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Summiting Mountains [] Embryologists are the unsung heroes of egg banking
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Embryologists are the unsung heroes of egg banking
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Lynn Mason’s journey from emancipated youth to Wall Street banker to CEO of IVI RMA is a climb that took personal and professional grit, and highlights her commitment to increasing access to healthcare using her collaborative and empathetic leadership.
The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
BY TARA BELLUCCI
Lynn Mason’s journey from an investment banker on Wall Street to the helm of IVI RMA is marked by a commitment to healthcare accessibility. When the largest reproductive medicine group in the world chose Mason, a relative unknown in the fertility space, to run their North American operations in November 2023, some may have been left scratching their heads.
But Mason's career trajectory is filled with experiences that shaped her into a dynamic leader. Growing up in North Carolina, She was encouraged by her parents, neither of whom attended college, to pursue higher education. Her interest in business led her to Wall Street, where she spent six years in investment banking. This period allowed her to observe and learn from those at the pinnacle. "I got to see a whole bunch of different companies and how leaders operate," she says. "I got to truly sit in the seat of a learner with some of the biggest and best companies in the world."
Her experiences on Wall Street ignited a desire to transition to a more hands-on role within a company. She pursued an MBA and was inspired by Kent Thiry, chairman and CEO of DaVita, to consider a career in healthcare. "From that day forward, I've been in love with healthcare and what I can do to first expand access to care," she explains.
"From that day forward, I've been in love with healthcare and what I can do to first expand access to care”
Emancipated youth to top exec
Mason’s personal life also played a significant role in her career choices. She became an emancipated youth at age 15, and the challenges she faced during this period shaped her priorities. "Access to education, access to healthcare, and access to nutrition were always on my mind," she shares. Her commitment to these areas is evident in her career moves, which include senior care (ChenMed), dialysis and kidney care (DaVita), and behavioral and mental health (Broadstep Behavioral Health).
She says her transition to the fertility industry was personal. "I have a sister who has not been able to carry a child to full term, two aunts who could not have children, and a mother who somehow had four children with one ovary," she reveals. This connection fuels her passion for ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to build a family. "I want to make sure that anyone who wants to build their family and is having a challenge or who wants to build a family on their own terms has that ability."
Mason joined IVI RMA right as the company was closing a deal to acquire Eugin’s North American assets, including Boston IVF and TRIO. The timing is coincidental, the company says, and Mason wasn’t involved in the negotiations, but was hired based on her “proven track record of scaling businesses and leading teams to develop innovative programs that provide patients with better access to quality care.”
Going forward, it’s Mason’s job to set a new vision and future for IVI RMA North America, focused on leveraging the key strengths shared by its brands — research, innovation, and patient-centered care.
Mason chaired the NC Triangle American Hearth Association’s 2022 Go Red for Women event, one of her many philanthropic pursuits.
Leading with empathy
Mason’s leadership style is heavily influenced by her experiences at DaVita, where she learned the importance of leading with empathy. Her facility administrators were nearly all nurses, and they had some questions as to what a former investment banker had to bring to the table. One nicknamed her “Fancy Pants MBA.”
"We constantly talked about [how] to lead with our head, our heart, and our hands," she says, “and I was doing a lot of head work and hands work with these ladies.” A turning point came when she offered a hug to a frustrated team member instead of advice, which helped her realize the importance of showing care and empathy as a leader.
“We are here to be in service to patients. And as leaders, we're here to be in service to the people who do the patient care so they can do it well,” she says. “I walk into the room wanting teammates to understand I care about the work that we do first.”
Her tenure during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was another significant challenge. Mason had just taken on her first CEO role at Broadstep when the pandemic hit. "To lead through a crisis—and it really felt like a crisis for everyone and us in particular," as it was a residential care facility, she recalls. Her approach was to provide stability and solutions, showing her team that she cared deeply about their well-being and the organization’s needs.
“At Asian Egg Bank, we believe our embryologists’ expertise not only enhance the outcomes of egg banking, but also provide a vital role and the human touch that machines alone cannot replicate.”
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She emphasizes the importance of having a diverse team (if you’re not careful, “it’s easy for all of us to hire replicas of ourselves,” she says) with complementary skills and aligning them with the organization's mission and values. "I want to hire a bunch of my successors. I want people on the team who are not only subject matter experts in what they do, but are willing to engage with each other," she states.
IVI RMA COO Iris Gonzalez worked with Mason at ChenMed, and left her 10-year stint at the company for the chance to work with her again. “The rising tide raises all ships, she's the tide,” Gonzalez says. “She knows how to observe and contemplate, ‘what are an industry's needs, what are then an organization's needs, where is my team today?’”
Mason hiking Mt. Kilimanjaro in 2022, where she carried the flag for the American Heart Association.
Climbing mountains
Mason not only climbs corporate ladders, she climbs literal mountains. She participates in Align’s Mountains and Marathons leadership immersion programs, with six months of virtual holistic leadership training. And then you climb a mountain.
“By the time we got to Tanzania, I felt like I had already climbed my mountain. And now I just needed to physically do it,” she recalls. “I was one of the oldest people who was in this group and I felt like I had something to prove.”
The 20,000-foot climb offered her some parallels. “Healthcare is a challenging industry. Our space is highly scientifically complex,” she says. “That's okay because we can do hard things.That's what that mountain represented for me.” She hopes to get to Everest base camp one day—”we’ll see if I have this same perspective.”
Clinical and business collaboration
Under Mason’s leadership, IVI RMA aims to stay at the forefront of scientific and clinical innovations while expanding access to fertility care. "Our outcomes are the best in the nation, and that's not by our numbers; that's by health plan numbers," she proudly shares, referencing Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (SART) data on live births per new patient nationally compared to RMA locations.
In her work and her board positions at ConvenientMD and Accanto, she sees that many segments of healthcare share the same issues. “We're actually moving a healthcare system inside of the United States to be better, no matter the lane of healthcare that it's in.”
Dr. Thomas Molinaro, IVI RMA’s Chief Medical Officer, agrees. Molinaro has been impressed by Mason’s knowledge of the inner workings of the US healthcare system, something he on the clinical side doesn’t always have. But more importantly, “she understands scale. She understands how to take the best of what we do and bottle it and how we're going to use that across the entire network,” he says. “There’s been a more thoughtful process about growth, about expansion, about standardization, and that's been really great for us.”
Molinaro notes the dyad partnership as an example of a new process Mason has introduced. Something Mason first saw in action at ChenMed, it features important collaboration between business and clinical operations. “Far too long have these sides been seen as in opposition,” but she “watched the two brothers Chen operate beautifully.” Molinaro says it “lets us have open and honest conversations” about the common goals between clinical and operational staff. “It's been really helpful for me to have her taking the lead on the business and operations side. I can focus on what I do best, which is taking care of patients.”
A global and tech-forward future
IVI RMA has a large and expansive network, at home and abroad. “Being across 15-plus countries, we're having discussions unlike anyone else in this space around the best scientific research coming out of various countries." It also helps patients get care wherever they are. "I received a message last week from my colleague in Spain about a patient from another country who needed help in the US. In less than 24 hours we had her set up," she shares.
“We are here to be in service to patients. And as leaders, we're here to be in service to the people who do the patient care so they can do it well.”
Mason not only champions technological innovation like AI, but using that technology to eventually provide around the clock care. "We don't want patients to be without the answers at the moment that they want an answer. If there is a question at 2 in the morning, that person is owed an answer at 2 in the morning." While IVI RMA works to make that happen, a current example of AI integration is Boston IVF’s partnership with Alife. The first-in-the-country program they are piloting uses AI to optimize IVF medication, and helps clinicians retrieve the optimal number of eggs for each patient and reduce overall medication costs.
Mason is committed to ensuring that everyone has access to fertility care, regardless of their financial situation. "We need to make families like that possible. We need to make all kinds of families possible," she says. And she offers this advice for other fertility leaders: "Spend a lot of time with patients. Especially for those of us who are leaders in this space and have not been patients. Walk through their journey."
Lynn Mason's path from Wall Street to fertility has been a mountain of its own. Her leadership, characterized by empathy, collaboration, and innovation, is now at the top of IVI RMA North America.
The advertiser does not have full editorial control over the content of the article above. As a brought-to-you-by sponsor of IRH In Scope, the advertiser only has editorial control over what is mentioned about their company. Inside Reproductive Health maintains full editorial independence over the remainder of the article. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
EMBRYOLOGISTS ARE THE UNSUNG HEROES OF EGG BANKING
BY: KATHRYN WOZNIAK, SENIOR EMBRYOLOGIST & LEAD CRYOBIOLOGIST AT ASIAN EGG BANK
In the intricate world of egg banking, embryologists are often the unsung heroes, playing a crucial role in ensuring the success of this delicate process. As reproductive technologies advance, the importance of skilled embryologists becomes even more apparent especially as they help push the field forward. At Asian Egg Bank, we believe our embryologists’ expertise not only enhance the outcomes of egg banking, but also provide a vital role and the human touch that machines alone cannot replicate.
With a unique combination of scientific knowledge and technical proficiencies, embryologists have a skill set that is indispensable. From the moment eggs are retrieved, embryologists meticulously handle them, ensuring optimal conditions for freezing, storage, and eventual use in fertility treatments. This role requires not only precision but also a deep understanding of the biological nuances involved.
One of the key aspects of egg banking is the vitrification process, where eggs are frozen at ultra-low temperatures to preserve them for future use. Two steps make this process particularly challenging: the timing in the equilibration and vitrification solutions, and the loading of oocytes onto the freezing device. The amount of media used in loading is crucial as well; too much or too little media can drastically alter the freezing rate, impacting the survival of the eggs. Embryologists manage this difficult task with a steady hand and expertise.
Embryologists oversee another vital step: the warming process, where the temperature of the thawing solution and the initial placement of the frozen device are critical. Any deviation from the precise protocol can compromise the eggs, highlighting the need for an experienced embryologist to oversee this process. Without an embryologist’s expertise, the success rates of egg banking would be significantly lower.
While the freezing and thawing processes are the most recognized roles of embryologists, their influence extends far beyond these steps.
Embryologists at Asian Egg Bank work closely with other specialists to develop and refine lab protocols, ensuring that every aspect of the egg banking process meets the highest standards. They also collaborate with partner clinics, providing hands-on training and technical support to ensure the successful warming and use of frozen eggs.
This collaboration is a cornerstone of the success at Asian Egg Bank, where embryologists are not just technicians, but integral members of a multidisciplinary team. Their involvement in quality assurance and outcome meetings ensures that any necessary adjustments are made to continuously improve the egg banking process.
At Asian Egg Bank, the success of the egg banking process is a testament to the collaborative efforts between embryologists and other professionals. By staying at the forefront of research and technology, and by actively contributing to scientific advancements, the embryologists at AEB are helping to push the boundaries of what’s possible in the field of fertility preservation.
Discover how Asian Egg Bank’s embryologists are leading the industry. Visit asianeggbank.com/for-professionals to learn more.
The above News Digest Story is paid featured content. The advertiser has had editorial input and control over its creation. However, the views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Inside Reproductive Health. The sponsorship of this content does not imply an endorsement by Inside Reproductive Health.
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Dr. Rob Kiltz's struggles, triumphs and vision [] The doctor fixing healthcare's information crisis eyes the fertility sector
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The Digital Doctor: How Dr. C. Anthony Jones is Fixing Healthcare’s Information Crisis
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Dr. Robert Kiltz, founder of CNY Fertility and avid potter, blends Western medicine and holistic practices–with a side of steak–in his quest to make fertility more accessible and affordable.
By Tara Bellucci
In the world of fertility medicine, where treatments often come with hefty price tags, Dr. Robert Kiltz stands out for making fertility care accessible and affordable. As the founder and director of CNY Fertility, Kiltz has disrupted the delivery of reproductive medicine by integrating holistic practices with traditional treatments, all while keeping costs manageable for his patients. His journey from a struggling student to a pioneering fertility specialist is marked by a pursuit of innovation and inclusivity.
Youthful struggles
Today, his life in central New York is very different from his early years growing up in Los Angeles. The author of multiple books, including The Fertile Feast: Dr. Kiltz’s Essential Guide to a Keto Way of Life, started off as a struggling student that couldn’t read. “I couldn’t read, until I had to. I was kicked out of school…I didn’t get into medical school the first time,” he says. “These experiences made me resilient.”
“Healing isn’t just strictly with shots, pills, and surgeries.”
And those weren’t the only challenges of his youth. “I was arrested in a gang,” he shares. But a young Rob Kiltz found pottery, an outlet for stress and anxiety that he’s kept up to this day. “I bought a potter's wheel in high school. I still have it. And it's always a place to go when I need to.” Over his 55-plus years as an accomplished artist and potter, he’s created everything from tea sets to large platters, though his favorite thing to make are cups which at one point he even sold on Etsy. “Pottery is something pretty amazing in that you take mud and it forms into something,” he muses. “It’s a place for me to de-stress, refocus, and clear my mind.”
Flying is another of Kiltz’s passions. Having become a pilot 12 years ago, he finds parallels between aviation and his medical practice. “In the operating room, if you’ve got a bleeder, you just put pressure on it, take a breath, and then move forward,” he explains. “Our breath is so powerful.” This ability to stay calm under pressure is a trait he values highly, whether navigating the skies or performing delicate medical procedures.
“Clinicians frequently overestimate patients' understanding and recall of instructions, while patients, even when confused, hesitate to admit their lack of comprehension.”
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Helping vs. hurting
Stress management is something he also looks to provide to his patients. “[Western] medicine can be very stressful,” Kiltz admits. “We go into a health practice to help people, but we often find that it doesn’t work, and sometimes it hurts people.” This realization has driven Kiltz to explore alternative therapies, including acupuncture, massage, meditation, and yoga. He believes these practices can alleviate the emotional and physical stress that often accompanies fertility treatments, providing a more comprehensive approach to patient care.
Kiltz’s personal struggles with health issues, including migraines, dyslexia, depression, and anxiety, fueled his interest in holistic health. “Through the years, it got worse,” he says, listing a litany of ailments from bowel bleeding to kidney stones. His quest for relief led him to adopt a ketogenic diet and eventually the Carnivore diet, which he credits with transforming his health and well-being. “I went to strictly a meat-based diet, eliminated plants of any significance or frequency, and I suddenly felt better.”
Eat meat
While the scientific community at large has concerns about keto and its more restrictive carnivore version, Dr. Kiltz is his own proof. After noticing patients who practiced keto diets having improved fertility results, the doctor left his omnivorous, Mediterranean-style eating habits behind. He says this dietary shift not only improved his own health, but also became a cornerstone of his practice.
Despite others who may not agree with his strategy, Kiltz advocates for a high-fat, low-carbohydrate diet, emphasizing the importance of ketosis—a metabolic state where the body burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates. “Ketosis is very anti-inflammatory and helps heal a lot of diseases,” he explains, suggesting that our modern diet, rich in processed foods and frequent meals, is a primary cause of many chronic illnesses. “That’s why I talk a lot about nutrition and meditation and other modalities, because what if we can help you remove the cause of your diseases and infertility, and you don't need us? I’m committed to that.”
Kiltz’s approach to medicine is deeply spiritual, reflecting a journey from Catholicism to a broader spiritual philosophy. “Spirituality is a big part of my life and my practice,” he shares. “It helps me stay grounded and connected with my patients on a deeper level.” This spiritual perspective permeates his work, as he encourages patients to adopt a positive mindset and incorporate faith into their healing processes. “Faith, in whatever form it takes, is essential for healing,” he says. “It’s about believing in something greater than ourselves.”
Removing barriers
One of the defining features of Kiltz’s practice is its affordability. He says he has made it a mission to provide high-quality fertility treatments at a fraction of the cost. “Our goal is to make fertility care accessible to everyone,” he says. “We believe that financial barriers should not stand in the way of building a family.” This philosophy is reflected in the pricing structure at CNY Fertility, where treatments are offered at significantly lower rates than the national average, and the practice offers interest-free self-financing to those patients who need it.
“Just because you have more money than someone else doesn't mean you have more of a right to have a family,” says Justine Taylor, Clinical Chief Nursing Officer at CNY Fertility, who has been working with Dr. Kiltz for 18 years. “And he truly believes that.”
“Our business model is focused on efficiency and affordability. We constantly look for ways to reduce expenses and pass those savings on to our patients,” says Kiltz. Through bundling services and streamlining processes, his team makes it happen. “We work hard to keep our costs low without sacrificing the quality of care. It’s a delicate balance, but it’s essential for our patients.”
Accessibility is also a huge focus. The company currently has eight locations across the US with more in the works.
Kiltz’s unique blend of holistic practices and conventional medicine has not only set him apart in the fertility field, but also garnered him a dedicated following. He has amassed over 300,000 followers across social media, where regularly goes live on Instagram at 5 a.m. to chat to his carnivore community. His patients appreciate his willingness to explore every possible avenue to improve their chances of conception. “We incorporate nutrition, faith, positivity—love yourself, love the environment, love your life,” he says, summarizing his philosophy.
“We believe that financial barriers should not stand in the way of building a family.”
“He gives everyone a chance,” Christina Salzberg, COO of CNY Fertility, says. And that was the case with a couple she knew. 20-plus years ago, IVF was even less accessible, relegated to celebrities and the pages of People magazine. Salzberg shares that back then, her friends dealt with a genetic disease that impacted their ability to conceive naturally. When other doctors were turning them away, not knowing if having embryos share a tank that were possible carriers might have a larger impact (which is not an issue today, of course), “Dr. Kiltz was like, ‘that’s ridiculous, I can do it, send them here.’ And they have two beautiful children today.”
Looking ahead, Kiltz remains committed to pushing the boundaries of fertility medicine. He continues to advocate for a holistic approach, believing that true health comes from a combination of physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. “Healing isn’t just strictly with shots, pills, and surgeries,” he asserts. “We have to look at a lot of these ancient modalities and how they help humanity.”
In a field often focused on the latest technological advancements, Dr. Robert Kiltz’s holistic and affordable approach offers an additional perspective. While some of his methods are considered controversial, his career is a testament to the power of integrating mind, body, and spirit in the pursuit of health.
The content and themes expressed within the article above are that of the news. The advertiser does not have editorial control over the content of the previous article, and Inside Reproductive Health maintains full editorial independence. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
And what he plans to do in the fertility space…
By: Inside Reproductive Health
In the hushed corridors of medical innovation, where the clash between innovation in patient care and business often sparks as much friction as it does progress, stands a physician-entrepreneur.
Dr. C. Anthony Jones’ journey from medical school to the helm of Frontive is a narrative woven with the threads of necessity, punctuated by a singular mission: to transform healthcare information management.
Dr. Jones’ fascination with the failings of the healthcare system began in medical school. He found himself increasingly distracted by a recurring theme: the pervasive disarray in how medical information was managed.
Errors, ranging from scheduling mishaps to potentially fatal miscommunications, seemed to sprout from the chaotic handling of data.
The urgency of these issues led him to a pivotal decision: eschew a traditional residency in favor of a postdoctoral fellowship in medical informatics at Columbia University.
Dr. Jones’ professional trajectory took him through large consulting firms and burgeoning healthtech companies, each step marked by a relentless pursuit of making the healthcare experience smoother, more intuitive, and cost-effective.
From this foundational experience emerged Frontive, a venture that Dr. Jones regards as a natural progression in his career.
The inception of Frontive was not without its tribulations. Startups, particularly in the unforgiving arena of healthcare, are fraught with challenges.
Exclusive Pilot Opportunity-FREE for One Group Only
Choosing only one fertility clinic or network, Frontive Health, led by Dr. C. Anthony Jones, wants to replicate the results they’ve achieved in other healthcare sectors in the fertility space.
60% Reduction in Patient Questions
25% Reduction In Nurse Time
20% increase in patient satisfaction
Dr. Jones is willing to pilot Frontive Health’s program for free…. But for only one fertility clinic network.
One clinic or network will receive several thousand dollars in value for free, but they must be innovative leaders and have an integrative EMR.
To see if your group qualifies, simply e-mail Dr. Jones and say hello.
FUNDING, FOCUS, AND FEAR
The so-called three Fs—funding, focus, and fear—loom large, but for Dr. Jones, the real adversary was the entrenched skepticism of healthcare providers. Their default posture of caution, while vital for patient safety, often becomes a barrier to the adoption of genuinely transformative technologies.
Dr. Jones approached this skepticism with a methodical strategy: focus on solving substantial problems, delve into the nuances of these issues from multiple perspectives, and substantiate claims with rigorous data.
Following a minor outpatient procedure, he observed the disorienting confusion faced by patients and their families as they navigated the whirlwind of pre-op and post-op instructions. The disheartening realization was that even educated individuals struggled to grasp the often convoluted instructions they received.
This was exacerbated for non-native English speakers, who battled not only a knowledge gap but a language barrier. What struck Dr. Jones was not just the confusion but the reluctance of patients to seek clarification, driven by a fear of seeming uninformed or judged by their clinicians.
This observation led to a profound insight: clinicians frequently overestimate patients' understanding and recall of instructions, while patients, even when confused, hesitate to admit their lack of comprehension.
DATA AND INTEGRATION
Addressing this disconnect became a central focus of Frontive, where digitization was employed not as a goal but as a means to deliver clarity, timeliness, and personalization.
Frontive Health™, the company’s flagship product, employs a novel approach to information personalization and dissemination. It dissects each physician’s clinical instructions into digestible pieces, creating a repository of searchable FAQs and integrating real-time data to generate a daily Health Briefing™. This briefing—categorized into what to expect, what to do, and what to avoid—is dynamically tailored to the patient’s journey, streamlining information delivery and enhancing patient autonomy.
By interfacing directly with practices’ electronic health records (EHRs), the platform works seamlessly with a clinic’s workflow and ensures that patients receive accurate and timely information, thus alleviating staff burden and improving overall efficiency.
The success of Frontive Health™ is illustrated by a compelling case study with a cosmetic surgery practice. After implementing the platform, the practice saw a 60% reduction in patient inquiries and a 20% increase in satisfaction. More remarkably, the practice was able to cut its front-desk staff in half, reallocating resources to new patient intake and consultations, which in turn bolstered revenue and staff satisfaction. These metrics underscore not only the platform’s effectiveness but also its role as a strategic asset in a competitive market.
VISION FOR THE FERTILITY SPACE
Now, Dr. Jones’ vision extends into the realm of fertility medicine, a field rife with emotional and procedural complexities. Here, Frontive aims to mitigate patient anxiety and streamline protocol adherence, a goal that is particularly poignant given the emotional and financial stakes involved. The platform’s flexibility allows for rapid adjustments based on pilot feedback, a testament to Dr. Jones’s commitment to continuous improvement and adaptation.
In conversations about the future, Dr. Jones is both pragmatic and visionary. He acknowledges that Frontive will have to prove themselves in the fertility space, and is eager to do a pilot program with one forward thinking fertility clinic or network.
Ultimately, Dr. Jones’ work embodies a commitment to reshaping healthcare into a more intuitive, patient-centered experience. His journey from a disillusioned medical student to a pioneering tech entrepreneur reflects a deep-seated resolve to address systemic inefficiencies with innovative solutions.
In an industry often bogged down by inertia and skepticism, Dr. C. Anthony Jones’ story is one of relentless curiosity and a vision for a more coherent, compassionate healthcare system.
Exclusive Pilot Opportunity-FREE for One Group Only
Choosing only one fertility clinic or network, Frontive Health, led by Dr. C. Anthony Jones, wants to replicate the results they’ve achieved in other healthcare sectors in the fertility space.
60% Reduction in Patient Questions
25% Reduction In Nurse Time
20% increase in patient satisfaction
Dr. Jones is willing to pilot Frontive Health’s program for free…. But for only one fertility clinic network.
One clinic or network will receive several thousand dollars in value for free, but they must be innovative leaders and have an integrative EMR.
To see if your group qualifies, simply e-mail Dr. Jones and say hello.
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All-Woman Independent Practice Heartland Fertility Grows to Five Physicians [] New technology in egg banking on the horizon
DR. STEPHANIE GUSTIN SAYS SHE’S NOT SELLING, ENCOURAGES OTHER DOCS TO BUY PRACTICES
The content and themes expressed within the article are that of the news. The advertiser does not have editorial control over the content of this article, and Inside Reproductive Health maintains full editorial independence. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
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As more fertility clinics and chains are bought up by investment firms across the U.S., reproductive endocrinologists who choose to own their own practices are becoming more of a rarity.
Stephanie L.F. Gustin, M.D., is one of the few who chose to take the leap into independent ownership. She is now managing partner at The Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine in Omaha and Lincoln, NE, and has grown her all-women physician team from one reproductive endocrinologist to a total of five in five years.
Gustin told Inside Reproductive Health that after she finished her fellowship program at Stanford University, she knew she wanted to work either in an academic setting or at a private practice. As a University of Nebraska School of Medicine-affiliate, Heartland was a mix of both, and she started working there shortly after her fellowship ended.
Heartland offers a partnership track to its doctors, which is how Gustin was eventually able to become a partner and partial owner in 2019 and purchase the practice entirely from the previous owner, Dr. Victoria Maclin, in 2021. She said that once a doctor has a patient load that is similar in quantity to the other partners, that doctor will also have an opportunity to purchase part of the practice.
Gustin said the biggest changes she made upon purchasing the practice were in an area she still prioritizes today–recruitment. Shortly after she became the owner of Heartland, she hired Barry R. Behr, Ph.D., who was formerly the IVF laboratory director at Stanford.
“He was one of my mentors [at Stanford] and someone that I have a profound respect for,” Gustin said. “And I felt really confident that our practice, in terms of our success rates, was going to evolve quickly with his help.”
“When it comes to egg banking, there are technologies and protocols that are on the horizon that you need to know about.”
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Gustin said that though she believed recruitment may be difficult given the clinic’s more rural location, she has now hired a total of four reproductive endocrinologists in five years. She said she built relationships with the new staff before offering the job through advocacy, collaboration and mutual connections, and after introducing her business model, they each decided to make the leap.
The staff, Gustin said, has made all the difference.
“We all work really hard, but it's easy to do that when we really love who we work with,” she said. ”I don't think many people have the kind of job that I have.”
Though all five of Heartland’s reproductive endocrinologists are early or mid-way into their careers, and the IVF market is only getting more lucrative, Gustin said they have no interest in selling the practice, as they value the autonomy of private ownership and the ability to prioritize patient care over profits.
“We really enjoy the autonomy of creating the culture and running the practice in a way that feels authentic to us,” she said.
Gustin said she thinks the business side of owning a private practice might deter some doctors, especially those without a background in business. Still, she emphasized the importance of being confident in one’s own skill set to learn along the way and hire experts to fill any knowledge gaps.
“I haven't heard a single person [who has bought a private practice] say that they regret it,” Gustin said. “It’s something that I wish more people coming out of training would seek out.”
The content and themes expressed within the article are that of the news. The advertiser does not have editorial control over the content of this article, and Inside Reproductive Health maintains full editorial independence. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
THE NEW TECHNOLOGY IN EGG BANKING: IMPROVED PROTOCOLS, AUTOMATION, AND AI, OH MY!
BY: KATHRYN WOZNIAK, MS SENIOR EMBRYOLOGIST & LEAD CRYOBIOLOGIST AT ASIAN EGG BANK
No matter the area of life or business, the newest and most notable advancements are often cause for excitement. When it comes to egg banking, there are technologies and protocols that are on the horizon that you need to know about. Here are three in particular that are worth your attention.
The overarching expectation is that technology moves fast and is constantly improving. While that’s certainly the case in some areas, the opposite can also be true. Over the past decade, there's been minimal progress made towards improving oocyte freezing techniques. At Asian Egg Bank, we are researching and reviewing the current processes of oocyte vitrification and warming, and this work is showing very promising results in the field with blastocyst embryos. While current methods have an over-90% survival rate, this new ultra-fast vitrification and rapid elution protocol gets outcomes much closer to fresh eggs, with survival rates close to 100%. It's still very new in terms of oocyte cryopreservation and the protocol will need to go into clinical trials to be implemented across the country, but we are very excited for the increased reliability of frozen oocytes so that they can be accessible to patients worldwide.
Like many industries, the field of ART is moving into an era of AI. This technology is going to be particularly relevant in the egg banking space because it will allow us to remove technologist bias and subjectivity from the egg selection process. It may also be able to provide additional information that is not visible with the human eye. AI uses images and markers, which will allow us to grade and group oocytes before the vitrification process, according to the likelihood that they'll produce the viable blastocysts. This is extremely valuable information for egg banks and for intended parents, so that they can make better decisions on their family planning.
While a little further out on the horizon, we could eventually see automated oocyte freezing. Oocyte vitrification can be a very tedious and lengthy process and automated vitrification could potentially alleviate the manual labor, and also help to standardize the outcomes by removing some of the operational error. And less manual labor could mean lower cost as well. We will have to wait and see on this one.
In addition to conducting our own research, Asian Egg Bank team members attend regular educational conferences and workshops to stay on top of new information. The fertility industry is so dynamic, and it’s growing every day. We need to have the most up-to-date techniques and technology in order to provide our patients with the best care.
Discover how Asian Egg Bank is leading the industry in new technology. Visit asianeggbank.com/for-professionals to learn more.
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External links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Fertility Bridge or Inside Reproductive Health of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. Neither Fertility Bridge nor Inside Reproductive Health bears responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
Details: Hamilton Thorne and IVF/ART assets of Cook Medical to merge after Astorg acquisition
WOLF, ASTORG SAY TEAMS WILL REMAIN IN PLACE
The content and themes expressed within the article are that of the news. The advertiser does not have editorial control over the content of this article, and Inside Reproductive Health maintains full editorial independence. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
BY RON SHINKMAN
Luxembourg private equity firm Astorg has beefed up its reproductive medicine portfolio with pending acquisitions of equipment supplier Hamilton Thorne and the IVF/ART business of Cook Medical.
Massachusetts-based Hamilton Thorne Ltd. – parent company of subsidiary Hamilton Thorne, Inc. – announced last week that Astorg is acquiring the company outright for $228 million, or $1.63 per share in U.S. dollars. That’s roughly a 54% premium over its recent trading price on the Toronto Stock Exchange. The deal is expected to close by late 2024.
Hamilton Thorne Executive Chairman David Wolf said in an email that all of the company’s employees will remain onboard after the transaction closes, including himself. And while the company is U.S.-based, it trades on a Toronto exchange because “the Canadian markets represented a desirable alternative for a company of our size and scale,” Wolf noted.
“When two high profile tank failures occurred in 2018, I sat there in disbelief along with so many of my colleagues.”
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Stock Performance
The company reported 2023 net income of $1.1 million on revenue of $67.2 million. However, that included a $1.7 million gain based on foreign currency fluctuations. Otherwise, the company reported an operating loss of $607,000 last year. In 2022, it lost $2.1 million on revenue of $58.2 million, although that included a nearly $4.1 million loss tied to currency fluctuations. Its 2022 operating profit was $1.9 million.
For the first quarter of 2024, Hamilton Thorne reported a loss of $2.1 million on revenue of $19.4 million. That included an operating loss of more than $936,000. In the first quarter of 2023 it reported net income of more than $896,000 on revenue of $16.7 million. That included operating income of $77,405.
Exit
Brian Leonard, chief executive officer and president of IVF on Demand, a Pennsylvania-based supplier for reproductive medical practices, observed that Hamilton Thorne was in a tight spot that made it look for a buyer, prompted in part by some acquisitions that did not spur hoped-for growth. Among the acquisitions Hamilton Thorne has made in recent years include Belgian consumables manufacturer Gynetics last October, as well as equipment manufacturer Planer Ltd. in 2019.
“Hamilton Thorne likely could have continued down the path they were on with the hopes of improving margins and (pre-tax earnings) but the headwinds they faced forced this less-than-ideal exit,” Leonard said in an email, in reference to the company’s recent losses.
Merger
At virtually the same time the Hamilton Thorne acquisition was underway, Astorg also announced that it had signed a letter of intent to acquire the IVF and other assisted reproductive technology business of Bloomington, Ind.-based Cook Medical
Financial terms of that transaction were not disclosed. The company said that all 93 employees who work in Cook’s ART division would immediately receive job offers from Astorg. After the transactions closed, Astorg said the Cook assets and Hamilton Thorne would be merged. Although the deal also includes Cook’s manufacturing facility in Pennsylvania, the spun off venture will continue to manufacture products for Cook for three years after the transaction closes. After that, the factory’s 209 employees will join the merged companies.
“I believe Astorg took advantage of two companies actively looking for an exit while also seeing a handful of synergies,” Leonard said. He added that Cook’s ART division mostly focused on consumables, while Hamilton Thorne is focused more on capital equipment.
Hamilton Thorne Ltd. has eight brands and sells about five dozen products to fertility medical practices, including computer assisted sperm analysis platforms, laser-guided imaging of oocytes and spindles, and numerous consumables in support of both sperm analysis and imaging. Brijinder Minhas, vice president of the healthcare division for MidCap Advisors, LLC, said the company developed one of the first automated and computerized platforms for semen analysis.
Cook’s ART line includes a benchtop incubator as well as products to assist in cervical ripening. Minhas observed that its best-known products are embryo transfer catheters, pumps and aspiration needles.
Cook Medical Senior Vice President D.J. Sirota said in a statement that “Astorg has exciting plans to build an IVF/ART manufacturing hub at our facility in Vandergrift…creating a core location for manufacturing operations for Cook ART products.”
The entire Cook enterprise reported revenue of about $2.3 billion in 2022, but as a private company it does not break out exact figures, or for its various divisions. It had struck a deal in 2023 to sell its ART business to the CooperCompanies for $875 million. However, CooperCompanies backed out of the deal last August, according to the Federal Trade Commission.
The acquisitions will be folded into Astorg’s portfolio of biotech firms, including hg medical, Demetra, Nemera, Echosens and Sebia, among others.
Leonard noted that Astorg’s portfolio could certainly leverage its resources to develop new technologies.
“Alternatively, they could keep business as usual while merging resources and cutting costs to improve the collective financial health,” he said. “That is the more likely outcome as with most private equity firm transactions.”
Wolf told Inside Reproductive Health that he will be able to provide more details on the transaction after Hamilton Thorne’s proxy materials are mailed in some weeks’ time.
The content and themes expressed within the article are that of the news. The advertiser does not have editorial control over the content of this article, and Inside Reproductive Health maintains full editorial independence. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
GIVE ME A TIME MACHINE, THIS IS HOW I’LL STOP THE TWO CATASTROPHIC 2018 TANK FAILURES FROM EVER HAPPENING!
By Dr. William Baird, HCLD
Cryotank failures are devastating – it’s everyone’s worst nightmare in the field of IVF. When two high profile tank failures occurred in 2018, I sat there in disbelief along with so many of my colleagues.
Thousands of people lost their last chance at starting or expanding their families in those tanks – people with advanced ages, cancer patients, military personnel, and embryos of siblings that can no longer be conceived. Clinics were slapped with millions of dollars in lawsuits that are taking years to resolve because of the complexity that comes with human and manufacturing errors.
There were a few things that caused these tank failures, but ultimately it comes down to action and responsibility. Attempts were made to prevent these failures, but they either weren’t completed or done correctly. In one of the cases, the staff was able to flip a switch. The alarms were bothering them so much they turned them off on a Friday, then forgot to turn them back on. They dumped buckets of liquid nitrogen (LN) into the tanks that were empty by Monday. Vapor tanks are very unforgiving and more complicated than people think – they can be good one minute and bad the next. I don’t think this is always taken into consideration as labs move to these large tanks.
Technology and humans can both fail – that’s why these failures happened, and it’s important to note that both of these failures occurred in large vapor tanks. A failure is always catastrophic for the patients affected, but these large vapor tanks are holding thousands of samples. If you lose a typical dewar, you’re going to lose 100 or more individual patient samples. It’s still a failure and it’s horrific, but you’re not making 2500+ phone calls to patients to let them know that you’ve lost their irreplaceable samples. I am of the strong belief that you do not, literally, put all your eggs in one basket.
CAP has specific regulations in place to prevent catastrophes, but labs need to be more responsible for how fragile and important these specimens they’re storing are.
How would I have prevented these tank failures? Three things:
1 - Smaller tanks
2 - A greater sense of staff responsibility
3 - A state of the art, fool-proof, tank monitoring system
Our team at Boreas was already working on our initial product, a weight-based monitoring system called the CryoScout™, when these two tank failures occurred. The failures were the catalyst to finish what we started and create a monitoring system that was more accurate and reliable than anything else on the market, with an alarm system that couldn’t be manipulated.
Weight is far more accurate when it comes to measuring LN inside a cryotank than temperature is, but we needed to do more than that. We needed to build a system that couldn’t be turned off due to alarm fatigue, and gives you the ability to be proactive vs. reactive when monitoring your tanks. That’s why we started Boreas Monitoring and built the Cryoscout™. We provide relevant data points about your tank health that gives you the time to take corrective action.
As it stands today, most IVF labs are still at too high of a risk of repeating the 2018 tank failure catastrophes. Your lab staff, the courts, and most importantly, your patients expect a better system. We can help your lab create an implementation plan to protect your cryotanks, patients, and irreplaceable samples from catastrophes like the 2018 tank failures. Just grab a time with us to book your demo using the link below and we’ll set up a meeting to help.
All external links active as of 8/1/2024
External links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Fertility Bridge or Inside Reproductive Health of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. Neither Fertility Bridge nor Inside Reproductive Health bears responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
Expanding IVF Access: Initiatives to Make Fertility Treatments More Accessible
US CLINICS INNOVATE TO BREAK FINANCIAL, GEOGRAPHICAL, AND EDUCATIONAL BARRIERS
This News Digest Story is paid featured content. The advertiser has had editorial input and control over its creation. However, the views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Inside Reproductive Health. The sponsorship of this content does not imply an endorsement by Inside Reproductive Health.
By Lisa Munger
As demand for fertility treatments surges and barriers persist, several leading fertility clinics and organizations in the U.S. are implementing innovative measures to make in-vitro fertilization (IVF) more accessible to a broader population. By working to address financial, geographical, and educational barriers, these organizations seek to ensure that more people can access the resources they need to expand their families.
CNY Fertility: Affordable and Accessible Care
William Kiltz, vice president of marketing and business development at CNY Fertility, said the company has emerged as a leader in making fertility treatments affordable and accessible.
Kiltz highlighted three primary mechanisms for expanding access: eliminating financial barriers, removing restrictive cutoffs based on age or health metrics and addressing geographical challenges.
ORGANON IS COMMITTED TO HELPING ASPIRING PARENTS ON THEIR FERTILITY JOURNEY
Organon is proud to collaborate with the fertility community in championing care equity around the world and is committed to:
Elevating fertility education and awareness
Expanding resources and access to care
Investing in innovative fertility solutions
Every journey to parenthood is unique, and Organon is here to empower aspiring parents every step of the way.
He said CNY Fertility's pricing stands out in the industry, with treatments costing one-third of the national average.
“Where standard IVF treatments typically cost around $20,000, CNY Fertility offers similar services for $6,764,” Kiltz said. “This affordability and flexible financing options allow more families to access fertility care. The average household income of CNY’s patients is around $80,000, significantly lower than the typical $180,000 for IVF patients nationwide.”
CNY Fertility has developed a patient-friendly travel program that leverages telehealth and local medical facilities to address geographical barriers.
"Patients can receive treatment remotely for most of the process, only needing to visit our clinics for two days," Kiltz said. "We believe that access to the care needed to grow one’s family is a fundamental human right."
Inception Fertility: Advocating for Improved Insurance Coverage
Under the leadership of CEO TJ Farnsworth, Inception Fertility is also at the forefront of expanding IVF access. Inception focuses on increasing insurance coverage and educating insurance companies about comprehensive fertility care.
"Our top priority is to remove capacity constraints and advocate for expanded coverage," Farnsworth said. "We are dedicated to adapting to changes in the insurance landscape and increasing the number of employers offering fertility care benefits."
Inception Fertility offers solutions for patients facing financial barriers. Through BUNDL Fertility, patients can bundle multiple cycles at a discount, reducing the overall cost and increasing success rates. Additionally, the Wyatt Fertility Foundation provides financial assistance and funds research in infertility.
"We are excited to award five $15,000 grants for IVF, demonstrating our commitment to the future of fertility care," Farnsworth said.
Kindbody: Training and Expanding Access
Kindbody is tackling the issue of limited access through innovative training programs. Angie Beltsos, M.D., chief executive physician, emphasized the importance of increasing the number of qualified fertility specialists.
"Kindbody was founded to create health equity and make family-building more affordable," Beltsos said. "Our new KindInstitute will train board-certified OB/GYNs in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, significantly increasing the number of professionals available to provide care.
This training program, set to graduate its first cohort in 2024, seeks to address the shortage of fertility specialists and improve access for underserved communities. By equipping OB/GYNs to perform fertility-related procedures, Beltsos hopes to increase the monthly cases treated by 50% or more. Additionally, Kindbody is expanding its online offerings to provide convenient, remote patient consultations.
Organon: Cost-Saving Programs for Medications
Organon, a company with a portfolio that has a long history in fertility medications, focuses on reducing patients' costs, said Mike Pohleven, U.S. Fertility Business Unit lead, regarding the effect of Organon’s partnership with ReUnite Rx on expanding access to fertility care
“Our two most popular and utilized programs are the ReUnite Discount Program, which offers point-of-sale discounts for cash-paying customers without insurance benefits, and ReUnite Assist, which provides additional savings for uninsured, income-eligible patients.”
Going forward, Pohleven said the company’s development “will be based on market dynamics and events, so we are always aiming to meet the needs of aspiring parents.. Organon’s mission-critical NorthStar is to be ‘Here for Her Health.’ We continually look for ways to address women's unmet needs.”
Through ReUnite Rx, Organon provides access to several cost-savings programs, benefiting 50,000 eligible patients since 2018, he said.
This News Digest Story is paid featured content. The advertiser has had editorial input and control over its creation. However, the views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Inside Reproductive Health. The sponsorship of this content does not imply an endorsement by Inside Reproductive Health.
All external links active as of 7/18/2024
External links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Fertility Bridge or Inside Reproductive Health of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. Neither Fertility Bridge nor Inside Reproductive Health bears responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
The Regulatory Gap: Why Embryology Labs Are Exempt from CLIA Oversight
A PROPOSAL WAS QUIETLY SHOT DOWN BY THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES BACK IN 1998.
The content and themes expressed within the article are that of the news. The advertiser does not have editorial control over the content of this article, and Inside Reproductive Health maintains full editorial independence. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
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BY RON SHINKMAN
The 144 pages of the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments, known in healthcare circles as CLIA, were codified in the late 1980s. They have been regulating virtually every facet of U.S. medical laboratories since 1990.
Yet embryology labs – the linchpin of reproductive medicine practices – are exempt from CLIA. That’s despite the fact CLIA governs the andrology and endocrinology labs that often operate alongside their embryology counterparts. How this came to be is a bit of a mystery; some industry observers say politics played a role
In 1998, it appeared CLIA was on the cusp of expanding its regime to include embryology labs. The Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee, a group of medical and laboratory experts attached to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that advises the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, voted 12-2 in September 1998 to have CLIA regulate embryology labs, according to the American Board of Biologists.
However, the recommendations of CLIAC are not binding; they require the approval of the HHS Secretary. Once approved, HHS would draft regulations that would undergo a public comment period before they were finalized.
But HHS – then led by Secretary Donna Shalala – never approved CLIAC’s recommendation, according to the AAB and others familiar with CLIAC’s history. Shalala, now interim president of the New School, a university in New York City, did not respond to a request seeking comment.
Thomas “Rusty” Pool, an embryologist and director of the assisted reproductive technology laboratory at the Fertility Center of San Antonio, testified as a technical expert in favor of putting embryology labs under CLIA during a May 1998 CLIAC meeting. He testified that diagnostic data was generated when performing procedures in the embryology lab, and that given it could be used to diagnose infertility and future medical therapies, it should be governed by CLIA.
“There are unique challenges in recruiting Asian egg donors in particular, ones that require a nuanced approach and deep cultural understanding.”
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Nevertheless, “there was a reticence to do that, largely from the physicians associated with fertility practices,” Pool told Inside Reproductive Health about adopting those regulations. Minutes from that meeting indicated representatives from both the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the affiliated Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology testified against modifying CLIA to govern embryology labs.
A spokesperson from ASRM declined to comment.
Eva Schenkman, an embryology lab director and consultant based in Rocky Mount, N.C., said the reasons ASRM and SART were against the CLIAC recommendations remain unclear to this day. “I don’t think it’s ever been fully transparent,” she said.
However, Schenkman believes the primary concern was economic: Under CLIA, all laboratory directors must either be a medical doctor, osteopath or hold a doctoral degree in certain fields and have a requisite amount of laboratory experience. Doctors running fertility practices didn’t want to spend the extra money recruiting and retaining employees whose educational background would command a premium, Schenkman said. And while ASRM and SART guidelines recommend that embryology labs hire such degreed professionals, the organizations recently proposed withdrawing that qualification, a trial balloon that was quickly dropped after it received pushback from Schenkman and other embryology lab directors.
In the absence of CLIA oversight, ASRM and SART have served as the de facto regulator for many embryology labs, Schenkman said. If such a lab wants a SART membership, it must be certified every two years by either the College of American Pathologists or the Joint Commission. The former is the primary trade group for physicians engaged in laboratory medicine, while the latter is the largest accrediting body for hospitals, clinics and other medical ventures in the U.S
Both CAP and the Joint Commission adhere to standards that are either CLIA-equivalent or go beyond those regulations, according to Sharon Ehrmeyer, a professor in the department of pathology and laboratory medicine at the University of Wisconsin and author of a well-regarded compliance manual for laboratory professionals.
“CAP is a very good accreditation” to have, Ehrmeyer said, adding that CLIA accreditation does not mean “bad apple” labs with quality issues have been completely eliminated. But there are also fertility practices not affiliated with SART or ASRM whose levels of quality remain a mystery.
“I'm sure that there are some very capable people running these laboratories that feel that they don’t need to be part of CAP or Joint Commission. And they still may be doing a good job,” Ehrmeyer said. “And then there is probably some other situations where people are perhaps trying to do things on the cheap and they’re not so concerned about quality.”
But even with an accreditation from CAP or the Joint Commission, some regulatory measures are missing from embryology labs. Schenkman noted that CLIA-accredited labs are required to report individual medical errors to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which serves as the licensing agency to medical labs under CLIA. CMS does not gather such information from embryology labs, according to Schenkman. And errors can be significant, from the loss or accidental destruction of embryos to the accidental swapping of gametes or embryos. Labs have to report assisted reproductive technology success rates to the CDC, but not errors
According to Schenkman, although embryology labs submit incident reports to CAP, “they have no way of knowing if you’re committing egregious errors, and they don’t have the ability to stop you from doing business.” She noted that is different in other countries, such as the United Kingdom, whose regulatory body suspended the license of the Homerton Fertility Centre in northeast London after its embryology lab lost embryos in three separate incidents last year.
The lack of transparency on medical errors in the fertility sector recently prompted five U.S. Senators to ask the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Office of the Inspector General to “audit the safety standards at fertility clinics and the quality of data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with respect to assisted reproductive technology procedures to treat infertility.” The June 20 letter was signed by Sens. Roger Marshall of Kansas, Markwayne Mullin and Bill Lankford of Oklahoma, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama. All are Republicans.
As a result, patients are walking into fertility practices in the U.S. that “may have a very low error rate, or may have had some major incidents,” Schenkman observed. “And I think patients have a right to know that – especially since most are paying out of their own pockets.”
EVERYONE WANTS ASIAN EGG DONORS, SO WHY IS IT SO HARD TO RECRUIT THEM?
BY: ALEX FRANKLIN, CMO OF ASIAN EGG BANK
Despite the increasing demand for Asian egg donors, the supply won’t be secured by a few extra “$$$ for eggs” ads on social media or billboards. There are unique challenges in recruiting Asian egg donors in particular, ones that require a nuanced approach and deep cultural understanding.
The decline in birth rates, particularly in Asian countries, is making global headlines. South Korea even plans to create a government agency to tackle the “national emergency.” How did it get to this? There are many factors, one being marriage. An NIH study found that in many East Asian contexts, marriage and childbirth are proximally linked with low fertility because of the social expectation that marriage is a precondition for childbearing. In addition, Asian American patients have decreased clinical pregnancy and live birth rates, even after receiving treatment (Purcell et al, 9).
Another reason might be social stigma and shame. They can be strong motivators, and talking about sexual and reproductive health is often taboo—not just for donors, but for prospective parents as well. Asian women may conceal any fertility issues and it can keep them from seeking treatment (Missmer et al, 3). If they do pursue treatment, certain types such as gamete donation, either sperm or egg, are typically frowned upon in both religious and cultural contexts (Cross-Sudworth, 47). When they do explore gamete donation, couples have a preference for Asian donors, as mixed ethnicity oocytes can raise even more ethical dilemmas (Culley et al, 48).
With those cultural taboos, a major factor of donor onboarding is education. We cover everything from the basics, like what exactly is egg donation and the difference between ”fresh” and frozen egg donation, to how their eggs can help members of their community. With our Donate Love campaign, Asian Egg Bank is reaching potential donors on college campuses by providing education on sexual health, and offering fertility testing, as well as free egg storage with donation.
Another block to donor recruitment is the ability to identify possible donors online. When Meta got negative press for turning over abortion seekers’ data to police in states where abortion is illegal, the company significantly reduced its ad platform’s ability to market and measure the efficacy of ads to people seeking any form of reproductive care, including egg donation. Ad targeting is now more broad, and requires more input from our multicultural donor team to craft messages that will resonate with the intended audience.
Since Asian Egg Bank only works with Asian egg donors, the donor team is multilingual; any donor can communicate in their own language, which goes a long way in making donors more comfortable with the process. The team also understands the cultural taboos and nuances, and can answer questions about them.
While Asian egg donor recruitment has its challenges, there are significant ways the Asian Egg Bank team can combat them, with cultural sensitivity, education, and community.
Discover how Asian Egg Bank is leading the path in Asian egg donorship. Visit asianeggbank.com/for-professionals to learn more.
All external links active as of 6/27/2024
External links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Fertility Bridge or Inside Reproductive Health of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. Neither Fertility Bridge nor Inside Reproductive Health bears responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
$20M. Arredondo, Pozitivf's plans for affordable IVF expansion in Texas
THREE NEW CLINICS PLANNED IN 3-4 YEARS
The content and themes expressed within the article are that of the news. The advertiser does not have editorial control over the content of this article, and Inside Reproductive Health maintains full editorial independence. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
In an effort to make IVF more accessible, fertility clinic network Pozitivf says it will use $20 million it recently secured in funding led by MonCap to develop three new sites, build a training academy and improve its current systems.
Pozitivf, founded in late 2022, currently has one clinic and IVF lab in an 8,000-square space in San Antonio, Texas in addition to a satellite office in Brownsville, Texas. In 2023, they conducted roughly 350 IVF cycles, but the new funding will give them the ability to expand, according to Dr. Francisco Arredondo, Pozitivf's co-founder & CEO. The goal is to open three new clinics during the next three to four years within the “Texas Triangle,” a region made up of the state’s major cities — San Antonio, Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston — that is home to nearly 70% of Texas’ population.
The company is also using the funds to address a major problem facing the fertility industry: a shortage of human capital. The team at Pozitivf created the andrology, embryology and nursing training program, IVF Academy USA, and has trained approximately four embryologists and andrologists every three to four months since June 2022 as well as three OBGYNs. Next year, it plans to train around 10 nurses, 10 nurse practitioners and 10 physician assistants. With the new funding, Pozitivf is building the physical academy in the 7,000-square feet below the clinic.
ORGANON IS COMMITTED TO HELPING ASPIRING PARENTS ON THEIR FERTILITY JOURNEY
Organon is proud to collaborate with the fertility community in championing care equity around the world and is committed to:
Elevating fertility education and awareness
Expanding resources and access to care
Investing in innovative fertility solutions
Every journey to parenthood is unique, and Organon is here to empower aspiring parents every step of the way.
“The idea is not to replace REIs with these other providers but to increase the capacity to make IVF more accessible geographically and financially,” Arredondo said.
Pozitivf is currently researching how to reduce variability and assessing what services do not add value. They say some add on tests haven’t been proven to be effective and some expensive filtering systems have not been proven by randomized controlled trials. The aim is to eliminate wasted inventory and inefficiency in their supply chain, Arredonodo said.
Focusing on long-term growth
Arredondo has expressed doubts about private equity’s role in medicine in the past. He said many firms are “obsessed with growth,” acquisitions and eliminating costs. That approach doesn’t work with the fertility industry, which is in its very early stages and only servicing around 20% of the women in the country who need IVF, he said. The cost of IVF continues to rise because a few companies dominate the market and there is a human capital shortage, so consolidation by private equity is not reducing costs, Arredondo added.
But MonCap is a venture capital firm whose investment strategy focuses on scalability, Arredondo said.
“One of the alignments that we had with MonCap was that we would not replicate things until we feel very confident that the processes have been documented… instead of replicating things that are not at an optimum place,” Arredondo said.
The $20 million funding round came amid a challenging time for raising capital, with venture funding falling in 2023 to its lowest level since 2017, according to research from market intelligence platform CB Insights. Moncap is also a primary investor of EngagedMD, which provides an admin software platform for caregivers in the fertility space.
Moncap’s managing partner, Jonathan Sockol, declined to comment on the firm’s investment strategy in the fertility sector at this time.
The content and themes expressed within the article are that of the news. The advertiser does not have editorial control over the content of this article, and Inside Reproductive Health maintains full editorial independence. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
All external links active as of 6/13/2024
External links are being provided as a convenience and for informational purposes only; they do not constitute an endorsement or an approval by Fertility Bridge or Inside Reproductive Health of any of the products, services or opinions of the corporation or organization or individual. Neither Fertility Bridge nor Inside Reproductive Health bears responsibility for the accuracy, legality or content of the external site or for that of subsequent links. Contact the external site for answers to questions regarding its content.
Improvements in quality control, donor recruitment, in donor egg IVF
VIDEOING PROCEDURES, ADDING ‘SHARE AND FREEZE’ PROGRAM PARTS OF MEASURES
This News Digest Story is paid featured content. The advertiser has had editorial input and control over its creation. However, the views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Inside Reproductive Health. The sponsorship of this content does not imply an endorsement by Inside Reproductive Health.
This News Digest is Paid Sponsored Content From
Evolving standards of egg-freezing care
Leading network of donor egg banks, MyEggBank, has introduced specific quality control measures to optimize egg freezing for fertility preservation. “Most of the quality control is based on the timing of the process,” Dr. Daniel Shapiro, Clinical Director of MyEggBank, says. “A lab director times everybody’s moves during the freeze process since it is done by hand and speed is essential,” adds Dr. Shapiro. MyEggBank also videos every procedure so they can monitor the entire process.
MyEggBank requires the inventory-producing centers to adhere to American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) criteria, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidance, genetic testing and counseling, and strict criteria for the states that require licensure. In addition, MyEggBank maintains strict policies and procedures when accepting donors for donor inventory.
Donors also have to do extensive screening before they are accepted. “The percentage of people who begin the process of enquiry and get to egg retrieval is very low,” Danielle Sheehan, President of the New England Fertility Society (NEFS), says. This increases potential productivity leaks and extensive time spent on administration. “Some egg banks have a model whereby they do all the recruiting, which is attractive to IVF center programs,” shares Sheehan.
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Maximizing donor recruitment
MyEggBank is raising the standard of freezing eggs to positively impact donor recruitment.
“Network recruitment numbers are high, or referred to as top of the funnel, meaning, many applications are received,” shares Deb Mecerod, Director of Clinical Operations at MyEggBank. “However, during the process of screening and testing donors, the number drastically reduces due to initial disqualification in the screening process, lack of donor commitment, or disqualification later in the process,” Mecerod added.
MyEggBank also strictly adheres to internal and external guidelines, which affects the number of donors accepted. “However, the quality of the donor candidates who pass all the milestones are quality donors who are presented to our intended parents,” Mecerod states.
Share and freeze solutions
As part of its unique egg donor value proposition, MyEggBank has a “share and freeze” program. The egg bank’s network has options at the local donor sites for its share program. For example, most donors recruited produce 24-26 mature egg (MII) oocytes. “Most donors with good outcomes will return for additional donation cycles,” says Mecerod.
Typically, on the third donation cycle, the donor is offered eight eggs for egg preservation and storage at no cost to the donor. The donor is paid full compensation for the donation, and the remainder of the eggs are added to the general inventory for intended parent selection.
The share and freeze program gives donors the benefit of fertility preservation for future use. “Many of our donors are single working towards advanced degrees. Freezing their eggs allows them a unique opportunity to control the timing of their own family building,” says Mecerod. This dually provides a service to the intended parents and donors, Mecerod adds: “The fertility clinics providing the service look at this as a goodwill gesture, or as some would say ‘paying it forward’”.
Technology enabling ‘premium’ standardized care
MyEggBank provides a strategic service in training the egg producing centers, maintaining strict quality control, and updating standard operating procedures (SOPs) and policies and procedures.
“The criteria for accepting donors is rigorous, but results in quality eggs being retrieved,” says Mecerod. Additionally, the intended parent clinics are trained by MyEggBank's embryologists to warm eggs and embryos to achieve the best possible outcomes.
“Recently, scientists proposed a simplified oocyte warming protocol with promising results that could potentially improve clinical pregnancy rates as well as its potential to significantly improve IVF success rates,” says Mecerod.
The research and collected data for the updated process are on the horizon. “Yet, it is currently too early to say if the simplified oocyte warming technique could be used in a clinical or laboratory setting,” Mecerod adds.
What is here, however, is the egg bank’s ability to collect “a profound amount of analytical data related to egg freezing and outcomes”, Mecerod says. This data is then utilized to troubleshoot when needed in their partner fertility clinics and production centers. “Ultimately, the data is used to provide ‘best in class’ outcomes,” Mecerod adds.
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Progyny stock falls 15% day after earnings call, down 35.9% since February
Company says decision from Alabama Supreme Court dampened utilization of ART services.
BY RON SHINKMAN
Progyny’s leadership said the Alabama Supreme Court’s ruling that embryos created by IVF are human beings was largely responsible for its missing first quarter revenue estimates that led to a $1 billion drop in its market capitalization.
Stock in Progyny – a New York City-based firm that provides fertility benefits to employers – dropped about 15% the day after it announced earnings on May 9, from $32.50 a share to $27.53. It has since dipped to $26.67 a share as of the end of trading on May 28. The company’s shares are down nearly 36% from its 2024 high of $41.62 per share on Feb. 12.
Progyny reported net income of $16.9 million on revenue of $278.1 million for the first quarter ending March 31. That compares to net income of $17.7 million on revenue of $258.4 million for the first quarter of 2023.
Although Progyny’s net income was in line with estimates from Wall Street analysts, its revenue for the quarter was more than $11 million short of the consensus number of $289.3 million.
Progyny leadership tied the revenue dip to a decrease in utilization of services for the first quarter. About 0.46% of people offered fertility benefits through Progyny used its services. During the first quarter of 2023 the utilization rate was 0.48%. That means utilization dropped about 4.2% year-over-year.
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“We began to see the ramp in member activity leveling off slightly in March, coinciding with the national conversations about women’s access to reproductive healthcare sparked by the Alabama Supreme Court ruling,” Progyny Chief Executive Officer Pete Anevski told stock analysts during the company’s earnings call.
Anevski added that “the modest dip in activity that we saw across the country was more pronounced in the states [which have] the most restrictive laws for women’s reproductive healthcare, suggesting that a relatively small number of members were proceeding with a greater degree of caution before commencing their fertility journey.” He noted that initial user levels during the second quarter of this year were also lower than the second quarter of 2023.
Nevertheless, Progyny says activity is up. Chief Financial Officer Mark Livingston said during the earnings call with analysts that the number of overall assisted reproductive technology cycles performed during the first quarter totaled 14,800, up 12% from the first quarter of 2023. And the number of insured individuals who have access to Progyny through their health insurance rose to 6.4 million during the quarter, compared to 5.3 million during the same period a year ago.
However, Livingston also cautioned that with its utilization rate essentially remaining unchanged going into April, Progyny projects second quarter 2024 revenue of between $300 million and $310 million. The forecast from Wall Street is on the higher end, at $307.2 million, suggesting another revenue miss for the second quarter was possible.
Livingston said full-year 2024 revenue is now forecast at between $1.23 billion and $1.27 billion. Wall Street forecasts $1.24 billion. The company’s 2023 revenue was just under $1.1 billion.
“Our range assumes that utilization in the second half of the year will be nearer to what we saw in 2022 at the low end and closer to what we saw in 2023 at the high end,” Livingston said.
Progyny has responded by buying back its own shares, including a plan to repurchase $100 million worth of stock announced on May 22.
Accurate IVF Conversion Rates Published
FINALLY. The Data Every Fertility Executive Has Been Asking For. Stop paying consultants tens of thousands of dollars for less accurate information. eIVF has the real numbers, pulled from 130,000+ IVF cycles and 550+ providers. To promote their Fertility Vision Dashboard, they’re giving you this information for free, right now, in one report.
Only this report has accurate figures for:
Avg ART Conversion Rate
Avg IUI Conversion Rate
Avg days from registration to consult
Avg days from consult to ART
Avg days from consult to IUI
Avg new patients
Stop using random estimates. Download this free report to accurately benchmark your providers’ performance using real nationwide averages.
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