed away. I will forever wonder what may have happened if he gave his recommendations for this cycle but I'm still going to power through. I think he would have wanted that. I keep telling my husband that if this works and we have a boy that I want his middle name to be Stephen. That is how much this amazing man has meant to us. He will be forever missed and always in our hearts."

"Not only was Dr. Greenhouse a great doctor, he was a great father. I am his oldest son. He taught not only me but my two brothers what it means and takes to be a great person in life. My dad was a one of a kind person, who really did care about everyone he met. He did want he did for a living to give back to people, that was the kind of person he was thinking about others. I know that helping people start a family was what motivated him to work so hard. He gave me and my brothers a lot of life lessons in life, we are going to continue to work hard to make him proud."

"Our hearts have been so heavy since hearing the news. We loved Dr. Greenhouse and are so grateful for he and his team for helping us have a baby. We are currently working with them again for a second baby. When we met with Dr. Greenhouse to start up again he had said how people tell you but until you have a child you just don’t fully understand the love you have for them. He said he felt that way when having his sons. I am so sad to think about his wife and sons and what a difficult time. We are thinking of his family and his work family. We are deeply sad and can only imagine the impact of his loss for those who were with him regularly. We will also be grateful to Dr. Greenhouse and we are sending our love and condolences to his family and the Shady Grove team. We will forever remember him and miss him."

"I am so honored to have worked with Dr. Greenhouse and learned so much from him in my 6 years so far at Shady Grove. He is by far the best physician, teacher and mentor I have ever known in my 20 years as a nurse. I am honored to have worked with him and called him my friend. But not only that, I was also so blessed to also call him my doctor. Thanks to him, after 6 years of infertility, he helped me to become the mother of 3 beautiful children. There is no greater blessing and he is the reason for that blessing. To say I will miss him is the understatement of the century. He can never be replaced, but I promise to think of him every day and forever honor him by treating all patients with the same care and respect that he displayed each and every day. I love you Dr. Greenhouse.... Sleep in peace."

"Dr. Greenhouse and the staff had such great chemistry together, and he had provided us such a wonderful experience with his kindness, knowledge, expertise, and care. He's always so patient me, when I was in such distress. I hope he knows how much we appreciate him for making our dream come true on becoming parents. Each time we look at our son, we still can''t believe he's ours! We are so happy that Dr. Greenhouse got to meet our baby as well. He will truly be missed, and he'll always be in our hearts. Our heartfelt sympathy goes out to you, the staff team at Shady Grove, and wife and sons. May you all find comfort and peace. You're all in our prayers. ❤"

"Steve was a genial and kind friend in college. We were in the same fraternity. He was a year ahead of me, but always looked out for me and others in my class. I’m praying for his family during this difficult time. God be with you."

"Dr. Bromer and Doris, I wanted to take a moment to offer my condolences to you both for the loss of Dr. Greenhouse. What a terrible tragedy and loss for Shady Grove and the community. It is not lost on me that as today I turn 20 weeks pregnant and am halfway there, that this would not have been possible without Dr. Greenhouse. If you recall, he did our transfer in Rockville. Though my interaction with him was limited, he was a kind, intelligent man who took the time to answer my questions and reassure me through the process. Please know that I am thinking of the Shady Grove family and sending everyone love and light."

"I heard of Dr. Greenhouses' passing just want to offer my condolences to SGF and the Fair Oaks office. Dr. Greenhouse was a wonderful doctor and the most compassionate doctor I came across in the "business" (and I met with and worked with A LOT of RE's). I am happy we were at least able to email him and let him know that we had our baby."

“How does one put into mere words, the impact that one person can have in your life? I am sure, I will not do this justice but all I can do is speak from my heart. Today, I say goodbye to Dr. Stephen Greenhouse. He was one of the people I admired most at Shady Grove Fertility. To say that it was both an honor to have known him and a privilege to have worked with him is an understatement. He was a tremendous patient advocate, and not just his patients but every patient. He was not motivated by monetary gain, he wanted every patient to have a positive experience at Shady Grove Fertility. He motivated our team to do the best job at all times and to watch him work was awe-inspiring. He was highly accomplished, extremely smart and an awesome teacher. He was a great mentor, he provided our team with informative lunch and learns, and I was one of many who truly adored him. He was a fierce protector of people he cared about and everybody in his inner circle, and he simply cared about everyone and not just because it was the right thing to do. He worked over and above the call of duty. He held his own, he worked in an office surrounded by Estrogen and a team of highly functioning, jovial women and we teased him mercilessly. He had a quirky sense of humor, he loved to laugh, to tell silly stories and he was a practical joker. He started and ended each day by walking through the office to say hello and goodbye and to call him on his cell phone if we needed anything. He was extremely kind and generous, and one of the nicest people you could ever meet. His smile and demeanor were infectious and he was the ambassador of positivity. To say that he will be missed is the understatement of the year. My heart is aching for his wife, sons, additional family members, friends, our Shady Grove family, and his patients and last but not lease for me and my family. May God bless and keep you, dearest Dr. Greenhouse and may your soul and spirit rest in eternal peace. I am forever grateful that our paths crossed. You’ve changed my life and because of you, I will be a better person and the best nurse that I know how to be. I will miss you more than you will ever know. This all seems surreal and I cannot believe that you are actually gone. I remember, one time you said to me, “Be Nice”, just know Dr. Greenhouse your legacy lives on and I will “Be Nice” and honor you for the rest of my days! Much Love, my dear friend!!!!”

"Dr. Greenhouse was truly wonderful to work with - I suffered a devastating late term loss and needed to do IVF for genetic reasons/testing. I worked with a few clinics and and several doctors - I consulted with even more. Out of all the people I met with and worked with in the fertility world, Dr. Greenhouse was the most compassionate. He will be greatly missed."

"Hi Dr. Sasson, I read the news of the passing of your colleague Dr. Greenhouse and I wanted to pass along my condolences. It also really got me thinking how much more than just doctors you are to your patients. I put myself in the shoes of his patients and couldn't help but cry. You are like angels to us (and I'm not even religious), and your importance in our lives goes beyond the initial act of achieving pregnancy. I'll never be able to express in words how much you mean to me and my husband. You gave us everything and you will always hold a unique place in our hearts. I know you probably hear this all the time but it really is true. I just thought you should know, since I'm sure you have your days where you need a reminder. You are so important to our little family."

About stephen j. greenhouse, M.D.

Stephen J. Greenhouse, M.D., received his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology and a 2-year fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and fertility at The George Washington University. Dr. Greenhouse is a clinical assistant professor at The George Washington University and the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. Dr. Greenhouse is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology.

Education

• Residency: Obstetrics and Gynecology, The George Washington University
• Fellowship: Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, The George Washington University

Awards & Recognition

• Northern Virginia Magazine's Top Doctors for Infertility (2012, 2016-2018)
• Washingtonian's Top Doctors for Infertility (2012, 2016-2017)
• Washington Consumers CHECKBOOK's Top Doctors (2015)

Professional Organizations

• American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• Medical Society of Virginia

Reviews

"I successfully completed two healthy pregnancies with IVF under the care of Dr. Greenhouse and his wonderful team! The staff is extremely friendly and professional! They go over and beyond to make sure you understand every step of the process and are always available to answer questions and concerns when necessary. I cannot recommend SGF enough and we’re so grateful for everything they have done for us! We consider them part of our family."

"Best doctor a girl could ask for! After going to two previous doctors with no luck I ended up at Shady Grove Fertility with Dr. Greenhouse 7 years ago. I'm excited to say with the help of their amazing team and knowledge I have been able to have two boys through IUI and now due with a healthy baby girl via IVF. There is no other place or doctor I would recommend my friends to other than Greenhouse. If you want a supportive practice that follows you every step of the way, you should look no further. I can't even begin to say how much I appreciate this team. Best doctors in Northern VA!"

"I am so grateful to Dr. Greenhouse and his staff at SGF. Over the years of working with them, they truly feel like family. Dr. Greenhouse was the most thorough doctor I have ever worked with - he drew diagrams to explain each process, took time to answer all our questions (and believe me, we had a ton), he responded to emails promptly, and most importantly treated my husband and I like people rather than just a number. He provided very sound advice and took into consideration our opinions and requests to ensure we were comfortable and part of every decision. It’s a tough journey because the human body is somewhat unpredictable but I am extremely happy with choosing to go through this process with Dr. Greenhouse. I plan on going back to him again in hopes of conceiving another baby."

"I was so nervous when my husband and I went to our first consultation with Dr Greenhouse. But as it turns out, I had nothing to worry about! Dr. Greenhouse was 100% professional while still being sympathetic with our fertility struggles. He gave us so much information and explained every step of the process we would be going through, but more than that he gave us hope. My husband and I are now expecting twins and we couldn't be more happy."

"I have nothing but positive things to say about my experience with Shady Grove Fertility Fair Oaks. Right from our first appointment, I could tell how caring the entire staff was. Dr. Greenhouse was excellent and always took the time to explain procedures and recommendations thoroughly. We also had the opportunity to work closely with Alison, a very friendly and caring nurse. Both Dr. Greenhouse and Alison always took the time to answer the many questions we had and always responded promptly to phone calls/e-mails. At each appointment, we were always welcomed by wonderful staff! I can't thank Shady Grove Fertility Fair Oaks enough!"

"We transferred to Shady Grove Fertility and Dr. Greenhouse after having no success with a different fertility center. We did our research and Dr. Greenhouse stood out as an excellent practitioner; He always included ideas from cutting edge research and kept adjusting the protocol to give us a successful pregnancy. Thanks to Dr. Greenhouse, we have a perfect, healthy, beautiful baby boy and look forward to returning to try for a sibling soon."

"Dr. Greenhouse helped us through a very sensitive time, and we are unbelievably appreciative of his efforts. He was patient and professional, willing to answer our million questions, and we were ultimately lucky enough to be successful. The staff is friendly and genuinely cares, and was always available for questions and just to listen. Thank you, sincerely, for all of your help!!"

"I highly recommend Dr. Greenhouse and the entire staff at Shady Grove Fertility Fair Oaks office. His bedside manner was excellent and he really made us feel comfortable and confident as patients. We were greeted at every visit with a friendly smile from the staff and they really made us feel like they knew us on a personal level, not just another face in the crowd. Thanks to Dr. Greenhouse and the wonderful nurses we now have the most amazing little boy!"

"We had an amazing experience with our journey at SGF in Fair Oaks. Many thanks to Dr. Greenhouse and nurse Patrice Smith. From the day one I knew we are in good hands. From the moment we walked in in the SGF Fair Oaks office we were welcomed by smiling stuff members followed by Dr. Greenhouse and nurse Patrice. Dr. Greenhouse is the most caring, honest and cheerful doctor I have ever met. He always listed to our concerns and answered our questions. He explained all options for us and developed a plan to conceive for us based on our unique situation. What I also liked about Dr. Greenhouse was he never pushed for IVF even though it ended up being our most successful option. Thanks to Dr. Greenhouse we welcomed our first baby boy this May on our first try of IVF."

I want my patients to know that I am available to them not just with advice, but also to listen when they need someone.

Publications

• Richter K, Davis J, Carter J, Greenhouse S. No advantage of laser-assisted over conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a randomized controlled trial. J Exp Clin Assist Reprod. 2006;3:51-7.
• Greenhouse S, Castel P, Dean J. Antibodies to human ZP3 induce reversible contraception in transgenic mice with “humanized” zonae pellucidae. Hum Reprod. 1999;14:3593-600.
• Levy M, Sagoskin A, Stillman R, Widra E, Mottla G, Greenhouse S. The debate continues on “money back guarantees.” Fertil Steril. 1999;72:748-9.
• Greenhouse S, Stillman R. Cigarette smoking and reproduction effects on fecundity and early pregnancy outcomes. Infertility and Reproductive Clinics of North America. 1998;9:4699-723.
• Suppression of menstruation in an 11-year-old girl with Glanzmann’s thrombasthenia. International Correspondence Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. 1997;38:3.