In this episode, host Griffin Jones chats with Lisa Duran, the Chief Experience Officer for the Inception Fertility Network. Duran’s extensive experience in team-focused patient experience programs has led her to help clinics implement programs that impact the way patients and staff alike respond to the clinic. Jones and Duran discuss the changes in the field and how clinics can differentiate by creating a truly customized experience for patients.
23 - Reducing Third-Party Legal Risk in an Era of Limited Anonymity. An Interview with Melissa Brissman
In this episode, host Griffin Jones speaks to Melissa Brissman, an experienced attorney specializing in reproductive law. In addition to practicing law with a focus on reproduction for the last 21 years, Brissman also acted as her own attorney as she had twin sons and a daughter via gestational carrier. An advisor to a variety of organizations and an experienced keynote speaker, Brissman was the 2017 Advocacy Award recipient from Path to Parenthood. Today, Jones and Brissman discuss the differences between a contract and consent, the changes coming to fruition thanks to recent laws, and more.
22 - Benefits and Barriers of International Fertility Care. An Interview with Lori Whalen, R.N.
In this episode, host Griffin Jones speaks to Lori Whalen, a RN who currently works at HRC in Southern California as the international IVF coordinator. Whalen speaks across the country about topics such as compassion fatigue, so Jones invited her to discuss the intricacies related to international IVF as well as the ways to combat the compassion fatigue that often accompanies this high-pressure field.
Stand Up for People on Mother's Day
“Everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.”
I believe this maxim is empirically true, though I see two very different ways of internalizing it. This principle of empathy is no small part of what drew me to the infertility community, years ago. I was touched by this large group of people who felt left out, misunderstood, unjustly embarrassed, and isolated.
Mother’s Day is a particularly focused moment in which we see this axiom of others’ battles manifests in at least two very distinct ways.
21 - Should All Women in their 20s Consider Egg Freezing and Is It Attainable? An Interview with Valerie Landis
In this episode, host Griffin Jones talks to Valerie Landis, a proponent and advocate for egg freezing who has not only documented her own journey of freezing her eggs, but works actively to educate young women about the advantages of freezing their eggs in their 20s. Jones and Landis had a spirited discussion about the pros and cons of egg freezing.
20 - Breaking the Stigma of Infertility through Film: Maya Grobel, Infertility Advocate
In this episode, host Griffin Jones spoke to Maya Grobel, a licensed social worker and psychotherapist who focuses on working with people experiencing infertility; additionally, Grobel and her husband, Noah Moskin, created a feature-length documentary about their own infertility journey titled One More Shot. Jones and Grobel discuss her own personal journey as well as the need for education about embryo donation.
19 - The Impact of Culture in the Fertility Community: Caroline Harries, Infertility Advocate
In this episode, host Griffin Jones speaks to Caroline Harries, author and influencer in the infertility community. Harries’ blog In Due Time as well as her book of the same title reaches out to people who need encouragement during tough seasons of their life, and her support group, Moms in the Making, specifically reaches out to women at different stages of the infertility journey who are seeking support and encouragement. Jones and Harries discuss the place that Harries has carved out in the infertility community for people of faith as well as the importance of creating a continuously positive space within the community.
18 - How Physician Fertility Can Impact Patients: Dr. Nichole Barker and Stephanie Fattal
This week, host Griffin Jones speaks to a provider and their patient to get a perspective on the fertility journey from both sides. Dr. Nichole Barker, a board certified REI practicing in Tacoma, Washington, is joined by her patient, Stephanie Fattal. Dr. Barker speaks about her own infertility journey and how that changed the way she practices medicine, and Fattal discusses how it felt to work with a REI that truly understood the patient’s point of view.
17 - Life Beyond a Baby: An Interview with Tia Gendusa
On this episode, host Griffin Jones talks to infertility influencer and advocate Tia Gendusa, the co-founder of the upcoming Infertile AF Summit on Saturday, April 27, 2019 in Rosemont, IL. Jones and Gendusa discussed the value of the infertility community on social media and in the blogosphere as well as the importance of recognizing that there is success to be found after infertility.
16 - What Does Wall Street Want with the Fertility Field? An Interview with David Sable, MD
Today, Griffin Jones spoke to Dr. David Sable, who directs healthcare and life science investing for the Special Situations Fund in addition to acting as the portfolio manager for the Special Situations Life Sciences Fund and the Life Sciences Innovation Venture Fund. Dr. Sable’s deep background in reproductive medicine and his interest in entrepreneurship led to a fascinating discussion about the future of reproductive endocrinology and IVF, with a focus on the fear of a private equity takeover and the realities of the large population of underserved people experiencing infertility in America today.
15 - Are Millennials Ruining the Field of Fertility? An Interview with Hannah Johnson
In this episode, Griffin speaks to Hannah Johnson, Director of Operations for Vios Fertility Institute, which has branches in Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis. With a deep background in practice management, Hannah’s the ideal candidate to discuss the joys and challenges that come with working with millennials, as employees and as patients. Hannah appreciates their passionate approach to their work and recognizes that whether we like it or not, practices have to adapt their processes to suit millennials.
14 - Should Fertility Doctors Become Advocacy Leaders? An Interview Dr. Serena H. Chen, MD
In this episode, Griffin speaks to Dr. Serena Chen, director of the division of REI and OB/GYN at Saint Barnabas Medical Center and clinical associate professor at Rutgers and St. George’s University. Dr. Chen strongly advocates physicians embracing social media to maintain cultural competence; she and Griffin discussed how this commitment to connection helps doctors communicate with patients and how embracing advocacy can prevent physician burnout.
13 - Should Doctors Become Media Personalities? An Interview with Dan Nayot, MD
In this episode, Griffin speaks to Dr. Dan Nayot. Dr. Nayot, an REI in Toronto, Ontario, has established a reputation as a media personality, thanks to his appearance on CTV’s “The Social” and his own show on YouTube, “Ask Dr. Dan.” Griffin and Dr. Nayot discuss the importance of finding your own platform and the importance of creating a five-star experience for each patient.
12 - Technology: Will It Eat IVF? An Interview with Bob Huff from Imagine Fertility
In this episode, Griffin talks with Bob Huff, the Chief Technical Officer of Imagine Fertility, a software that seamlessly blends documentation with EMRs and a variety of third-party software solutions. Griffin and Bob chat about the impact that software with walls has had on everything from practice management to patient care and what the future holds for tech in fertility practices.
11 - Is Public Relations a Hat Every Physician Partner Should Wear? An Interview with Dr. Lora Shahine
In this episode, Griffin chats with Dr. Lora Shahine about the importance of public relations and content creation. Dr. Shahine is an REI specializing in infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss at Pacific Northwest Fertility and IVF Specialists in Seattle, WA. She has written three books and many blog posts for outlets such as the Huffington Post, not to mention her social media presence.
10 - Is Face-to-Face Contact Still Relevant for Networking REIs? An Interview with Dr. Jason Franasiak
In this episode, Griffin talks to Dr. Jason Franasiak. Dr. Franasiak works with RMA of New Jersey, and he has joined Griffin to discuss the importance of professional networking. Even during his fellowship, Dr. Franasiak became an active member of professional organizations, and today he sits on committees for a variety of organizations, including ASRM and PCRS.
9 - Setting Expectations between Practice Owners and New Doctors: An Interview with Holly Hutchison
In this episode, Griffin talks to Holly Hutchison. Holly and her brother, Dr. Scott Hutchison, operate Reproductive Health Center in Tucson, Arizona. Holly and Griffin discuss the importance of establishing key performance indicators to ensure that partnerships begin successfully and go the distance. Additionally, Holly and Griffin tackle the importance quality of life plays in their practice and the need to establish boundaries related to that early in a partnership.
8 - How Can We Set Our REI Nurses Up for Success? An Interview with Monica Moore
In this episode, Griffin spoke with Monica Moore, a former nurse practitioner who currently consults with fertility practices around the globe from her home base in Florida. They discussed the topic of nursing staff retention, how to prevent burnout, and the importance of emphasizing employee engagement.
7 - Does Selling Your REI Practice Help Patients or Limit Care with Dr. John Storment
In this episode, Griffin talks to Dr. John Storment, a successful REI practicing in Louisiana. Dr. Storment talks about the potential pitfalls of accepting an offer from a private equity group, and how that can impact the way that you practice, as well as the importance of understanding the business side of your medical practice.
6 - The Disconnect Between REI Patients and Providers with Tracey and Sara from IVF Babble
In this episode, Griffin talks with Sara Marshall-Page and Tracey Bambrough, co-founders of IVF Babble about their online magazine and other efforts in the fertility community. They delve into the differences between an online magazine and a blog, the value that their site has for providers, their work with My Fertility Buddy, what it means to have a pineapple badge, and much more!