Fertility & family-building for all

Lynn Marie Westphal, M.D., FACOG, graduated summa cum laude from Lawrence University, earned her M.D. degree at Stanford University, and did her residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at UCLA and Stanford University. She did a fellowship in molecular biology at Stanford University and completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) at UCSF and is double board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology/Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Westphal joined the full-time faculty at Stanford University in 1998 and was a Professor in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Director of the Fertility Preservation Program, Director of the Third-Party Reproduction Program, and Director of the REI Fellowship. Her interest in fertility preservation for cancer survivors led her to set up one of the first oocyte cryopreservation programs in the country. She has held numerous national leadership positions and was the President of the Fertility Preservation Special Interest Group of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine from 2008-2009. She was the Director of Women’s Health at Stanford from 2005-2012. In 2012, she co-founded the Stanford Center for Health Research on Women and Sex Differences in Medicine (WSDM) and served as co-director of the program for two years.

Dr. Fahimeh Sasan is Founding Physician and Chief Innovation Officer at Kindbody. Dr. Sasan is a board certified Ob/Gyn who completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. In addition to her work at Kindbody, Dr. Sasan is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York.

As a practicing clinician for more than 15 years she is dedicated to helping her patients with comprehensive care with a focus on providing an exceptional, personalized experience. Dr. Sasan and her team provide fertility services, gynecology, low-risk and high-risk prenatal care, and wellness support, offering patients a single door for all of their fertility healthcare needs. Dr. Sasan is a recognized and widely-quoted expert on fertility healthcare and education in the media including NBC News, CBS News, and TODAY.

Angeline N. Beltsos, MD is CEO, Clinical at Kindbody. Dr. Beltsos is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Prior to joining Kindbody, Dr. Beltsos was CEO and Chief Medical Officer for Vios Fertility Institute – a network of fertility clinics throughout Chicago, St. Louis, Milwaukee, Detroit and Portland. Dr. Beltsos completed medical school at Michigan State University, and then went on to do her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Loyola University in 1995. Following this, she completed a fellowship in REI at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, completed in 1997. She has received numerous awards and is a popular speaker, both nationally and internationally, and a frequent media resource on the topic of infertility. Dr. Beltsos is the executive chairperson for the Midwest Reproductive Symposium International, an international conference of fertility experts. She continues to educate and mentor REI doctors and students of all stages of education and currently serves as an Assistant Professor, Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wayne State University, Division Director of the Wayne State Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Division, and as Fellowship Director of the Wayne State Reproductive Endocrinology program.

Dr. Brower is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. After graduating at the top of her class from USC medical school, she went on to complete her Ob/Gyn residency and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellowship at UCLA. She served as an Assistant Clinical Professor at UCLA for several years where she developed a busy practice providing compassionate, personalized, patient centered care. Dr. Brower was recently recognized as one of LA’s Top Doctors by LA Magazine. Dr. Brower has multiple publications in the field of REI. Her areas of expertise include infertility, in vitro fertilization, fertility preservation, oocyte cryopreservation, recurrent pregnancy loss and PCOS.

Hyacinth Nicole Browne, MD is a board certified reproductive endocrinologist. She majored in Chemistry at Dartmouth College and graduated cum laude. She graduated from Yale University School of Medicine in 2002, and she completed her reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Browne specializes in compassionate and personalized infertility care and she is devoted to helping couples achieve their dreams of having a family. She has authored numerous publications and is the recipient of various awards in medicine, research, and academics.

Shannel R. Adams, MD, FACOG is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist. Highly skilled in all areas of reproductive health, Dr. Adams has a particular expertise and interest in third party reproduction, oncofertility, fertility preservation, male fertility, and holistic care of both mind and body. Dr. Adams graduated from Duke University with an undergraduate degree in Ethics and went on to medical school at Oregon Health and Science University. She completed residency at the University of Hawai’i John A. Burns School of Medicine and her REI fellowship at the University of Cincinnati. Dr. Adams has been recognized with many awards for her contributions to the fields of medicine, reproductive endocrinology, and family planning and has presented numerous times on the topics of oncofertility, fertility preservation, chromosome screening technologies, and infertility.

Dr. Kristen Cain is a board-certified Ob/Gyn and Reproductive Endocrinologist who has worked in infertility since completing her fellowship at UCLA in 1995. She was an Assistant Professor at SUNY Stony Brook, before moving on to help start a private practice in Long Island, which grew to the largest infertility practice on Long Island, and the third largest in New York state. She also developed the donor egg and fertility preservation programs while there, opening the first egg bank on Long Island. Dr. Cain moved back to her home state of Minnesota in 2012 to be closer to her family, and was one of three REI doctors serving the entire region of North Dakota, northern Minnesota and eastern Montana. While there, she became a women’s health advocate at the state and national level, working toward improving access to care for infertility patients. Dr. Cain graduated from Jamestown College in North Dakota, and completed medical school at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. She completed an internship in Internal Medicine at UVA in Charlottesville, VA before returning to Johns Hopkins for her residency in Ob/Gyn.

Dr. Kathiresan is board certified in both Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Obstetrics & Gynecology. She is a native of Marietta, Georgia. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from Cornell University and medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia (MCG). While at MCG, she was active in health disparities advocacy, which earned her a national leadership award from the American Medical Association. She went on to complete her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Miami/ Jackson Memorial Hospital and fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Kathiresan has extensively published in many peer-reviewed scientific journals. After completing her training, she moved to Texas and developed a busy clinical practice committed to compassionate, individualized patient-centered care. She is devoted to helping couples achieve their dreams of building a family. She is also passionate about promoting fertility education awareness through various social media platforms (@anukathiresanmd on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and Youtube). She was awarded “Rising Star Super Doc,” “Texas Top Doc,” and “Top Doctor” by Houstonia Magazine for several consecutive years. She has many years of experience in all areas of infertility including IVF, IUI, recurrent pregnancy loss, fertility preservation and oocyte cryopreservation.

Amber R. Cooper, MD, MS is the Chief Genomics Officer for Kindbody. Prior to joining Kindbody, Dr. Cooper was a founding physician and the Chief Medical Officer for the St. Louis region of Vios Fertility Institute. She understands the challenges of infertility both personally and professionally. Board certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, she completed both her residency and fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis. During her years of practice, Dr. Cooper has received numerous awards and has authored articles for several medical journals and textbooks. Additionally, she has led clinical studies, had her research covered in the local and national press, and spoken both nationally and internationally on various topics related to fertility. While she is passionate for all facets of fertility health, she has a special interest in improving IVF success and outcomes, fertility preservation, ovarian dysfunction, ovarian reserve and aging, hysteroscopic surgery, genetics, and the environmental impact on ovarian aging and function.

Dr. Geraldine Ekpo is a Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) Specialist with years of experience providing compassionate fertility care in the San Francisco Bay Area and the California Central Valley. After graduating summa cum laude from Georgia Tech with a B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering, she went on to obtain her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. She then completed her Ob/Gyn residency at Northwestern University in Chicago, and a REI fellowship at UCSF. She is an inducted member of the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society and is board certified in both Ob/Gyn and REI.

Dr. Ekpo is passionate about increasing access to reproductive care and education/outreach and previously interned at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, Switzerland. She has been invited to speak at various global fertility conferences and is also a Volunteer Clinical Professor at UCSF/Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, where she teaches Ob/Gyn residents. She feels very privileged to be able to assist patients in their family building endeavors, and her clinical areas of expertise include infertility, in vitro fertilization, intrauterine insemination, egg freezing, PCOS, fibroids, recurrent pregnancy loss and 3rd party parenting.

Dr. Noyes is board-certified in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive endocrinology, specializing in treatments involving infertility and fertility preservation. After graduating in the top 10% of her medical school class, she completed both her residency and fellowship at Weill Cornell – The New York Hospital in NYC. She then worked as a specialist at Cornell, then NYU achieving full academic professorship in 2009. She was instrumental in directing and fostering the fertility preservation program at her last two jobs and has frozen oocytes for more than 2,000 women while helping to create >200 babies from thawed eggs. During her 30-year academic tenure, Dr. Noyes trained over 30 reproductive medicine fellows along with hundreds of residents while publishing more than 60 manuscripts and providing over 90 guest lectures around the world on the topics of fertility and fertility preservation. She is a recognized leader in the field and is continuously voted one of New York’s top doctors in the treatment of infertility.

Julie S. Rhee, MD is double board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI). She completed her fellowship in REI at Washington University in St. Louis. At Wash U, she was selected as a recipient of the prestigious National Institute of Health T32 research award, under which she studied the effects of diet-induced obesity on the endometrium and implantation. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School. She has won multiple awards, authored numerous publications, and has presented at national meetings on topics related to women’s health and infertility. Her particular areas of interest include general infertility, IVF, fertility preservation, recurrent pregnancy loss, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, and minimally invasive surgery.

Dr. Aimee Seungdamrong graduated cum laude with a degree in Chemistry from Cornell University. She earned her medical degree at The University of Texas Southwestern and did her residency at Parkland Memorial Hospital. She completed her training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey, where she continues to teach as an Assistant Professor at Rutgers Medical School. Dr. Seungdamrong has been practicing medicine for over 12 years. She loves providing excellent care to each and every one of her patients, as well as spending time with her family, her dog Luna, and doing dance aerobics.

Dr. Ellen Hayes is devoted to assisting patients facing fertility challenges and has helped individuals and couples in Wisconsin build their families for over 15 years. Board-certified in both Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and OBGYN, Dr. Hayes graduated from Loyola University Chicago – Stritch School of Medicine with honors. She completed her residency in OBGYN at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where she was recognized by her department for her outstanding surgical skills. She then completed fellowship training at Emory University, where her thesis project received the prestigious John D. Thompson research award. A member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and a fellow of the American College of OBGYN, she has authored numerous articles in scientific journals and has participated in research studies in her field which have been presented nationally. Dr. Hayes believes in providing honest and accurate information, incorporating healthy lifestyle recommendations, and taking a collaborative approach to care with each patient. She loves finding answers for her patients as well as providing the best possible experience for patients during the treatment process. 

Dr. Ikhena-Abel obtained her medical degree from the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth and completed her residency in Ob/Gyn at the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine in Worcester, MA. She completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Northwestern University. She considers it a privilege to help patients grow their families. Dr. Ikhena-Abel specializes in caring for several women’s health conditions including infertility, fertility preservation, polycystic ovarian syndrome, uterine fibroids, polycystic ovarian syndrome, recurrent pregnancy loss and irregular or absent periods. She is a reviewer for Fertility and Sterility and the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. She also serves as an abstract reviewer for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.

Dr. Bendikson did her residency training in OB/GYN at Harvard and completed her reproductive endocrine and infertility fellowship training at Cornell. She is a California native, having graduated from UCLA with honors. After first leaving Los Angeles for NYU Medical School, she finally returned after training to become an assistant professor at the USC Keck School of Medicine.

Dr. Bendikson was a leader at USC Fertility for over a decade. Dr. Bendikson founded the Center for Pregnancy Loss for patients who have suffered from pregnancy loss and miscarriage. Dr. Bendikson also founded the Fertility Diagnostics Program at USC, to provide a way for young adults to better understand their reproductive potential to help them make educated choices for their future.

She is a nationally recognized leader in the fertility field. She has been the Chair of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s (ASRM) Patient Education Committee since 2016 and serves as a member of the ASRM Practice Committee. She is on the board of the ASRM Early Pregnancy Loss Special Interest group and served as President in 2020. She has been recognized for many years as one of LA’s Top Doctors by Los Angeles Magazine.

Dr. Bendikson has presented her award-winning research at both national and international conferences. She has authored numerous publications on a wide variety of topics including the effects of Vitamin D on implantation, IVF for women of advanced maternal age, egg freezing, IVF outcomes in women of different ethnicities, and sex selection of embryos.

It is her goal to provide the highest quality care for her patients and to help them fulfill their desire of having a healthy baby, whether that be now or in the future. In addition, she strives to guide her patients through what can be a trying and difficult journey by providing them with the support and personal attention they need and deserve.

Erica Louden, MD, PhD is a highly-skilled scientist and reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist focusing on all areas of reproductive health. Dr. Louden’s research efforts focus on access to care for cancer and infertile patients as well as the novel mechanism to preserve primordial oocytes during chemo and radiation therapy. Dr. Louden, a graduate of Wayne State University School of Medicine, completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Wayne State and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Augusta University. During her medical training, Dr. Louden received numerous awards and presented Grand Rounds on Mullerian Anomalies, a topic on which she has been published. In addition, she authored articles for several medical journals and textbooks, clinical studies, and has had her research covered in peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Louden is an active member of many medical associations.

Dr. Sicily Garvin joins Kindbody as a Reproductive Endocrinologist, after completing her fellowship at Wayne State University. Her notable medical research continues to fuel her interest in embryo implantation and early pregnancy loss. She received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Emory University in Atlanta. After graduation, she worked at Emory University as a research assistant in a neurobiology laboratory. This sparked an interest in biomedical research and she earned a master’s degree in Biomedical Science from the Georgia-Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She then went on to receive a medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. She became interested in the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility while in medical school. As this specialty, combined her interests in endocrinology, women’s health and innovative research. Motivated by these interests she completed residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore.

Dr. Holly Mehr MD, MSEd, FACOG is a Reproductive Endocrinologist and Reproductive Surgeon. She graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Wesleyan University with a degree in Psychology and American Ethnic Studies. She then worked as a public school teacher in the Bronx, NY and simultaneously earned her Masters Degree in Education at Bank Street School of Education. After making the difficult decision to transition to medicine, she went on to receive a medical degree from Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and completed her Residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at New York University Medical Center. She then completed double subspecialty fellowship training in both Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery and Reproductive Endocrinology.

Her research interests include factors influencing embryo quality and embryo implantation, the effect of metabolism on ovarian function, as well as strategies to improve access to fertility care and patient education. She is also active on the national level serving on the American Society of Reproductive Medicine’s Education Committee, the Access to Care special interest group as well as an ASRM abstract reviewer. Additionally, Dr. Mehr is a reviewer for the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics. 

She sees her role as an educator, partner and advocate for her patients along their fertility journey. Outside of work she enjoys spending time outdoors with her family in the California sunshine.

Roohi Jeelani, MD, FACOG, is a double board certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and Infertility Specialist (REI). A graduate of Ross University School of Medicine, she completed both her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Wayne State University – Detroit Medical Center. During her medical training, Dr. Jeelani received numerous awards in the areas of fetal medicine and reproductive medicine. In addition, she has authored a variety of publications and book chapters in well known journals highlighting cutting-edge REI advancement and has presented at national/international conferences and symposiums focused on advancements in women’s health. Dr. Jeelani is an active member of many medical associations. A highly-skilled reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist focusing on all areas of reproductive health, Dr. Jeelani has a special interest in oncofertility, toxins’ impact on reproductive function, chemotherapy, and oocyte cryopreservation.

Dr. Mehta is double board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. After graduating with honors from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, she went on to complete her Ob/Gyn residency there as well.  She then went on to complete her Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellowship at the prestigious UC San Diego where she focused her fellowship research on the study of PCOS. She has been in private practice helping build families since 2006. Providing compassionate, personalized, evidence based and patient centered care is very important to her. She has been voted by her peers as one of the best doctors in Collin County and Dallas for several years in a row. Her areas of expertise include general infertility, in vitro fertilization, fertility preservation, oocyte cryopreservation, diminished ovarian reserve, hysteroscopic surgery and PCOS. She is also passionate about nutrition, lifestyle, and a holistic approach to fertility.

Dr. Toral Parikh is a board certified Ob/Gyn and board eligible Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) specialist. She completed her REI training at the world-renowned National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center alongside training from specialists at Shady Grove Fertility Center.

She accomplished her baccalaureate education at Emory University graduating Magna Cum Laude, obtained her M.D. at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, and mastered her residency training in Ob/Gyn at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC. Dr. Parikh is a Howard Hughes Medical Institute scholar whose research interests have been notable throughout her medical career. She has published relevant cutting-edge studies within peer-reviewed journals important to advancing the field of women’s reproductive health. She has presented her work at several national and international conferences and received the Society for Reproductive Investigation award for her most recent work on the medical management of uterine fibroids.

She is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and Society for Reproductive Investigators (SRI). Her clinical expertise also includes assisted reproductive technologies such as intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF), and fertility preservation (egg/sperm freezing). Her expertise with infertility has provided her with the ability to counsel with compassion and offer informed diagnoses and equitable guidance to individuals and couples alike. Dr. Parikh is excited to welcome patients at Kindbody.

Mackenzie Purdy, MD, FACOG is thrilled to be caring for patients in a city she loves. After receiving her medical degree at the University of Missouri, Dr. Purdy completed her Ob/Gyn residency at the University of Kentucky. She then obtained a Masters in Biomedical Sciences and completed her Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic. Double board-certified in both Ob/Gyn and Reproductive Endocrinology, Dr. Purdy is also well-recognized for her numerous peer-reviewed publications and abstracts. With specialty expertise in pre-implantation genetic testing, carrier screening, and recurrent pregnancy loss, Dr. Purdy has tremendous compassion for patients in the women’s health field, which she gained largely through experiencing IVF treatment first-hand. Dr. Purdy is also a member of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the American College of Ob/Gyn.

Dr. Rachel Blair Danis is proud to be a part of the Kindbody team as a Reproductive Endocrinologist. Dr. Danis graduated from Barnard College at Columbia University and earned her medical degree at Drexel University College of Medicine. She completed her residency training in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Hahnemann University Hospital at Drexel University and was appointed Chief Resident. She then completed her fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at the University of Southern California while simultaneously completing a Masters of Science in Clinical, Biomedical, and Translational Investigation. Dr. Danis has a passion for academic medicine and research, which has led her to present at national conferences and publish in world-renowned journals. Dr. Danis believes in increasing awareness of women’s and reproductive health issues. She is devoted to providing the highest quality of care to her patients. In her spare time, Dr. Danis enjoys taking ballet classes and trying the latest HIIT workout.

Malgorzata E. Skaznik-Wikiel, MD is a board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist. She graduated cum laude from the Medical University of Warsaw in 2002. She then completed postdoctoral fellowship in Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School followed by residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Case Western Reserve University and the Cleveland Clinic. She completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Colorado where she then served as an Assistant Professor and a Reproductive Endocrinologist. During her time at the University of Colorado she received multiple prestigious grants and awards in the field of Reproductive Medicine.

She feels truly fortunate to be able to help her patients to achieve their dreams of becoming parents and realizes that each patient is unique. Her areas of expertise and research include diet and fertility, PCOS, fertility preservation, and access to fertility care. Dr. Skaznik-Wikiel has authored multiple publications in leading peer-reviewed journals and over 55 conference abstracts. She is the current Chair of the ASRM Nutrition Special Interest Group.

Dr. Jasmine Pedroso, MD MPH, FACOG, grew up in San Diego, California as the daughter of Filipino immigrants. She received her bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley with a double major in Integrative Biology and Socio-Cultural Anthropology. After working for multiple nonprofit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area, she attended the Harvard School of Public Health where she served as Harvard University Presidential Scholar and received her master’s degree in Public Health with a focus on Society, Human Development and Health, and a concentration in Women, Gender and Health. She then returned to California to attend medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. After completing her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, which provides care to some of the most underserved populations in South Los Angeles County, she moved to Las Vegas to pursue more specialized surgical training through the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists Fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. Jasmine has a special interest in the most minimally-invasive, technologically advanced, cosmetic, and fertility-preserving and enhancing approaches to chronic pelvic pain, endometriosis, female sexual dysfunction, fibroids, incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse. She is especially passionate about women’s health advocacy and increasing access to minimally invasive surgery for underserved communities both nationally and internationally, having done work in the Philippines, Cambodia, Uganda, Mexico, Guatemala, and most recently Puerto Rico.

Dr. Jackman is an accomplished board certified Ob/Gyn, with a passion for reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She has an intrinsic desire to help families meet their reproductive goals, while stretching the boundaries of modern medicine. Dr. Jackman obtained her Bachelor of Medical Sciences degree as well as her Medical Degree from the University of The West Indies St Augustine. She then specialized as an Ob/Gyn at The Brooklyn Hospital Center, graduating at the top of her class with research on reproductive health. She is an excellent skilled surgeon with extensive experience in performing both laparoscopic and robotic surgery and completed a fellowship in minimally invasive reproductive surgery with a focus on fibroids and endometriosis.

Dr. Jackman is an active researcher and honoree of many awards. She has published manuscripts in high-quality medical journals. She is passionate about patient education and is an avid patient advocate. She loves sharing knowledge. As such she teaches resident physicians and medical students alike as well as writes Board Preparation questions in OBGYN. She also hosts and participates in many patients’ education and awareness seminars both locally and internationally. Dr. Jackman strives daily to provide a comfortable and caring environment in order to ensure that her patients are fully able to get their reproductive needs and goals addressed ensuring that they fully understand the process and that they participate actively in their care.

Dr Christie Messenger received her undergraduate degrees in Biochemistry and Psychology from the University of Missouri – Columbia where she then continued on to pursue her medical degree. She completed her residency at Mt Sinai Hospital fulfilling a lifelong dream of living and working in Manhattan. Dr Messenger is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Prior to joining Kindbody, Dr Messenger worked with several underserved populations in New York City and most recently comes from a private practice. With over 10 years in the field, Dr Messenger looks forward to both bringing her expertise to the table and learning everything that Kindbody has to offer.  Outside of the office, Dr Messenger is an avid sports fan and theater supporter. In current times, you will find her catching a game on tv, but she is anxiously awaiting the time when she can safely return to stadiums and theaters.

Dr. Rebecca Nelken joins Kindbody as the Ob/Gyn in our Los Angeles market! Dr. Rebecca Nelken is a pelvic and reconstructive surgeon. She is one of the few physicians to be board certified in both OB/GYN and Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery. She has two practice locations, Century City and Santa Monica. Dr. Nelken is also an Assistant Professor of Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology and Resident Education Specialist at the USC Keck School of Medicine.

Dr. Nelken’s major areas of research include pelvic organ prolapse, urinary incontinence and medical education. She has published extensively in peer reviewed journals, and authored book chapters on various subjects related to women’s pelvic health.
She is an active member of the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and the American Urogynecologic Society.

After graduating from Columbia College, Columbia University, in New York with a BA in history, Dr. Nelken earned her medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California (USC). She went on to perform an internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology and a fellowship in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, all at USC.

Dr. Pagani has over 20 years of experience in the field of urology and men’s reproductive health. At Kindbody, he focuses on male infertility, including evaluation and treatment, genetic causes of infertility, and testosterone replacement. In addition to performing hormonal testing, sperm analysis and sperm quality testing, and testicular ultrasounds, Dr. Pagani specializes in microsurgical procedures, including vasectomy reversal, varicocelectomy, and testicular sperm retrieval. Dr. Pagani is a member of the American Urological Association, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Society of Andrology, and the Chicago Urology Society, and has received many awards for his work. He is also an Assistant Professor in the Department of Urology at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine.

Dr. Nastaran Foyouzi is a board-certified subspecialist in both Reproductive Endocrinology and Medical Genetics by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) and American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics (ABMGG). Dr. Foyouzi completed her internship in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Yale University. Thereafter, she went on to complete her residency at Washington University in St. Louis, followed by her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) at the University of California in San Francisco. After graduating from her fellowship training, Dr. Foyouzi was appointed to the faculty of the University of Michigan as a WRHR Scholar (NIH funded scholarship). In 2015, she decided to pursue training in medical genetics to add a new skill set to her expertise in REI. She completed her fellowship in Medical Genetics at UCLA, where she cared for patients with a broad range of genetic conditions. 

Dr. Foyouzi has authored and co-authored publications in leading peer-reviewed academic journals including Fertility and Sterility, Human Reproduction, and Obstetrics and Gynecology. She has also presented research at national conferences including those of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the Society for Reproductive Investigation (SRI) and the Endocrine Society. Furthermore, Dr. Foyouzi is a reviewer for the Human Reproduction Journal and Obstetrics & Gynecology Journal (known as a Green Journal). She serves as an abstract reviewer for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

Dr. Christina Gonzalez is a board certified Ob/Gyn in Denver, CO. She graduated with a degree in Biology from Saint Louis University, where she then continued on to obtain her medical degree. After graduating from Saint Louis University School of Medicine, she completed her Ob/Gyn residency at the University of Colorado. Prior to joining Kindbody, Dr. Gonzalez was at a private Ob/Gyn practice in Denver for 5+ years. She is excited to remain in the Denver area as a part of the Kindbody team, where she can continue to be a resource for women’s health needs and a source of support during the fertility and pregnancy journey.

Awoniyi Olumide Awonuga, MD, FRCOG, FACOG is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology (Ob/Gyn) and in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) in the United Kingdom and United States. Dr. Awonuga holds the title of Professor of Ob/Gyn and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) at Wayne State University School of Medicine (WSU). He was previously the WSU REI Fellowship Program Director and Division Director. He received his medical degree from the University of Ibadan Medical School in Nigeria. He completed Ob/Gyn residency training in Nigeria, United Kingdom, and in the United States at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. He did fellowship training in REI at Kings College Hospital, London and at Wayne State University. He is a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (FRCOG). He is an active researcher with several grants and he is a frequent presenter at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) annual meetings. He has received several awards including the ASRM Star Award from 2017-2021. He has published extensively in reputable journals and has written multiple book chapters. He sits on the editorial boards of various medical journal publications. He is also a reviewer for several national and international journals in our field. He has special interest in difficult and challenging infertility cases, critical appraisal and evidence based medicine, PCOS, oocyte and embryo physiology and embryo implantation, intraperitoneal adhesions, and IVF success.

Dr. Lana Lipkin is a board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) with over 13 years of experience providing compassionate reproductive care to patients in the New York City metro area. She grew up in Brooklyn and after completing her residency in NorthShore University Hospital (now Northwell) she returned to New York City to practice Ob/Gyn: first, at Maimonides Medical Center and thereafter, at Columbia University. After seven years at Columbia University, her interest in female infertility and reproductive health lead her to make the transition to New Hope Fertility Center. After four years at New Hope Fertility, Dr. Lipkin is grateful for the opportunity to join the Kindbody team at such an exciting time.

Dr. Jennifer Mushtaler, affectionately known as “Ob Jen”, is an experienced and respected obstetrician, gynecologist and minimally invasive surgeon. She has been honored to be named a Top Doctor by Texas Monthly and Best of the Best by the Austin American Statesman. Patients say Dr. Mushtaler is warm and caring, but easy with a laugh and friendly smile. One of her lifelong patients explained, “I knew at that moment that she was really caring about me!”

Dr. Mushtaler graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering from The University of Texas at Austin. Hook ’em! She earned her doctorate at UT Southwestern Parkland Memorial Hospital and completed her residency in Fort Worth, Texas, at John Peter Smith Hospital. In 2010 she founded a successful boutique private practice providing comprehensive care to women of all ages. During that time she completed her DaVinci robotics certification and was one of the first physicians in the country to offer the Acessa procedure for the treatment of uterine fibroids.

Dr. Mushtaler is married and she and her husband are proud parents of two daughters. They enjoy participating in triathlon and running events. Dr. Mushtaler has volunteered her service on a Medicaid advisory committee, the Texas department of Health and Human Services and as president of her limited district.

Violet Klenov, MD, FACOG cherishes the privilege of serving the community in which she was raised as a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist. Dr. Klenov completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Washington University in St. Louis, and then, staying true to her Midwest roots, she completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Iowa. Dr. Klenov has received numerous awards for her research and minimally invasive surgical skills, and is an active member of numerous medical associations. She also serves on the Practice Committee for the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, tasked with writing and updating Practice Committee documents for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. She is the REI subspecialty faculty educator for the Mercy Hospital St. Louis Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program. While she is dedicated to all facets of reproductive health, Dr. Klenov has particular interest in shared decision making, cost-effective treatment, keeping treatment as natural as possible, LGBTQIA+, single parent by choice and optimizing IVF success rates.

Originally from New York, Dr. Balmir is a graduate of Columbia University. She earned her medical degree at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. Her residency was at Stony Brook University Hospital in New York where she trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology and was also inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed her training with fellowship at Magee-Womens Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Balmir was Director of Medical Education and Outreach at an academic practice in Pittsburgh, PA. Her dedication to excellent patient experience is driven by the connections she forms with patients over the course of their care. She is passionate about empowering patients with knowledge of all their reproductive options. In her free time, Dr. Balmir enjoys spending time with her husband, 2 children, and 2 dogs. She is fluent in French.

Dr. Barmat is double board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology/Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. During his 25 years in practice he has served as Assistant Professor of the Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences Department at Temple University School of Medicine, and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jefferson College. He is also past Division Director of Reproductive Endocrine and Infertility at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Lead Physician, IVF Medical Director, and Director of Clinical Research at Sincera Reproductive Medicine, formerly Abington Reproductive Medicine.

Dr. Barmat has earned the privilege to serve as past President of the Philadelphia Area Reproductive Endocrine Society, previous Board Member of the Philadelphia Obstetrical Society and current Board Member of Temple Medical School Alumni Association. Dr. Barmat is an accomplished Reproductive Endocrinologist, surgeon, and scientific researcher. He pioneered and conducted extensive research on the use of autologous endometrial coculture (growth of embryos on a layer of patient’s own uterine lining cells) to improve IVF pregnancy rates. He also is involved in research initiatives such as identifying uterine markers of implantation, exploring the effects of hydrosalpinges on IVF outcomes, effectiveness of robotic reproductive surgery, and principal investigator of numerous IVF clinical trials. He has published extensively in the areas of in vitro fertilization, fibroids, endometriosis, and has received numerous honors and awards from both local and national medical societies.

Dr. Barmat is passionate about empowering his patients during their family building journey. He is thrilled to welcome patients at Kindbody.

In addition to his academic accolades, he completed the Ironman Lake Placid triathlon, enjoys tennis, golf, travel and time with his family.

Dr. Juan Alvarez completed his fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at UCLA Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles. Prior to his fellowship, he received his medical degree from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago and completed his Ob/Gyn residency at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA.

He is passionate about all aspects of infertility treatment but has a particular interest in third-party reproduction, international fertility services, and obesity and the impact on fertility, a topic which he researched extensively during his fellowship. As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a board-certified reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist, he has a special interest in LGBTQ+ fertility care and education.

He is an ardent believer in the power of patient education and the importance of the patient-physician relationship. He is also an avid proponent of the mind-body connection and his goal is to integrate positive thinking and meditation into a holistic approach to reproductive health and patient care. He is thrilled to be welcoming patients at Kindbody San Francisco.