Who We Are

Elana (Bekerman) Frank, a native of Atlanta, GA, lived, studied, and worked in Maryland, Manhattan, Israel, and New Jersey. She has 20 years of experience working with non-profits (in America and in Israel) in fundraising, marketing, community outreach, volunteer recruitment, Board development and program development.

Elana "birthed" The Jewish Fertility Foundation. It took her ten years and countless rounds of IUI and IVF cycles and embryo donation to make three babies. Because she was a resident of Israel at that time of her first two children, their socialized medicine afforded her the opportunity to inexpensively reach a solution. When she returned to the US, she realized that others weren’t as lucky as her - in terms of treatment success, community support, and financial aid. She learned for others it takes years, miscarriages, unbearable debt, oceans of tears, and heartache before finally giving birth, if at all. And with the cost of IVF ranging on average from $14,000 - $25,000 in America many don’t even have a chance for a chance. Knowing that there was this grave need for funding, support and enhanced awareness of this sometimes “unspoken” issue in the Jewish community, she decided to create Jewish Fertility Foundation.

Jenny Jones joins the Jewish Fertility Foundation after serving many roles in the Jewish non-profit world. Her experience has been focused on fundraising throughout the past 20 years. After hearing about JFF and attending the kickoff event in Pittsburgh, Jenny was eager and inspired and wanted to get involved. Several of her friends have struggled with infertility and she can’t wait to give back and help others. Her talents include fundraising, donor relations, volunteer recruitment and outreach. Jenny currently lives in PIttsburgh, PA with her husband, Chad, and children Mason and Ava. Jenny is thrilled to be part of the team.

Sarah Sarah joined JFF after being an educator for 16 years. She was raised in Andover, Massachusetts, just outside Boston. She attended college at the University of Maryland, where she earned a degree in Communication and Public Relations. She returned to Boston for a few years to complete her Master’s of Education at Salem State University, and in 2009 made the move to Washington, DC, where she currently lives with her husband and son, Dilan. In addition to education, she has experience in the non-profit sector, having worked for Junior Achievement and the Boston Ballet. After experiencing infertility and then successfully having her son via IVF in 2017, she promised herself that she would one day work to support others going through the process.
Six years after that promise, Sarah was thrilled to join JFF as the Greater-DC Manager and now serves as the Director of Operations for JFF to continue helping people build their families with support and connection.

Kayla was born and raised in Atlanta and moved away to attend college at the University of Maryland. After earning her undergraduate degree, Kayla lived in Washington, DC for six years where she received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from George Washington University and began her career as a physical therapist. Through her clinical experience and own pregnancy journey with her twins, Kayla gained an awareness of the many gaps in the healthcare and support systems for women from pre-pregnancy to post-partum.

Kayla was thrilled to move back to Atlanta in the summer of 2020. She is passionate about helping men & women in all stages of their fertility journey, and is excited to do so as JFF's National Program Director.

Eryn was born in Denver and has called Colorado home for most of her life. After graduating from Tufts University in MA, she worked in the music industry for several years in the DC area, before obtaining a Master's Degree from NYU. She has worked in marketing in various industries for the past 20 years, and most recently for a youth sports non-profit in Denver.

While living in Chicago, Eryn began dating her now husband, Danny, long distance which brought her back to the Denver area. Eryn and Danny experienced secondary infertility while trying to grow their family after the birth of their first son, Elliott. After several rounds of IUI and IVF, they were thrilled to welcome their second son, Silas.

After opening up to friends about her own experience, Eryn realized that the number of individuals and couples affected by infertility is quite large. She is excited to grow JFF in the Denver community and looks forward to helping those affected by infertility find the emotional, financial, and educational support they need. She knows that each person’s infertility experience is unique, and hopes to help individuals and couples feel less alone as they navigate this difficult process.

Talia grew up in California before making her way to Lexington, KY and now Cincinnati, OH. She has a Masters in Social Work, and has dedicated much of her work to the Jewish community. In Lexington, Talia served as Director of Jewish Family Services and Coordinator of Informal Jewish Education with a focus on PJ Library. She has supported individuals, partnered with amazing organizations, and created programs for adult education, volunteers, and families.

In 2019, Talia moved to Cincinnati with her family. Her husband is a rabbi, and they have two amazing children. Talia feels fortunate for her family, and wants to support others in their journey.

Talia has witnessed remarkable resiliency within those around her, including those who have experienced infertility. She is inspired by JFF’s holistic way of supporting individuals on their fertility journey and JFF’s commitment to raising awareness. Talia is honored to help support others and serve this incredible community.

Julie grew up outside of Chicago and fell in love with living in the South when she moved to Nashville to attend college at Vanderbilt University. She studied Special Education and Speech-Language Pathology and has worked as a Pediatric Speech-Language Pathologist in clinical and school settings since 2010. Julie moved to Birmingham in 2014 and immediately became active in the vibrant Jewish community there. After experiencing years of infertility to grow her family, helping others going through this unimaginably difficult journey became her passion. She doesn't want anyone experiencing infertility to feel alone and loves providing guidance in any way she can.

Julie is very excited to help Jewish Fertility Foundation expand to Birmingham through a collaboration with Collat Jewish Family Services (CJFS) She is looking forward to providing resources and support to those going through infertility in the Birmingham community.

Allison Bodner Smith, a graduate of The University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Social Work, has more than 18 years of experience working with transformative non-profits, from Jewish agencies to the Arts, creating new programs, overseeing events, and supporting donor relations. Wanting to explore her creative side, Allison added an Interior Design degree to her education and founded her design firm in 2009. Having her own successful business for 15 years, Allison was able to continue being innovative while working with people and managing projects.
After going through infertility challenges and learning she had a rare chromosome abnormality that made a viable pregnancy near impossible, Allison and her husband turned to IVF. At the time, there was no organization like the Jewish Fertility Foundation, but is grateful that others are able to embrace what it has to offer with hopes of helping immensely through the process.
Allison is thrilled to join the JFF and dedicate her professional energy to something she is so personally passionate about.
In her spare time, Allison loves spending time with family, exploring the outdoors, seeing
friends, and being active in a variety of non-profits, including The Epstein School, Make a Wish Foundation and Ian's Friends Foundation. An Atlanta native, she lives in Sandy Springs with her husband, 2 children and 2 dogs.

Rebecca was born and raised in Queens, New York. She moved to Montreal, Canada to attend McGill University for her undergraduate degree, which she earned in 2009. In 2013 she earned a Master’s in Biomedical Ethics, also at McGill University, focusing on decision making in fertility treatment. Since then, Rebecca has spent much of her professional life and significant volunteer time working in the Jewish non-profit sector. She has worked in synagogues, school organizations, camps and retreat centers, handling programming, logistics, client relations and internal operations.

In 2018, Rebecca moved to Atlanta with her family, which now includes her husband, two sons and one daughter. She immediately connected with the vibrant Atlanta Jewish community and is thrilled to be working within it. Rebecca is inspired by the JFF mission and is excited to raise awareness about infertility through education and community initiatives. Rebecca believes that no person should go through infertility alone and is looking forward to providing resources and support to those going through infertility in the Atlanta area.

Erica Levin was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA where she resides today. As an alumna of the Ohio University College of Business, her journey into relationship building began early in her career, when she discovered her passion for fostering meaningful connections and supporting others. Between her professional and volunteer experiences, she has built a genuine passion for making a positive impact on the lives of others and the community.

For the past 10 years, Erica has served as a Jewish professional in a pluralistic setting and is so excited to work with such an amazing organization that is committed to assisting individuals and families as they embark on their journey to build their families.

Tamar Poupko Smith grew up in Montreal, Canada and after living in Israel, New York, Baltimore and Cincinnati, is proud to call Cleveland her home. She has a B.A. from Yeshiva University and has spent over twenty years in the Jewish non-profit world, in both professional and lay positions. Her most recent work has been with Jewish day schools, and in whatever capacity, Tamar is always engaged in working toward their success.

Tamar joins JFF after serving on the JFF-CLE advisory board and is thrilled that JFF is expanding to include Cleveland; a strong, vibrant and welcoming Jewish community. She looks forward to connecting with, and supporting individuals on their family-building journeys with compassion and sensitivity. Tamar’s parents and four siblings have all dedicated themselves, professionally, to the Jewish community and they continue to inspire her to serve and better our communities and the Jewish people.

Tamar is active in a number of local non-profits including Fuchs Mizrachi School, the Jewish Federation of Cleveland, the Community Beit Midrash, and Bnei Akiva. Tamar enjoys spending time with her husband Elliot, their four children and one incredible goldendoodle named Leo.

Aviva Janus lives in Silver Spring, Maryland with her husband, David, and teenage son. She is also the proud mother of four grown daughters. Her family has grown to include two sons-in-law as well as grandchildren. Building her family has brought her tremendous joy and she’s delighted to help her local DC community members expand their families too.

Aviva has a B.S. in Psychology from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and an M.A. in Jewish Professional Studies from the Spertus Institute of Jewish Learning and Leadership in Chicago. She studied at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem, where she lived for six years before relocating to Maryland. Aviva has served as a Jewish communal professional in Reform, Conservative and Orthodox institutions and is excited to contribute to a Jewish non-denominational space which supports building families.

Elisheva spent the first 18 years of her life in Southern California thoroughly enjoying the beach and warm weather. She spent her gap year in Israel before attending Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York City. She graduated with two bachelor degrees in Contemporary History and Modern Jewish studies. After graduating, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she worked in event planning and catering. She married her husband Elie Engler in 2008. After deciding to start a family, they realized it's not as easy as it looks. After multiple rounds of IUI and IVF, they are so grateful to have welcomed two daughters and a son into their family.

Going through the painful experience of infertility opened their eyes to how lonely and isolating it can feel. Together with Elana Frank and a wonderful group of people, Elie and Elisheva helped create the Jewish Fertility Foundation. Elisheva is so excited to continue her professional journey with JFF as the National Program Manager. She looks forward to promoting awareness to the struggles of infertility and providing those experiencing infertility with a helping hand and an open heart.

Shira Gabry-Kalikow has a dual Master's in Social Work and Public Health from Columbia University. Even before going through infertility herself, she worked in the reproductive health and infertility fields, interning at a fertility clinic in graduate school, teaching gender and sexuality education, and designing and developing educational content at a fertility start-up.

Shira joined the JFF-DEN Advisory Council in November and has significant experience at other non-profit organizations. Now she is excited to join the staff of a mission-driven organization focused on a cause about which she is both personally and professionally passionate. Shira believes social support is vital to coping with infertility and looks forward to further developing programs that provide this support at JFF.

After attending a pluralistic Jewish Day School from K-12 and becoming involved in various Jewish activities in college, Shira is excited to get to know the Denver Jewish community even better.

Danielle Gordon is a certified perinatal mental health specialist and licensed clinical therapist specializing in maternal well-being. She has served as a consultant with local and national healthcare settings, developed educational programs tailored for expectant and new mothers, provided training to current therapists, and has contributed to various initiatives and programs with Postpartum Support International. In addition to the mental health field, Danielle has worked with various nonprofit organizations doing event planning, fundraising, and programming.

Danielle officially joined the JFF team as staff after heading both the Exploratory Committee and Advisory Council in Detroit. She continues to be impressed by JFF's interdisciplinary and holistic approach to supporting individuals, families, professionals, and communities.

On the home front, Danielle is kept on her toes by her two kiddos, ever-patient husband, and rambunctious dog. She enjoys traveling to Florida to see her family (and the ocean), listening to music, learning new information, and binge-watching select shows.

Efrat Yuzefovich was born and raised in the north of Israel. After serving in the IDF in an intelligence unit, she relocated to the U.S.for her studies. She completed a B.A in Psychology from George Mason University.

Efrat’s passion is helping women, children, and families to overcome challenging life situations, especially those that are consequences of mental health challenges. To fulfill her aspirations, after her university years she joined a private OB/GYN multi-practice which specialized in a variety of women’s medical services, including infertility. She helped to provide health care management to a wide multi-cultural and multi-ethnic community. In her role, Efrat offered empathetic guidance, education, and an attentive ear to make sure clients felt taken care of throughout their medical care.

As part of her service to the Northern VA community, Efrat joined the health department to provide public health emergency assistance during the COVID pandemic. During that time, her focus was to ensure each family was provided access to the services they needed during a stressful medical global crisis. While living in Northern VA, Efrat was part of the Northern VA Jewish community and provided educational Hebrew and cultural studies to children of different ages.

Upon her relocation to Miami, Efrat has been eager to be part of the Miami Jewish community in a bigger capacity. With over 10 years of experience working at OB/GYN offices and serving women who experience infertility, she is grateful to join JFF and take part in its meaningful mission that is very close to her heart. Efrat is humbly honored to offer support and guidance to those in the Miami area who are trying to grow their families.

Ashley Marx is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 15 years of experience. During her training, she worked in a halfway house for men struggling with alcohol and drug addiction and an outpatient clinic treating children, teens, and adults. After receiving her Masters in Social Work from Salem State College in Massachusetts in 2003, she continued to work in an outpatient clinic and a private school as a school counselor. She started a private practice specializing in working with teens and young adults.

After 10 years of private practice in Massachusetts, she moved to Atlanta, Georgia where she worked as a school counselor and now has a full time private practice. She treats a wide range of issues including: anxiety, depression, ADHD, self esteem, parenting problems, and addiction. In addition to seeing clients individually and working with parents, she also runs Middle School and High School Girls groups for teens that may be struggling with friendships, family, and/or the overall stress of being an adolescent in a fast paced, online world.

She has received training in various approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Internal Family Systems (IFS) but strongly believes that the therapist/client relationship remains the most important aspect of treatment.

Tonya joins the Jewish Fertility Foundation as a fellow infertility warrior first introduced to JFF through their infertility support groups.
A Midwest native, Tonya earned a BA in Graphic Design from Jacksonville State University. She has designed for and worked with various non-profit organizations. Now, she is excited to apply her expertise to support JFF's mission.
In addition to her graphic design and marketing experience, through her journey with infertility, Tonya has developed a passion for serving and supporting families who are struggling with infertility. For anyone struggling to conceive, she truly believes in advocating for yourself and seeking guidance and education. She is excited to be a part of JFF's progress to provide support and resources for infertility communities nationwide.

Jake is an MSW student at Kennesaw State University. He started his career working in consumer insights and survey research for a decade but knew he wanted a more fulfilling career. He is originally from the Washington D.C. area and now lives with his fiancée in Atlanta, GA. Jake’s fiancée was an IVF baby and a miracle for her parents after their fertility journey lasted over 10 years. He was drawn to JFF after hearing how difficult the IVF journey was for his soon-to-be mother-in-law and wanted to be involved with fertility treatment to help families like theirs and as a thank you for helping bring his fiancée into the world. He was also very moved by Elana’s expression of “giving families a chance to have a chance,” something he often quotes as a motivating mantra that guides his work at JFF. Jake is looking forward to using his innate skills of empathy combined with his learned skills of the best ways of supporting others to help the clients of JFF.

Elisheva is a joint MSW and PhD student at the Wurzweiler School of Social Work. Originally from Miami, Florida, she now calls Washington Heights, New York, her home. Elisheva is deeply committed to her academic journey, working towards her MSW, PhD, and eventually her LCSW. Her true passion for social work shines through in her ability to listen with empathy and provide support to others. Elisheva is thrilled to join the JFF team, eager to bring her compassion and dedication to those navigating their fertility journey.

Liz Johnson is an advanced standing MSW student at Georgia State University, having earned her Bachelor’s in Social Work. With a deep commitment to uplifting the communities she serves, she is passionate about providing empathetic and compassionate support to individuals and families.

While fertility work is new to her, Liz is excited to learn and grow through her internship at the Jewish Fertility Foundation. She’s drawn to JFF by the opportunity to support people through such a significant part of their lives and contribute to the foundation’s mission. Liz looks forward to making a meaningful impact by helping clients access the care and support they need during their fertility journeys.

Scott Anklowitz- Scott grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, and made Atlanta his home in 2012. He joined AT&T a few months after college and spent the following 11 years working across multiple organizations. Currently, Scott works in project management at Cox Communications. He holds an undergraduate degree from Ohio University and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. He met his wife Sarah at work in 2014 and they got married in 2016. They are blessed with two children: Oliver (February 2019) and Rosemary (September 2020).

WHY JFF: Soon after their wedding, Sarah and Scott discovered they had about a 5% chance of conceiving. In 2017, it seemed that every month they would get another call from the doctor sharing another complication preventing them from having a child. They tried a round of IVF but did not have any viable embryos. They eventually decided to use an egg donor, and luckily it only took one transfer to get pregnant! Going through this experience (during their first year of marriage no less) was complex, emotionally and financially taxing, and at times they most certainly wanted to give up. In discovering they weren’t alone and learning more about the world of infertility, it was a relief in some ways to discover that what they were going through was more common than they thought.

Looking back, had they engaged a foundation like JFF earlier on where they could interact with similar people, have conversations about how they felt and learned earlier in the process, Scott thinks they would have been better prepared to go through the emotional ups and downs. His desire to join JFF is driven primarily by the desire to help others know they aren’t alone in this process: it is scary, confusing and discouraging at times, but those are normal reactions and there is help out there. Additionally, knowing the financial sacrifices people make to have a baby has compelled him even more. While the infertility journey will always be difficult, Scott wants to help people based on what he has learned through his own experience, and the JFF is a great way to accomplish this goal.

Ronnie Goldman is a Managing Partner at Croft & Bender. Prior to joining Croft & Bender, he worked in the Corporate Finance Department at The Robinson-Humphrey Company, Inc., one of the largest regional investment banking firms in the country at the time. With over 25 years of investment banking and private equity experience, Ronnie has completed numerous transactions for both private and public companies across a wide range of industries. Currently, his investment banking practice is focused on providing merger & acquisition and private capital advisory services to middle-market and emerging growth companies, with particular expertise in healthcare, business services and technology.

Ronnie received an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Management, magna cum laude, from Tulane University.

Why JFF?

I firmly believe in supporting the growth of the Jewish community and what better way than providing financial, emotional and educational support to Jewish parents with medical infertility.

Maynard Grossman has been affiliated with Shalom Memorial Park and Shalom Memorial Funeral Home for over 35 years, and has served in the capacity of Executive Director for over 25 years. In leadership roles in his industry he has served as a member and Past President of the Illinois Cemetery and Funeral Association.

He has served as chairman for the Village of Deerfield, Illinois Cemetery Council. Mr. Grossman is an active member of the Chicago Jewish community. He is a past member of the Board of Jewish Education. He is also Past President of Moriah Congregation, a conservative synagogue located in Deerfield, Illinois, a Trustee and Past President of the Board of Directors of the Solomon Schechter Day Schools of Metropolitan Chicago.. He is also a Past President and founding board member of the Chicagoland Jewish High School, now known today as Rochelle Zell Jewish High School. Mr. Grossman lives in Deerfield, Illinois with his wife Janet and has a residency in Atlanta where he visits his grandchildren often.

WHY JFF?

Children are regarded as the hope of the future in every society. We are taught this strong concept in Judaism when we learn that “our children will be our guarantors”. I suppose that is why I have spent many hours of volunteering with Jewish Education. I started to witness children of friends, their sadness, pain and frustration as they experienced difficulties in trying to start their families and how soft spoken and sympathetic words would not ease their pain or sadness.

When I learned about the Jewish Fertility Foundation from the Engler Family, and the many families that needed assistance on their individual journey to building a Jewish home, I felt an overwhelming desire to try and help these individuals as they try to either start or extend their family. When asked to give a toast at a Jewish wedding, I always express my excitement that we have another Jewish Home starting. My hope that the work that JFF does that toast and that dream can come true for all couples that desire it.

Sheri Kornblum was born and raised in New Orleans, LA, but moved to Atlanta after graduating from UGA in 1995. Sheri has 20+ years of experience in the recruiting and talent acquisition field. She has done everything from candidate sourcing, recruiting, interviewing, negotiating, and running her own successful business matching candidates with employers. Her expertise lies in successfully providing a strategic direction and focus for the acquisition and retention of key talent.

Her most recent position was as the Sr. Talent Acquisition Manager for an Atlanta based Digital Marketing company. Prior to that, she ran her own business, HiRE Standards, working with small companies and non-profit organizations assisting them with their hiring and growth.

With her experience in talent acquisition, she has always had a passion for mentoring students transitioning to the workforce. Currently, she serves on the Collegiate Board of the Atlanta Marketing Association providing her a platform to share knowledge and help early career professionals obtain career resources and opportunities for professional development as they begin their journey in the workforce.

In her free time, she enjoys travelling and rooting on our favorite sports teams with her husband (Craig) and two sons (Justin and Micah) and their two dogs (Jax and Louie)!

WHY JFF?
Sheri wishes there was an organization like JFF when she and her husband were going through their own infertility journey. Families experiencing infertility take on not only a large financial burden, but a large mental burden as well. The work that JFF does in providing on-going resources to assist families during this really difficult time is filling a huge void in communities. She is joining the board of JFF during a very exciting phase of growth. She is looking forward to combining her passion for giving with her professional and personal experiences to further impact and enhance support for families experiencing infertility, so they know they are not alone in their journey to parenthood.

Sheri is a retired attorney and former partner at Alston & Bird and Minkin & Snyder (now Greenberg Traurig), specializing for over 30 years in commercial real estate. At Alston and Bird, Sheri pioneered the reduced hour partner track. A former President of AJC Atlanta and AJC Board of Governors member, she served as interim executive director of AJC’s Atlanta regional office, and, together with her husband Steve, received the 2013 Selig Distinguished Service Award and chaired the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival for three consecutive years. Sheri also served as Board Chair of the dropout prevention program Communities in Schools of Atlanta and chair of Temple Sinai’s Endowment Committee. She served as a Deputy Finance Director for U.S. senatorial candidate Michelle Nunn, and as Treasurer for U.S. senatorial candidate Teresa Tomlinson. Sheri is the Immediate Past President of a growing local food rescue organization called Second Helpings Atlanta, which collects excess perishable food from grocers, corporate kitchens, and large event facilities and delivers it to partner agencies that serve the hungry daily. Sheri was a member of the 1998 Class of Leadership Atlanta. She received her J.D. from Duke University and her B.A. from Kirkland (now Hamilton) College. Sheri and Steve’s son, daughter-in-law, and two granddaughters live in Atlanta, and their daughter, son-in-law, and a bevy of animals live on a farm in Clermont, GA.

Why JFF?

It starts with Elana, an inspiring leader and my mentee through the Jewish Women’s Fund of Atlanta. We were paired because of my experience scaling a nonprofit. Ironically, JFF’s mission connected to my own infertility story which began 38 years ago. There was very little in the way of emotional support or peer education on the subject back then. Communities today are very lucky to have the services afforded by JFF and I’m excited to help JFF expand its reach.

Rachel Loftspring is a Partner at Essig & Evans, LLP, where she practices Fertility Law exclusively. As a Fertility Law attorney, Rachel counsels clients from the United States and around the world on family-building through surrogacy as well as egg, sperm, and embryo donation. Her clients are intended parents and gestational carriers, recipients and donors, married and single, and of all sexual orientations.

Rachel is a Fellow of the prestigious Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys and a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the American Bar Association's Assisted Reproductive Technology Committee. Rachel posts about Fertility Law on Instagram at @SurrogacyLawyer.

Outside of her legal practice, Rachel is an active participant and advocate in her community. She is on the board of the American Jewish Committee Cincinnati, Past Chair of the Jewish Fertility Foundation, and regularly organizes and hosts events for an array of organizations and causes. Rachel and her husband, a cardiologist, live in Cincinnati, Ohio with their Lady Gaga loving daughter and airplanes obsessed son. In her spare time, Rachel is teaching her kids (and herself) how to grow a vegetable garden and is working on her Peloton groupie status.

Why JFF? In my Fertility Law practice, I provide legal counsel for clients experiencing infertility who are building their families through third party reproduction. But I felt a need to do more. When I learned of the Jewish Fertility Foundation and its incredible work in Atlanta, I immediately thought the Cincinnati community would benefit from having Jewish Fertility Foundation in Cincinnati. We’re now working to achieve that.

Riva is a retired PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Partner. She has over 33 years of public accounting experience devoted entirely to higher education, academic medical centers and many not-for-profit organizations. Riva’s areas of expertise include financial reporting, internal audit and control services, and auditing organizations with multiple locations in the United States and internationally. She has significant experience working with executive officers and boards of directors.
Riva has significant Jewish community volunteer experience. She is in her 11th year serving in leadership roles with Capital Camps and Retreat Center (CCRC). CCRC is the Washington, D.C. metro community’s Jewish overnight summer camp and year-round retreat facility. She is the immediate past Chair of the Board of CCRC. Riva continues to be an active member of the CCRC Finance and Development Committees and is the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committees. Riva provides guidance to the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington (JFGW) in several areas such as finance and internal controls; she is a member of the JFGW Board, Operational Excellence Committee, Finance Committee and is currently the Chair of the Audit Committee. Riva also is a member of the Budget & Finance Committee and Chair of the Audit Committee at Charles E. Smith Jewish Day School. Finally, Riva is a member of the Finance Committee of Momentum.
Riva earned a B.S. degree in Accounting from Binghamton University. She lives in Potomac, Maryland and is married to Danny Ball and together they have a daughter (Ariella) who attends the University of Maryland and a son (Jonah) in 11th grade.

WHY JFF?
It really was not that long ago that Riva and Danny struggled, like many others, with having children. Ever the accountant, Riva figured if she just followed the “audit program”, surely everything would tick and tie. Oh, but it wasn’t that easy. Nine different procedures over four years; two different fertility clinics. Lots of heartache and other feelings took over. At the time, there was not any organization which they could lean on for support. When Riva became familiar with JFF, the organization spoke to her. She immediately reached out to learn more and decided that she wanted to become part of the JFF mission to support the next generation with their fertility challenges.

Debra Meyer is an investment advisor for Moonstone Asset Management, a boutique advisory firm located in Northbrook, IL. She works remotely from Atlanta, where she has resided with her family for the last year and a half. She previously worked in management consulting and later at a high-growth tech start-up, before settling into a career in wealth management. She holds an MBA from Northwestern's Kellogg School of Management and received her undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University. Debra currently serves as Treasurer for Slingshot, a non-profit focused on engaging young Jewish philanthropists to make a lasting impact on the Jewish world and beyond.

Why JFF
My husband and I are blessed to be the parents of our 16 month-old daughter, Daphne (in addition to her two golden retriever sisters). In the early days of our fertility challenges, we knew very few people who had been through what we were going through. The process was emotionally taxing, financially stressful, and highly isolating. We weren't fortunate enough to be living in a JFF city at the time to have known about the incredible community and resources available. Today, we are grateful to be part of a strong network of peers who have been through the same challenges we have and the difference that makes is insurmountable. It is my honor to be a part of JFF and help foster this very needed community.

My name is Joanne Aronovitz. I live in Huntington Woods, Michigan with my husband,
Danny. We have been married for 37 years. I have three children, Sara, Ben who is married
to Jill and Anna. They all now reside in our Detroit community, after having lived in New York
and Chicago.
I am an interior designer and have been working in the field for 39 years. I do both
residential and commercial design.
Currently, I serve on three community boards; Hebrew Free Loan which provides interest
free loans to Jewish people in Michigan, JARC (board member and past Vice-President)
which provides care for developmentally disabled people, and Jewish Senior Life which
provides residential care for the elderly. Previously, I packed and delivered meals through
NCJW’s Kosher Meals on Wheels program and have been active at my synagogue
Congregation Shaarey Zedek. My passion has always been to elevate the Jewish
community.
As soon as I met Elana Frank at the International Lion of Judah conference, I knew Jewish
Fertility Foundation was missing from my community and I wanted to make it happen in the
Detroit area. JFF is a vital service that will provide our future community families the help
they may need to begin their own family.

Quinton Katler, MD, MSc, FACOG, is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) and board eligible in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). Dr. Katler received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. From there, he went on to receive his medical degree from the American Medical Program at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel. He then completed his residency in OB/GYN at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In 2019 he moved to Atlanta, Georgia for his REI Fellowship training at Emory University. During this time, he was recognized for his excellence in both clinical and laboratory research.
WHY JFF:
Dr. Katler is proud to serve as an advocate for those facing infertility. He has conducted advocacy efforts on a local level by improving access to care for Jewish couples in Atlanta, as well as on a national level through research efforts for gender/sexual and racial/ethnic minorities. Additionally, Dr. Katler is an active member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) LGBTQ Special Interest Group.

As an avid researcher, Dr. Katler has contributed to numerous publications, presentations, and committees exploring such topics as LGBTQIA+ family-building, recurrent pregnancy loss, egg freezing, and infertility care for marginalized communities, among others. He is a member of several professional organizations, including ASRM, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (SREI).
Dr. Katler provides patient care at SGF’s Atlanta – Northside location. In his spare time, Dr. Katler enjoys yoga, tennis, and going on hikes and local adventures with his husband and two dogs.

Naomi Korb Weiss is a Senior Consultant at TCC Group, a national social sector consulting firm. She brings over 14 years of experience in nonprofit management and executive leadership with expertise in strategic planning, program design, operations, and training and professional development. Since beginning at TCC Group, she has worked with a range of clients including the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Jewish Education Project, Honeymoon Israel, the Jewish Funders Network, Bard Prison Initiative, the Danville Regional Foundation, and The Actors Fund.

Naomi is a frequent speaker, facilitator and consultant to organizations and entrepreneurs across the country. Before joining TCC, she was CEO of the PresenTense Group – an international nonprofit focused on training and mentoring Jewish social entrepreneurs – where she led the organization through a period of strategic growth over five years, expanding its reach into new markets and new products to meet evolving customer demand. Naomi managed and developed PresenTense’s Design Thinking curriculum and built a Train-the-Trainer model to scale its reach.

Previously Naomi worked in experiential education, managing training and leadership development at the Foundation for Jewish Camp and JEXNET, and serving as Special Assistant to the President at Hillel’s International Center.

Naomi earned her MBA in Strategy and MPA in Nonprofit Management from NYU’s Stern School of Business and Wagner School of Public Service, where she was a Wexner Graduate Fellow. Naomi also holds a B.S. in Marketing and Rhetoric from the University of Maryland. She is a graduate of Babson College’s Symposium on Entrepreneurship Education and of Advanced Education’s Transformational Leadership Program.

WHY JFF?

Jewish family is at the core of Jewish community life. Increasingly, Jewish families are looking more and more diverse, and for many - having biological children easily is not a given. For my husband and me, it has taken a 6-year journey and many many procedures and injections to bring two beautiful children into the world. Infertility can be incredibly isolating and even bring about feelings of shame; support and community help to counter those challenging realities. The Jewish Fertility Foundation takes a strategic, community-based approach to supporting individuals financially and emotionally, and I would be honored to help it grow its incredible impact! I believe my experience and connections running a Jewish organization and partnering with countless agencies and philanthropists would be an asset to JFF.

Meryl B. Rosenberg is an attorney who specializes in assisted reproductive technology (ART) law and has helped intended parents world-wide build their families through surrogacy, gamete donation, embryo donation, second-parent and stepparent adoption for almost 30 years. Meryl's clients are intended parents, gestational surrogates, donors, both partnered and single and of any sexual orientation. Among the many non-profit organizations she actively participates in, Ms. Rosenberg is a current Board Trustee and Fellow of the Academy of Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, past member of its ART executive committee and chair of its ART membership committee; is past chair and member of the executive board of the Legal Professional Group of ASRM; is past co-chair of the Legal Advisory Committee of Path2Parenthood (now Family Equality); is a member of the executive committee of the ABA Reproductive Technology Committee of the Family Law Section and is the current lianson for the CLE Committee to the Family Law Section, serving on the CLE Committee of that Section; is a member of Family Law Institute of the LGBTQ Bar; is a professional member of RESOLVE; and is on the Advisory Board of The Cade Foundation.

One of Meryl’s passions is working collaboratively with fellow attorneys to spearhead positive change in legislation affecting those who build their families through ART and was instrumental in the passage of the 2016 DC surrogacy law, and in drafting the final ABA Model Act Governing Assisted Reproduction (2019) and the ABA Model Act ABA Model Act Governing Assisted Reproductive Technology Agencies (2016). Meryl has been a guest lecturer for the University of Maryland School of Law and the American University Washington College of Law. She is a frequent speaker for the ABA Family Law Section, AAAA, ASRM, Rainbow Families DC, P2P/Family Equality, Men Having Babies, and other organizations on relevant topics surrounding ART and family building. Meryl is also active with a number of national and international philanthropic organizations, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington, The Jewish Community Foundation (formerly The United Jewish Enowment Fund), Tikkun Olam Women’s Foundation, and Project Interchange of AJC.

WHY JFF?
I have assisted clients in the world of infertility for more than 30 years. What has always struck me as an issue especially for those wanting to have a family that is unable to do without the assistance of professionals working in the infertility space is the high cost of building a family this way. Also lacking is adequate support, both emotionally and from an education perspective, for those going through infertility. JFF is an incredible organization, whose mission it is to assist those seeking to build their family working in the infertility space financially, educationally, and emotionally. It is a unique organization that I am excited to be a part of and I am looking forward to building on the successes of JFF and to spreading its impact to an even greater degree.

Joey Hurd is honored to be on the Jewish Fertility Foundation's Board, representing the Radow Family Foundation, a name that is synonymous with gratitude, generosity, and compassion; values that align with Joey’s personal character and beliefs. Joey joined the Radow Foundation after having previously served as a CIO for a commercial real estate investment and development firm.
Joey earned a B.A. in Strategic Communications from Ohio State University. He also serves on the board of Wisconsin Badger Camp, and holds advisory positions with the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta. He is a graduate of the Tritt Leadership Fellows program, an Atlanta-based cohort that strives to develop the next generation of philanthropic leaders. In his free time, Joey enjoys spending time with his family, golfing, wine, and cheering on Kennesaw State University.

Pavna K. Brahma, M.D., FACOG, is a board certified reproductive endocrinologist. She earned her medical degree and completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Brahma completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Emory University. During fellowship, her research in reproductive immunology was awarded a Prize Paper award at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) national meeting. Her fellowship thesis on the regulation of inflammation in adipose tissue was awarded the Basic Science Research award by Emory’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Brahma has practiced in Atlanta for over 10 years and has experience in assisted reproductive technologies and advanced reproductive procedures. Her clinical interests include optimizing outcomes in patients with diminished ovarian reserve, advances in vitro fertilization, recurrent pregnancy loss, fertility preservation, and polycystic ovary syndrome. Dr. Brahma has produced several publications and research presentations in the fields of endocrinology, infertility, and reproductive immunology.

She is a fellow of the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Brahma is passionate about advancements in women’s health, and she is an appointed member of the Women in Healthcare Board of the Atlanta Women’s Foundation. Dr. Brahma’s most precious professional accomplishments are the awards she has received for patient care. She is married to Barun Brahma, M.D., a pediatric neurosurgeon at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and they have two children. She enjoys international travel, yoga and flower arranging in her free time.

Dr. Groll is currently the Managing Partner at SpringCreek Fertility. He has served as Medical Director at Kettering Reproductive Medicine, Chief Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at 88th Surgical Operations Squadron at Wright-Patterson AFB, in Ohio and was an Assistant Professor at Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine in Dayton Ohio.

He is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, a Fellow with the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and was an editorial reviewer for Fertility and Sterility.

Dr. Groll has been published in several medical journals including the Fertility and Sterility, ASRM Journal and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism. He has given presentations for the Society for Gynecologic Investigations, ASRM, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Endocrine Society.

When not working he enjoys spending time with family, fine dining, travel, barbecue, making ice cream, art, running, wrestling and Notre Dame football.

Dr. Groll's vision is to allow easy access and care for fertility patients, he is excited to extend his reach to the Jewish community.

Deidre Downs Gunn, MD, is a reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist and board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist at the University of Alabama-Birmingham (UAB) Medical Center, where she is the medical director of the in vitro fertilization program.

Deidre was also Miss America 2005, and during her year of service she was a spokesperson for CureSearch National Childhood Cancer Foundation. After completing her term as Miss America, she resumed her studies and graduated with her M.D. from the UAB Marnix E. Heersink School of Medicine. She also completed her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at UAB, where she was an administrative chief resident and the recipient of a medical student teaching award as well as the Chairman’s Award.

After residency, she stayed at UAB for her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility and then joined the faculty as an assistant professor and attending physician. She was recognized in the “Top 40 Under 40” in Birmingham in 2018 for her work as an advocate for LGBTQ patients. Her clinical interests include reproductive surgery, IVF, access to care, and mental health.

Deidre and her wife Abbott live in Homewood, Alabama with son Jack, a sixth-grader, and their daughter Ella, born in August 2021.

Quinton Katler, MD, MSc, FACOG, is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) and board eligible in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). Dr. Katler received his undergraduate degree from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. From there, he went on to receive his medical degree from the American Medical Program at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel. He then completed his residency in OB/GYN at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. In 2019 he moved to Atlanta, Georgia for his REI Fellowship training at Emory University. During this time, he was recognized for his excellence in both clinical and laboratory research.

Dr. Katler is proud to serve as an advocate for those facing infertility. He has conducted advocacy efforts on a local level by improving access to care for Jewish couples in Atlanta, as well as on a national level through research efforts for gender/sexual and racial/ethnic minorities. Additionally, Dr. Katler is an active member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) LGBTQ Special Interest Group.

As an avid researcher, Dr. Katler has contributed to numerous publications, presentations, and committees exploring such topics as LGBTQIA+ family-building, recurrent pregnancy loss, egg freezing, and infertility care for marginalized communities, among others. He is a member of several professional organizations, including ASRM, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (SREI).

Dr. Katler provides patient care at SGF’s Atlanta – Northside location. In his spare time, Dr. Katler enjoys yoga, tennis, and going on hikes and local adventures with his husband and two dogs.

Audrey M. Marsidi, MD FACOG is an Assistant Professor and the Director of Third Party
Reproduction at the Emory Reproductive Center. She is a native of Tennessee, where she
completed her undergraduate and medical school training. She graduated with a BS in Biology from Rhodes College, where she also served as the Director of the Rhodes College Women’s Center and was awarded the Scholarship for Academic Excellence. While in medical school she served as Chair of the Student Women in Medicine, Co-Chair of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Interest Group, and was elected by her faculty and peers to serve as a member on the Honor Council and the Committee on Gender and Sexuality. Upon graduation from medical school at Quillen College of Medicine, she was awarded the Ann Tranum Hawkin’s Award for Excellence in Women’s Health.
She went on to complete residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Connecticut, where she was invited to present her research at multiple national conferences and received Best Research Award from Connecticut Research Day. She moved with to Atlanta in 2017 to complete her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Emory University and joined the faculty as an Assistant Professor and Director of Third Party Reproduction. She is dedicated to providing individualized and compassionate, evidence-based fertility care.
Dr. Marsidi’s clinical interests include PCOS, Diminished ovarian reserve, Optimizing outcomes for patients with infertility, improving access to ART, fertility preservation, transgender fertility, and third-party reproduction. Her prior research has focused on fertility sparing treatments for patients with endometrial cancer, a laboratory model for in-vitro spermatogenesis, as well as national outcomes of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) associated with advanced paternal age using data from Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology Clinic Outcome Reporting System. Dr. Marsidi has presented her work in peer-reviewed journals and at national scientific and clinical meetings, including American Society for Reproductive Medicine and Pacific Coast Reproductive Society.
Dr. Marsidi is double board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She has received numerous awards for Excellence in patient care and patient satisfaction. She is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, WPATH, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Dr. Marsidi’s interests outside of medicine include foreign travel, live music, scuba diving, acrylic painting, and spending time with her family.

Dr. Malizia is a native of Montclair, New Jersey, and graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University where she was the recipient of the Top Female Scholar-Athlete Scholarship. Dr. Malizia received her medical degree from the University of North Carolina where she was the recipient of an NIH Research Training Grant and an International Medical Fellowship award. She subsequently completed a residency in Ob/Gyn at the University of Alabama at Birmingham in 2005, during which time she won the Argus Medical Student Association Best Resident Teacher Award and the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons Resident Achievement Award. In 2008, Dr. Malizia completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center where she was an instructor at Harvard Medical School. Her clinical training was at Boston IVF, one of the largest in vitro fertilization programs in the United States. The author of over 20 publications, Dr. Malizia’s research on in vitro fertilization outcomes has been published in multiple journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, the nation’s premier medical journal.

Dr. Malizia has been elected to the national listing of Best Doctors and has received the B Metro award for Top Women in Medicine. Dr. Malizia has served on several local and national committees including the SART Advertising Committee and is on the board of the International Association of Eating Disorders Professionals. Prior to her medical career, Dr. Malizia was a member of the Cornell University Lacrosse team and then worked at a large Wall Street investment bank. Dr. Malizia specializes in infertility and reproductive surgery. She welcomes patients with a range of issues including infertility, irregular periods, fibroids and pregnancy loss. She lives in Birmingham with her husband, four children and their black lab. Dr. Malizia enjoys photography and time at the lake with her family.

Dr. Bonnie Patel is a Board Certified Specialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at ACRM. Dr. Patel came to ACRM from Wake Forest University where she had been a practicing Reproductive Endocrinologist since 2012.

Dr. Patel completed her Fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Case Western Reserve University in 2015. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from University of Georgia in 2004, graduating summa cum laude with Highest Honors. She then completed her Medical Degree at The Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine in Augusta, GA in 2008. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine at Greenville Memorial Hospital, where she was elected by faculty and peers to serve as chief resident from 2011-2012. During residency, she was the recipient of the Thompson B. Gailey award for highest CREOG scores.

In addition to being a practicing Reproductive Endocrinologist at Wake Forest Baptist Health, Dr Patel also served as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wake Forest University.

Dr. Bonnie Patel's clinical interests include oncofertility, assisted reproduction and minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Patel is a member of American Society of Reproductive Medicine, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists.

Dr. Bonnie Patel stated:“It is such a blessing to be able to help someone who has been struggling with infertility to finally achieve a pregnancy. I am looking forward to meeting new patients and helping them achieve their dreams of building a family.”

Shayne M. Plosker, M.D., is the Medical Director of Shady Grove Fertility of Tampa Bay and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Collaborative Faculty at the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine. He received his medical degree from the University of Western Ontario, where he also completed his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Following residency, he completed his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Plosker has published numerous peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, book chapters, and review articles in many leading scientific journals, and has been invited to present and consult nationally and internationally. He is the recipient of multiple scientific and teaching awards as well as awards for exemplary patient care, such as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine Star Award, News and World Report Top 10% of Doctors Nationwide, Best Doctors in America in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Tampa Magazine’s Top Infertility Physicians as chosen by his physician peers since 2017.

Prior to joining Shady Grove Fertility of Tampa Bay, Dr. Plosker was a full-time faculty at the University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa. While at USF, he served as Division Director of USF IVF and Reproductive Endocrinology, and Medical Director of IVF at Tampa General Hospital from 2006-2019.

Dr. Plosker is an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, and the Florida Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. His interests include assisted reproductive technologies, pre-implantation genetic testing (PGT), fertility preservation, and international infertility care.

Alex Polotsky, M.D., M.Sc., FACOG, earned his medical degree from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, New York. At first, he had a strong interest in becoming a general internal medicine doctor. But it was during his clinical rotations that he was exposed to reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and knew he wanted to dedicate his expertise to a narrow specialty where he is expected to be an expert in all aspects of fertility care rather than a broader field.

Upon completing his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell Medical Center, Dr. Polotsky returned to the Albert Einstein College of Medicine for his fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. While there, he subsequently earned his Master of Science degree in Clinical Research where his thesis extensively explored the links between adolescent obesity and reduced lifetime fertility. Dr. Polotsky has an extensive teaching record at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and the University of Colorado where he became a full Professor of OB/GYN, Fellowship Director for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and sat on many Doctoral/Master’s Thesis Committees.

Dr. Polotsky is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). He is a board examiner for REI with the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ABOG). His passion for REI stems from the field’s unique combination of medical management and surgical procedures along with the importance of psychological care for patients.

Beyond treating patients for infertility, Dr. Polotsky is actively involved in research. Key research focuses include the reproductive epidemiology and predictors of IVF success and connections between obesity and infertility as well as male infertility.

An avid contributor to peer-reviewed journals, Dr. Polotsky has published more than 80 articles featuring topics like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), assisted reproductive technology, connections between ethnicity and reproductive ability, effects of body mass on fertility (men and women), and more. He co-authored with Dr. Nanette Santoro a chapter entitled “Nutrition and Reproduction” for the Yen and Jaffe’s Reproductive Endocrinology, the most recommended book in the field. Additionally, his nearly 100 presentations on scientific abstracts have jet-set Dr. Polotsky to Italy, Canada, Switzerland, Austria, Israel as well as across the United States.

Dr. Polotsky sees patients in SGF Colorado’s Denver location. In his free time, Dr. Polotsky enjoys skiing, biking, and hiking with his wife and five children.

Dr. Reynolds completed her undergraduate education in microbiology and Spanish at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She subsequently completed her medical training at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine which earning research accolades.

After completing medical school, Dr. Reynolds continued her medical education at Trihealth Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program in Cincinnati, training at one of the highest-volume, highest-acuity obstetrics programs in the state of Ohio.

Subsequently, she completed a three-year subspecialty training program in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Barnes-Jewish Hospital through Washington University in St. Louis. During this fellowship program she earned multiple awards for her research, including an NIH-funded research grant, and has presented her research locally and internationally.
Dr. Reynolds is board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Reynolds is the Medical Director of the Bethesda Fertility Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. She is actively involved in educating OB/GYN residents through the Trihealth Residency program as the
Director of Medical Education for the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology. Providing personalized care plans and tailored therapies is the main focus of Dr. Reynolds’ clinical practice. She is actively involved in reproductive clinical research, and her main areas of focus are obesity and nutrition, and their effects on fertility.

A deep understanding of infertility and the effects it has on a family guides Dr.Reynolds’ medical practice. For this reason, she is honored to participate in JFF. An inspiring program, JFF provides emotional, educational, and financial assistance to ease the burden of infertility on patients.

Dr. Reynolds lives in Cincinnati with her husband, twin son and daughter, and two mini lop bunnies.

Jessica R. Rubin, MD MSCI, returned to her hometown of Atlanta to join the RBA team of physicians in 2018. She received her B.S. degrees in Science, Technology and Society as well as Hispanic Studies at Vassar College. Dr. Rubin earned her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. Motivated by her interest in women’s health, she completed a four-year residency at Emory University and is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her residency training reinforced her passion for helping couples with reproductive struggles.

Dr. Rubin’s primary clinical interests include fertility preservation, in vitro fertilization, polycystic ovarian syndrome, third party reproduction, and diminished ovarian reserve. Additionally, Dr. Rubin focuses on fertility preservation for women before and after cancer therapy. She is a passionate patient advocate who is dedicated to providing a high-quality, individualized approach to fertility medicine.

Dr. Scheiber graduated with distinction from Stanford University, received his MD from the University of California at San Francisco, and completed his residency in OB/GYN at the University of California at San Diego.

He completed his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Cincinnati and holds graduate degrees in both Public Health and Health & Medical Sciences from the University of California at Berkeley.

Dr. Scheiber is board-certified in both OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Dr. Scheiber is Director of Reproductive Research and Co-Director of the IVF program at IRH. He is also a Volunteer Associate Professor at the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine.

In addition to performing laparoscopic laser, robotic, and pelvic reconstructive surgery, Dr. Scheiber has conducted research and has special interests in embryo development, ovarian stimulation, and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Dr. Scheiber lives in Cincinnati with his wife and three daughters.

Daniel B. Shapiro, M.D. joined Reproductive Biology Associates in 1995. A native of Miami, Florida, he graduated Magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine. He then went on to medical school at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta and it was during this training that Dr. Shapiro first became interested in reproductive medicine by doing a research project with RBA in 1987.

Dr. Shapiro completed fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 1995. Since graduating from fellowship, he has authored and/or co-authored over 50 scientific papers. He is an invited speaker on a number of topics in reproductive medicine and was recently faculty for a post-graduate course at ASRM. He is nationally and internationally known for his work with GnRH antagonists in IVF treatment and has consulted with other practices regarding the efficient use of these drugs.

With the advances made in egg freezing by RBA's lab, under Dr. Peter Nagy, Dr. Shapiro led the effort to establish a working clinical model for RBA's egg bank. Since the opening of the frozen egg bank for egg donation in 2007, Dr. Shapiro has acted as its clinical manager. Prior to this and currently, Dr. Shapiro also serves as RBA's medical director. In addition to his work in ovulation induction for IVF, Dr. Shapiro has interest in the management of PCOS, endometriosis and reproductive surgery.

Dr. Shapiro is board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility. He is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG), and the Society of Reproductive Endocrinologists.

Dr. Shapiro is married with three children. In his spare time he enjoys water sports, skiing, Scrabble with his children, and playing bit parts in community theater.

Stephanie Smeltzer, M.D., joined Atlanta Center for Reproductive Medicine in the summer of 2020. She completed her fellowship training at Duke University in North Carolina.

Dr. Smeltzer earned her undergraduate degree from Samford University and then received her M.D. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine. While at the University of Alabama, she received the John Di Placido Award, presented for Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

Dr. Smeltzer completed her residency training at Baylor College of Medicine where she received the First Place Award for Resident Research Day from the Department of OB/GYN as well as Best Resident from the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

She specializes in medical management, surgical management, and IVF. She is excited to come to Atlanta to join ACRM due to their national reputation for success rates, the expertise of physicians, and the friendliness of the staff, and is looking forward to helping her patients realize their dreams of having a family.

Dr. Smeltzer’s interests outside of medicine include golfing and spending time with her husband and son.

Dr. Spencer is the director of the Reproductive Endocrinology Division and Fellowship in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Emory University. She attended the Sackler School of Medicine at Tel Aviv University in Israel and completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. She then completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and a Masters in Clinical Research at Emory before joining the faculty in 2008. She is board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Her research interests include premature ovarian insufficiency in girls and women with Classic Galactosemia, Fragile X premutation and in cancer survivors. She sees patients at the Emory Reproductive Center who need help getting pregnant or would benefit from advanced reproductive technologies including intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD).

Dr. Daniel E. Stein is the Director of RMA of New York’s Westside office and is Chief of Reproductive Endocrinology at Mount Sinai West Hospital. Dr. Stein has over 24 years of experience as a Reproductive Endocrinologist and fertility specialist and served for eight years as Medical Director of the In Vitro Fertilization program of the former Continuum Reproductive Center before joining RMA of New York in 2014. He is board-certified in both obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. For the past several years Dr. Stein has been recognized by New York Magazine and Castle Connolly as one of New York’s “Best Doctors” as well as a “Top Doctor” by US News and World Report. He has also been included as one of the Best Doctors in America and has received multiple awards from patient advocacy groups for his years of service in the fields of reproductive medicine and fertility. Dr. Stein is recognized as a national leader in the field of reproductive medicine and is on the faculty of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He formerly served for over 15 years on the teaching faculty of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Columbia University School of Medicine. He has authored and co-authored multiple manuscripts and scientific abstracts in both national and international journals.

Dr. Stein completed his residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia (1995), and then completed his fellowship training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School (1997). His specialties include egg freezing, infertility, in vitro fertilization, recurrent implantation failure and recurrent miscarriages.

WHY JFF?

For 25 years I have devoted myself to helping infertile women and couples of all racial and ethnic backgrounds to achieve their dreams of having a child. As a proud Jewish man, father, and physician, I know how much fellow Jews depend on one another for support during the trials and tribulations of infertility. I am here to help.

Eric Surrey is a reproductive endocrinologist at the Colorado Center of Reproductive Medicine in Lone Tree, CO. His undergraduate education was completed at Harvard University and his medical degree was conferred by the University of Pennsylvania School Of Medicine. He is a board certified reproductive endocrinologist who completed residency and fellowship training in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UCLA School of Medicine in Los Angeles, CA. Prior to joining CCRM in 1999, he was an Associate Clinical Professor of Ob-Gyn at UCLA and had been acting director of the Division of Reproductive Medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and medical director of the Assisted Reproductive Technologies program at Century City Hospital in Los Angeles. He is a Past President of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, Society of Reproductive Surgeons and Pacific Coast Reproductive Society and past member of the Board of Directors of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. He served as Scientific Program Chair for the 2008 Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and chair of the Research Review Committee of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology. He has written and lectured extensively on the subjects of infertility, reproductive surgery, endometriosis, as well as numerous aspects of in vitro fertilization and the other assisted reproductive technologies. His research interests have included the impact of endometriosis on assisted reproductive technology outcomes, single embryo transfer and the care of the poor responder. He has been named one of America’s Top Doctors in Reproductive Endocrinology by Castle Connolly as chosen by his peers for over 20 consecutive years.

Suruchi Thakore, MD
Medical Director, West Michigan
IVF Michigan and Ohio Fertility Centers

Dr. Suruchi Thakore is a physician specializing in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She is the Medical Director for the West Michigan offices of IVF Michigan and Ohio Fertility Centers. Prior to moving to Michigan, Dr. Thakore was the Division Director of the University of Cincinnati Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Her clinical interests include third party reproduction, fertility preservation for single women and oncology patients, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and reproductive endocrine disorders. Her current research is focused on quality and performance improvement in the clinical setting, optimization of fertility procedures, social egg freezing, and fertility preservation. Dr. Thakore is a member of AMA, ACOG, SREI and ASR.

Dr. Thakore received her medical degree from the State University of New York (SUNY) at Buffalo School of Medicine in 2009. In 2013, she completed her OB/GYN residency at the Women and Children’s Hospital in Buffalo, NY. In June 2016, she completed her Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship at University Hospitals at Case Western Reserve University and moved to UC Health Center for Reproductive Health at the University of Cincinnati. She is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility.

Dr. Goodman is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as subspecialty board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She is dedicated to providing cutting-edge care to individuals and couples struggling with fertility and reproductive health challenges. She is the recipient of the Excellence Award for Operative Laparoscopy and Operative Hysteroscopy. With a wealth of knowledge and a compassionate approach, Dr. Goodman is a trusted advocate for those seeking to build or expand their families. She serves as the Patient Education Director for The Reproductive Medicine Group.
Dr. Goodman received her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis
where she was elected to the Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. She graduated from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School where she achieved membership to the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor society. She received her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology from Harvard University’s Brigham and Women’s/Massachusetts General Hospital’s Program where she was distinguished as the Administrative Chief Resident. Dr. Goodman completed her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institute. She joined The Reproductive Medicine Group in 2000.
She is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Society of
Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the American Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, and the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Society. She is also involved with local organizations such as REVOLVE, The Springs of Tampa Bay, and Women in Crisis Center. Dr.Goodman has consistently been named among the Best Doctors in America.

Eduardo Hariton is a board certified Ob/Gyn and board eligible reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist. He received his medical training at Harvard, where he completed a combined MD / MBA at Harvard Medical School and Harvard Business School and his Ob/Gyn residency at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital. He completed his fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of California, San Francisco. He is currently a practicing physician at the Reproductive Science Center of the Bay Area in California. He also serves as the VP of Strategic Initiatives at US Fertility and the Managing Director of the USF Innovation Fund. Dr. Hariton combines his clinical and business backgrounds to treat patients and think creatively about how to improve the care they receive when seeking fertility services. He has published extensively on a broad range of topics ranging from infertility treatment outcomes to artificial intelligence, and his work has been published in high impact journals including Fertility and Sterility, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He also serves as an advisor to early stage healthcare companies.

Pam Parker, MD, MPH, FACOG is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology
(OB/GYN) and board eligible in reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). Dr.
Parker received her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from the Honors program at
The University of Maryland - College Park. She went on to complete a dual-degree
program at West Virginia University School of Medicine, receiving both her medical
degree and a master’s in public health. She then completed her OB/GYN residency with
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA before moving to Portland,
OR, where she completed her fellowship training in REI at Oregon Health & Sciences
University. Dr. Parker is a member of The Gold Humanism Society and has received
several distinguished awards recognizing her commitment to patient care, advocacy,
research, and teaching. She has been invited to present her research at the local,
regional, and national level and has several peer-reviewed publications.
She is a fierce advocate for her patients and anyone in need of reproductive assistance.
Dr. Parker is passionate about expanding access to care, lobbying for reproductive
justice, and improving outcomes through evidence-based medical research. She has
worked locally to improve awareness of fertility preservation options among young
professionals within UPMC and The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. She
also serves nationally with the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) to
improve online educational modules for OB/GYN residents and serves as peer reviewer
for Fertility & Sterility and Obstetrics & Gynecology. She is a member of several
professional organizations including ASRM, The American College of Obstetricians &
Gynecologists (ACOG), The Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
(SREI), and The Association of Professors of Gynecology & Obstetrics (APGO).
She is currently an assistant professor at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where
she serves as the associate program director for REI fellowship, the director of resident
education in REI, and the director of the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome Care Center at
UPMC. In her spare time, she enjoys theatre, music, new food stops, and spending time
with her husband, two boys, and golden retriever. She is a Pittsburgh native who grew
up in Squirrel Hill’s vibrant Jewish community and would love nothing more than to give
back to those in need.

Jessica Bauer, MD, MS, FACOG is double board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology as well as Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. As a fertility specialist, Dr. Bauer is committed to a patient-centered approach to all aspects of fertility and reproduction. She values cultivating relationships with patients, partners, and family members to achieve the best possible outcomes. Dr. Bauer firmly believes patient care should be grounded in education. She prides herself on giving her patients ample time to discuss, create, and execute treatment plans that are individualized for each couple.
Dr. Bauer’s areas of interest include fertility awareness and fertility preservation among all individuals who are considering becoming parents. She also enjoys management of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), uterine fibroids, endometriosis, all aspects of male infertility, as well as couples interested in the use of egg and sperm donors and gestational carriers (surrogacy). Dr. Bauer is also committed to education and family building in the LGBTQIA+ community. Dr. Bauer speaks Spanish and is pleased to serve the community of South Florida. Dr. Bauer lives in Jupiter, FL with her husband, son and mini poodle, Penelope. In addition to long walks and the dog park, they enjoy spending time boating and eating good food with family and friends. She is
thrilled to join the exceptional JFF Medical Advisory Council!
“ Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future. ”
– Robert Schuller

Dr. Michael Mersol-Barg is the Medical and Laboratory Director of Michigan
Reproductive Medicine. He is also an Associate Professor of Obstetrics &
Gynecology at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine and at
Wayne State University School of Medicine.
He has been a high complexity laboratory director for over 25 years. Dr. Mersol-
Barg has served as an inspector for the College of American Pathologists’
Reproductive Laboratory Accreditation program, where he visited IVF labs
around the country to evaluate and advise them.
Dr. Mersol-Barg is a 2015-2017 Clinical Research/Reproductive Scientist
Training (CREST) Scholar which is a joint training program awarded by the
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), the Clinical
Research Training Program (CRTP) at Duke University, and the American
Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). This is a highly competitive program
where only a few physicians throughout the country are chosen to participate.
After graduating from The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Dr. Mersol-
Barg completed his internship and residency training in OB/GYN at Johns
Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. He then continued his fellowship training in
reproductive endocrinology & infertility at The Ohio State University. He received
the Berlex Research Foundation Faculty Development Award, which started his
interest and focus on evidence-based medicine. Dr. Mersol-Barg is board
certified in obstetrics & gynecology and in the subspecialty of reproductive
endocrinology & infertility. Dr. Mersol-Barg is on staff at Beaumont Health-Royal
Oak and Troy, Detroit Medical Center and St. Joseph Mercy Oakland.
An experienced and respected fertility doctor and scientist, Dr. Mersol-Barg has
published peer reviewed papers and ongoing research in the areas of hormone
therapy, IVF, egg freezing and pelvic surgery.
He has presented research findings and scientific data at both national and
international meetings. He serves as a reviewer for peer review journals such as
Fertility & Sterility and The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology, currently
serving on their editorial board.
Dr. Mersol-Barg shows his commitment to serving the Michigan community as
president of the Michigan Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility
since 2002, and as president of the Michigan Oncofertility Society, which Dr.
Mersol-Barg founded in 2012 to educate doctors and patients on cancer and
fertility preservation here in Michigan. Our practice, Michigan Reproductive
Medicine, is a nationally recognized Oncofertility Center of Excellence and a
member of its Physician National Cooperative Network.
Dr. Mersol-Barg is the physician representative for Michigan in the national
SMART (States Monitoring Assisted Reproductive Technology) Collaborative,

which actively works with the Michigan Department of Health and Human
Services and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) towards
studying the health outcomes of mothers and babies born by means of assisted
reproductive technologies, such as IVF. Linking treatments to results will help
fertility doctors improve and optimize their care for men and women needing
therapy. Dr. Mersol-Barg is a co-author on studies published and ongoing
through the SMART Collaborative. He was elected in 2010 as the current Chair
of the State of Michigan’s Fertility Advisory Committee, which works with
Michigan’s Department of Health and Human Services.
Dr. Mersol-Barg’s peers have voted for him as one of Hour Magazine’s “Top
Docs” for many years, including the current award for 2022-2023. A large number
of physicians have further honored him by choosing Dr. Mersol-Barg for their
medical care. A national independent group named Dr. Mersol-Barg a “Super
Doctor”, the Expert Network recently named him a “Distinguished Doctor” for
being in the top 3% of physicians in the United States, and US News and World
Report recognizes Dr. Mersol-Barg as a “Top Doctor”.

From Michigan Center for Fertility and Women's Health, Dr. Nicole Budrys is a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and pediatric gynecologist. She believes in treating the whole person, not just a specific symptom. Dr. Budrys’ interests include female and male fertility, menstrual disorders, premature ovarian failure, pediatric and adolescent gynecology.

A true Michigan girl, she received her undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, before attending Wayne State University School of Medicine. She completed her residency in OB/GYN at Royal Oak Beaumont and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio. She began her career with the University of Oklahoma before returning to Michigan; first at Henry Ford and now as part of the Michigan Center for Fertility & Women’s Health medical team.

Dr. Illions joined the Center in 2021. Previously, he was the Medical Director of the Advanced Reproductive Medicine section at the University of Colorado. And previously, he was the practice director at the Montefiore’s Institute for Reproductive Medicine at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. In addition, he developed and led their Fertility Preservation Program.

He completed his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology while in the US Air Force at the National Institutes of Health and Walter Reed Army Medical Center. He acquired training in reproductive surgery, advanced reproductive technologies including in-vitro fertilization, and the management of complex endocrine disorders in women. He completed his medical career in the Air Force in 1993 as a Lieutenant Colonel. He joined the faculty at the University of Florida as the Director of Reproductive Endocrinology in the Jacksonville campus.

He has a keen interest in fertility preservation, reproductive surgery, and recurrent pregnancy loss. He strives to offer comprehensive, evidence-based medical care in a compassionate and personalized setting. He believes that physicians must be good listeners to supply the individualized care that patients have come to expect and endeavors to help patients achieve their family-building goals.