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103 - Supply vs Demand and Artificial Intelligence in the Fertility Field with Dr. Robert Stillman

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Understanding the past can often help create clarity for the future. Many industries are changing rapidly these days and Fertility practices are not immune. Changes from scientific advancements, culture, and consumers all play a role in the landscape shift of the industry. When you add technology to the mix, advancements start snowballing rapidly.

This week on Inside Reproductive Health I interviewed Dr. Robert Stillman, a Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinology and Fertility subspecialist with over 40 years of experience. We recount his experience from beginning to the present and what he deems will be important in the future. He has direct experience with the integration of private equity capital into fertility practice and has led trends in practice financing, technology (e.g. AI, genetic testing, egg freezing), physician and staff recruitment, retainment, compensation, partnership tract, and retirement paradigms.

In this episode, we talk about Dr. Stillman’s insight into the industry and big trends we are seeing including how Artificial Intelligence is and will continue to shift the industry. We also talk about:

  • How Private Equity effects Fertility Practice

  • What changes have happened in the Fertility field over the last 20 years

  • How has consolidation and expansion has affected the REI landscape

  • How Bob was able to successfully work with the academic centers


To learn more about our Goal and Competitive Diagnostic, visit us at FertilityBridge.com.

102 - Understanding the Fertility Marketing System: Part 2, with Griffin Jones

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin goes through all the frequently asked questions we get about working with us and about the Fertility Marketing System. So, if you’ve ever considered working with us, but have been wanting to know more about how we work, this is the episode for you. In addition to answering all the frequently asked questions we hear, Griffin also elaborates on who is the ideal Fertility Bridge client and shares exactly what you need to do to get started working with us.

101 - Understanding the Fertility Marketing System: Part 1, with Griffin Jones

Since the inception of Fertility Bridge, our Fertility Marketing System has helped dozens of fertility clinics and businesses across the world. Our proven system of diagnosis (Goal and Competitive Diagnostic), treatment plan (Fertility Marketing Blueprint), application of treatment (Execution, Oversight, Advisory), and ongoing treatment can be applied to any business in the fertility field.

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin breaks down the Fertility Marketing System, outlining each step of our process, what is involved, and can help you decide which path might be best for your fertility clinic or adjacent business.

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100 - An Inside Look at Merging and Consolidating Fertility Groups, an interview with Mark Segal

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We’ve seen it happen all over the country and you’ve probably seen it in your backyard--clinics are merging and consolidating, absorbing the market share. But with the fall of Integramed in the spring of 2020 and dozens of clinics left in the lurch, mergers and consolidations started to appear more risky.

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin talks to Mark Segal, CEO of Shady Grove Fertility and CEO of the newly-formed US Fertility, a fertility group made up of Shady Grove Fertility, IVF Florida, RSC of the Bay Area, and FCI in Chicago. Despite forming in a pandemic and after the Integramed news, US Fertility’s partnerships thrive--and are geared to keep growing, especially in the next 18 months. So what does that mean for the hundreds of smaller clinics that continue to remain in the field?

99 - Entrepreneurship, Practice Valuation, and Working with Private Equity, an interview with Dr. Andrew Meikle

Are all clinic owners entrepreneurs? Do all physician-owners really have what it takes to successfully run and grow a private practice?

We’ve talked about joining networks, understanding private equity, and entrepreneurship a lot on this podcast, but usually we are talking about high-level practices to get patients in the door and help them convert to treatment. On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, we get a new perspective, one that focuses on entrepreneurship, best business practices, and what it really takes to grow in our field.

Dr. Andrew Meikle is the Founder and CEO of The Fertility Partners, a company based in Canada that aims to empower and enable fertility clinics by providing collaboration and strategic expertise. Through his experience in other healthcare fields and his current work in the fertility field, Dr. Meikle shares his thoughts on clinic ownership and entrepreneurship, what fertility networks are looking for, and important things to keep in mind when considering joining private equity.

98 - Bridging the Gap Between Fertility Marketing and Sales with Griffin Jones

We’re taking a break from our usual show today! On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, our own Griffin Jones talks about the Fertility Patient Marketing Journey, a recap of a recent blog post he wrote that can be found here: https://www.fertilitybridge.com/inside-reproductive-health/2017/10/17/fertilitymarketingfundamentals2018. From the initial touchpoint with potential patients (strangers) to how to continue patient delight post-treatment, Griffin offers his tips on how to make the most out of each phase.

97 - Creating a Seamless Ownership Succession Plan, an interview with Dr. Paul Brezina

Creating a succession plan can be a daunting task for both new REIs entering the field and docs who are ready to retire. New REIs are looking for a place to call “home” that will help them meet their goals, while retiring docs want someone who will carry on their legacy and maintain their core values.

On this episode, Griffin talks to Dr. Paul Brezina, Director of Reproductive Genetics at the Fertility Associates of Memphis. After finishing his fellowship, Dr. Paul Brezina set out to find a private practice to join with the hopes of one day being a managing partner. From day one at Fertility Associates of Memphis, he knew what needed to be done to join the two founding partners of the clinic. While sharing his story, Dr. Paul Brezina shares his thoughts about creating succession plans and what new REIs should be looking and asking for as they set out in their careers in the fertility field.

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96 - How to Decrease 96 Burnout and Build Morale Among Your Nursing Staff, an interview with Sima Taghi Zadeh

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It’s safe to say that fertility nurses play a vital role in the success of any clinic in our field. But nursing burnout can happen quickly causing staffing shortages and even a reduction in conversion to treatment rates. To combat this, clinics need to remain proactive in their efforts to manage nursing overwhelm. So how do you do it?

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin talks to Sima Taghi Zadeh, the Director of Nursing at Pacific Fertility Center of Los Angeles. Sima began her career in fertility as a Medical Assistant, then went on to continue her education and work up the ladder to her current role, all while being a fertility patient herself. Sima’s perspective gives insight into what clinics can do to retain their nurses through empowerment, building morale, and preventing burnout.

The Fundamentals of Fertility Marketing

The Fundamentals of Fertility Marketing

This is an update to an article I wrote in October 2017 called The Eight Fundamentals of Fertility Marketing in 2018. What’s changed about fertility marketing in 2021, 2022, and beyond?

I’m going to show you how to use the four phases of the Fertility Patient Marketing Journey so that you can close the divide between “sales” and marketing. You’ll bridge this gap by balancing your fertility company’s 2021 and 2022 business development strategy with abundant clarity and complete accountability.

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95 - From the Ground Up: How to Grow a Successful Private Fertility Practice, an interview with Dr. Samuel Brown

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Academic clinics, independently-owned private clinics, network clinics. With a variety of options for a new REI to choose from, it’s hard to decide just which one is best.

After working in almost every REI path, Dr. Samuel Brown decided to go out on a limb and start his own practice. Today, Brown Fertility is a flourishing independently-owned fertility clinic located throughout Florida.

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Dr. Brown shares his experiences in all types of career paths and what led him to decide to form his own practice. He tells it all: the ups-and-downs of owning your own clinic, some tips on handling business challenges in a fertility practice, and why he chooses to remain independent despite a changing field. Dr. Brown also offers his perspective on the future of the independent REI clinic.

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94 - How Modern Fertility is Changing the Patient Journey, an interview with Afton Vechery

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After her own experience with fertility testing, Afton Vechery set out to make the testing process easier for millions of women across the country looking for a better understanding of their reproductive health. From day one, Modern Fertility aimed to provide quality, peer-reviewed information to empower young women to have the knowledge they need to make more informed decisions about her fertility.

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Afton shares the Modern Fertility story. She shares how she brought her vision to life, including how she has been able to raise funds from Venture Capital companies. Griffin and Afton also discuss how Modern Fertility hopes to work with fertility clinics to improve the patient experience across the board.

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93 - From Private Practice to Academia: The Benefits of Working in an Academic REI Division, an interview with Dr. Eric Forman

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Dr. Eric Forman currently serves as the Medical and Lab Director at Columbia University in New York City. After his fellowship and early years as an REI in a private practice, Dr. Forman took an opportunity to join one of the most well-known academic REI divisions in the country.

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin and Dr. Forman take a look at both the private practice and the academic REI division models, dissecting the pros and cons of each. From restrictions on care to cumbersome processes, Dr. Forman corrects some preconceived notions and offers his advice to new fellows searching for the right career path for them.

92 - Increasing Access-to-Care for All Patient Populations, an interview with Dr. Marjorie Dixon

Marjorie Dixon is the founder, CEO, and Medical Director of Anova Fertility and Reproductive Health in Toronto, Canada. After completing her training in the States and experiencing what the field was like in her home country of Canada, Dr. Dixon knew she wanted to start a new clinic that used the best technology, provided the best care, and increased access-to-care for the LGBTQI+ population, one that was close to her heart.

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin digs into why Dr. Dixon chose to start her clinic in Toronto and what she does to not only increase the availability of care to all populations, but what she does to make them feel welcome in her practice.

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91 - What to Consider When Starting a De Novo Fertility Clinic, an interview with Dr. Cindy Duke

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Dr. Cindy Duke is the founder Physician, Medical Director, and Lab Director at Nevada Fertility Institute in Las Vegas. While finishing fellowship, Dr. Duke began to pursue a unique start to her career in fertility: a de novo clinic for a fertility network. Combining her passion for research and patient care, she was able to form her own clinic, all while remaining under the umbrella of a supporting network.

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin and Dr. Duke dig into why she chose this career path and just how she was able to get a nationwide network on board. Dr. Duke also shares the balance between influencer and leader in her clinic and the field as a whole. Griffin and Dr. Duke also reminisce about Rochester, New York and the benefits of “small town” fertility clinics.

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90 - The Best of 2020

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As we head into a new (and hopefully better) year, we wanted to take a look back on all the wonderful, inspiring guests we had on Inside Reproductive Health throughout the year. We talked about affordable care, mentoring new staff in the clinic and the lab. We learned about independent clinics and how they thrive despite heavy network competition, networks and how they continue to provide personalized care even after becoming publicly-owned. We talked about reducing physician burnout and increasing patient communication. And so much more.

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, we highlighted your favorite episodes and compiled the best clips into one episode for you to enjoy as 2020 wraps up.

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89 - How to Reduce Physician Burn Out and Increase Patient Satisfaction, an interview with Dr. Serena Chen and Dr. Roohi Jeelani

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Patient advocacy has always been an important part of the fertility field. With great organizations and lots of outspoken patients, patients are receiving more education outside of the clinic. But should physicians be involved in this sort of advocacy, too? Don’t they have enough on their plates?

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin spoke to Dr. Serena Chen of IRMS and Saint Barnabas Medical Center and Dr. Roohi Jeelani of Vios Fertility. Together, they co-authored a recently published paper, “Is Advocacy the solution to physician burnout?” They discuss why physicians should be more involved in advocacy and educating patients outside of their clinic. And why, against what one might think, it could reduce burnout for physicians in the long run.

88 - Cultivating the Provider-Patient Relationship: Improving Communication in Your Clinic, an interview with Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh

Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh is a single-physician practice owner, operating out of her clinic in the San Francisco Bay area. When she entered the field in 2008, she had one goal: reach every person who needs access to fertility care. To her, that doesn’t necessarily mean treating every patient, but it does mean putting out valuable information for patients to help them make informed decisions and, hopefully, help them reach their dreams of becoming pregnant.

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin and Dr. Aimee explore all the ways that she is trying to change the patient-physician relationship through communication both in and outside of her office. From her extended hours and lax phone call policy to her Podcast and YouTube channel, she has made herself accessible to her direct patients and her audience around the world. She shares what our clinics can do to further build their relationship with their patients and help make patient journeys just a little bit easier.

87 - Restarting Growth After Plateauing, an interview with Dr. Matt Retzloff

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin talks to Dr. Matt Retzloff of Fertility Center of San Antonio. This time, they discuss how Fertility Bridge was able to help FCSA increase their new patient appointments, ramp up their referral network, and ultimately increase their retrievals after years of plateauing and even dropping.

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86 - Embryo Disposition: Implications and How to Protect Your Clinic, an interview with Igor Brusil

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The disposing of embryos has long been a controversial topic in the world of IVF. Clinics can’t afford to keep embryos around when patients have stopped paying their bills. But the ethical and legal implications keep embryo disposition from being a simple decision. Plus, patients aren’t really properly educated on what the limitations of cryopreservation are and clinics aren’t always fully prepared with proper consents and contracts when the time comes to freeze embryos.

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin spoke to Igor Brusil, attorney-at-law and per diem embryologist and legal counsel for the American College of Embryology in Houston, Texas. After working as an embryologist, Igor became interested in the ethical and legal implications of lab procedures, specifically embryo disposition. This led him to pursuing a legal degree and working as counsel for a variety of clients, but his focus remained in healthcare law, risk management, and professional liability.

He brought his unique experience to the show, sharing his thoughts on what clinics can do to protect themselves when it comes to the issue of embryo disposition.

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85 - Venture Capital and Its Interests in the Fertility Field, an interview with Dr. David Sable

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Venture Capital has been slowly making its way into the field over the last several years. But just what is it looking to improve?

On this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin talks to Dr. David Sable, a retired REI and current serial investor in biotechnology and other companies that aim to make the field more efficient and accessible by the patients we aim to treat. They discuss what it is going to take to scale to a million cycles in the US and 15 million around the world. From lessons from oncology to bottlenecks holding us back, Dr. Sable shares his biggest hopes for the fertility field and what entrepreneurs need to do to get it to the next level.

Dr. David Sable co-founded and served as director of the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in New Jersey, was founder of Assisted Reproductive Medical Technologies, and was co-founder of Reprogenetics. In addition to serving as a reproductive endocrinologist, Dr. Sable also sought to help the field as a whole by finding investors to create new technology to increase the amount of people served by the field. Today, Dr. Sable is a life sciences portfolio manager, an adjunct at Columbia University, and serves as director, advisor, and board member for a wide range of biotech and advocacy organizations.

Learn more about Dr. David Sable at www.dbsable.com or find him on Twitter @dbsable.