Inside Reproductive Health Podcast

Patients are coming into fertility appointments more informed than ever.They’ve talked to ChatGPT, researched their treatment options, and sometimes even come in with an idea of what they think their doctor should recommend.So what does that mean for the REI?That’s the question Dr. Maria Costantini explores. She’s a Partner REI and Medical Director at RMA, and she believes self-awareness may be one of the most important tools physicians have as the patient-physician relationship changes.We dive into:Why patient self-education is reshaping fertility careHow technology is changing physician decision makingDr. Costantini’s belief that self-awareness may prevent provider burnoutThe balance between authoritative and collaborative consultationsRMA’s new AI and how it supports the patient journeyAI may be changing what patients bring into the exam room, but Dr. Costantini argues that how physicians respond may come down to something much more human.

“You’ll never be able to make it on your own.”A challenge issued by a network CEO to this week’s guest, Dr. Shvetha Zarek.She left anyway, built Arbor Fertility in St. Louis, and co-founded AIRE, the Alliance of Independent Reproductive Endocrinologists. Now, she’s one of the loudest voices challenging the idea that corporate consolidation is inevitable.We dive into: The myths practice owners are told about going independent Why independent REIs often take home 3-4 times more revenue than their corporate peersWhat really happened when her venture-backed group quietly ran out of moneyThe debate over whether owning your lab makes you truly independentWhy AIRE is calling this a breaking point for corporate medicineIf this conversation resonates with you, leave us a review or share it with a colleague who's thinking about hanging their own shingle.

Behind every successful fertility journey is a team of nurses, administrators, and clinical staff working under intense pressure. Too often, the people holding the system together are the ones left without a safety net.In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Debbra Keegan, full-time REI physician and Vice President of Clinical Partnerships and Strategy at CCRM, to discuss how to protect and empower healthcare teams from the ground up.We dive into:The hidden cost of burnout on fertility clinic staff How physicians, leadership, and staff can actively support their teamsThe impact of CCRM's new patient navigator systemWhy introducing mental health resources on initial visits elevates careHow wearables and microbiome tracking are transforming patient wellness

Restorative Reproductive Medicine isn't just a rebranding. It's a legal and legislative strategy aimed at IVF. And it's gaining ground.A surprising number of fertility doctors have asked IRH to cover this topic, so we brought in the right person: Matt Maruca, Inception Fertility's chief legal counsel for seven years and a key figure in the Fertility Providers Alliance.We dive into:How Southern States approached IVF-hostile legislation in 2026What tort reform could look like for IVF providers The donor-conceived community's growing influence on policyWhat legislation the FPA is actively working to advanceHow you can get involved, even if you don't work for Prelude or Inception

Is private practice making a comeback? More importantly, should it?After five years at UCSF, Dr. Thalia Segal left academic medicine to launch Collab Fertility in one of the most competitive fertility markets in the country. And she did it with no private equity and no venture capital. Just a vision for building the kind of practice she believes both physicians and patients deserve.We dive into:Why some fertility physicians are reconsidering private equity-backed practicesWhy Dr. Segal believes REIs should have greater oversight of the IVF labThe financial realities of running a 300-cycle practice (without outside investors)How she’s growing Collab Fertility and recruiting the next generation of REIsHer 21 headcount payroll and the operational challenges she’s encountered along the way

3 fertility specialists have built massive digital brands with millions of collective followers.In this episode, Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh (The Egg Whisperer), Dr. Roohi Jeelani (CEO of Onto Health), and Dr. Lucky Sekhon (Partner at RMA New York) discuss how they embody the same raw talent but leverage their public profiles for very different aims.They dive into:How fertility physicians build celebrity-level digital brandsThe strategies behind maintaining a successful self-pay practicePursuing creative endeavors outside the clinic (like authoring a book)Scaling a clinic group and building a tech-enabled OB/GYN referral networkWhy Dr. Aimee added Juniper Genomics to her PGT roster

Game-changing innovation doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when the best minds in fertility are constantly testing, improving, and challenging what’s possible. We dive into this notion with Dr. Rita Vassena, Medical Director of Fertility at CooperSurgical. She spends her time visiting high-performing IVF labs around the world, identifying the technologies, processes, and ideas that are shaping the future of reproductive medicine. We discuss: What it will take to double IVF cycle output in the next five years How vitrification can be performed up to 90% faster CooperSurgical’s rapid blastocyst warming technology Emerging concepts that could reshape fertility treatment What leading lab directors are doing to maximize workflows and IVF supplies The next generation of fertility care is already taking shape - get a glimpse of what may be coming next.

Is PGT as we know it coming to an end?Drs. Arlene Morales, Holly Mehr & Drew Tortoriello discuss what they see as the next evolution of PGT and why whole genome sequencing could reshape the future of embryo testing.They dive into:Why all PGT could include whole genome sequencing within five yearsConcerns about PGT-P and direct-to-consumer marketingWhat they want to hear from ASRM and other professional societies about genomicsWhat should be included in a large randomized controlled trial on PGTWhy they are cautiously optimistic about Juniper Genomics (And what makes PGT-G different)

Third-party IVF is getting bigger, but are clinics actually getting better at it?Or are some efforts to streamline the process creating new risks for patients?Dr. Allison Bloom of Main Line Fertility and Dr. Daniel Shapiro of Reproductive Biology Associates (RBA) discuss what separates a clinic that offers third-party reproduction from one that truly excels at it.We dive into:The push to streamline third-party IVF (and where corners may be getting cut)The technology stack donor & surrogacy programs needThe gaps in today’s EMRs and what needs to changeEmerging trends around known donorsNew thinking on anonymous vs. de-identified donationOne thing each physician believes clinics should start (or stop) doing to become a third-party IVF powerhouseAs third-party reproduction becomes more common, the operational, ethical, and technological challenges become harder to ignore.

More than half of IVF patients never complete treatment. Stress, finances, and relationship strain may play a role, but are fertility workflows optimized for cycles completed over families built also to blame?In this episode, leaders from Inception Fertility share how they’re using technology, workflow design, and operational strategy to improve the patient journey from first inquiry through graduation.What Inception uncovered by integrating their EMR with SalesforceInsights into no-shows and cancellations from patient data analysisWorkflow improvements being implemented across staff and physiciansHow to evaluate which solutions can scale network-wideThe build vs. buy debate around automation & moreHow much friction still exists in your patient journey, and where could better systems make the biggest difference?

Cyber threats in fertility aren’t abstract, they're active and closer than most clinics think.And with AI lowering the barrier, even inexperienced actors can cause serious damage.In this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, One Stop IT experts Chris Diamond and Jordan Spriegel share what’s really happening and how fertility centers can respond.How cyber attackers infiltrate fertility and OBGYN systemsWhy these threats aren’t limited to large healthcare organizationsWhat clinics should be doing now to protect their systems and patientsThe right and wrong way to approach EMR migrationWhere AI is already being used in fertility practices todayHow prepared is your clinic for this level of threat?

Genetic testing in IVF is only getting more complex and more common. REIs, you’re not supposed to do this alone, help is already here.We speak with four genetic counselors, Amber Kaplun, Rachel Donnell, Andria Besser, and Lauri Black, about how this works in practice.We dive into:How to embed genetic counselors into your workflowHow to free up REI time while improving patient experienceWhy access to genetic counselors isn’t as limited as it seemsHow third-party services like GeneScreen fit into clinical operationsTheir perspective on PGT-P vs. PGT-G (and where the field is heading)

What is CCRM building toward, and how are they preparing for what comes next? As part of Unified Women’s Healthcare, CCRM is positioning for a future where “hub and spoke” becomes more than just a buzzword. Tracy Belsan, President of CCRM Fertility, joins the episode to share how they’re thinking about growth, operations, and the patient journey.We dive into:The KPIs CCRM focuses onThe operational barrier they removed (Moving patients into care faster)How technology is being implemented across the patient journeyCCRM’s approach to patient finance and access to careThe role of APPs and evolving clinical modelsWhat it takes to consolidate an entire network onto a single EMR by 2027

A tale of two PGTs.One is making bold promises and headlines, the other is quietly gaining traction and relevance.Between PGT-P & PGT-G…what’s actually moving the needle?Dr. Mili Thakur of Genome Ally and Dr. Sasha Hakman of HRC Fertility break down what they’re seeing in real patients, especially when everything else has already failed.We dive into:The real difference between PGT-P and PGT-GWhy some genetic claims are under scrutinyWhere whole genome sequencing is actually helpingHow PGT-G may reduce repeated failed IVF cyclesWhether this can truly shorten time to pregnancy

The results are in: 5 healthy babies born, 64.3% fertilization rate, zero eggs damaged across hundreds of oocytes.Lab automation in IVF is no longer theoretical, it’s been proven.Chief Scientific Officers Jason Barritt of Kindbody and Jacques Cohen of Conceivable Life Sciences join the episode to discuss a recent study published in Human Reproduction examining AURA, the robotic lab system developed by Conceivable Life Sciences.We dive into:What “proof of concept” actually means in IVF lab automationWhy this study matters (And where it falls short of current standards)The role of automation as a testing ground for new lab technologiesWhat a fully automated IVF lab could unlockWhether “hub and spoke” models in fertility have been misunderstood (and what they could actually become)If automation continues to progress, the scale of what’s possible in fertility care may look very different than it does today.

Do fertility doctors deserve happiness?It sounds like a strange question, but for many REIs it’s not abstract.We step back from operations, technology, and finance to ask a more fundamental question with Inception’s National Medical Director, Dr. Jason Yeh:What does a good life actually look like for a fertility specialist?In this conversation, we explore:Moral injury vs. burnoutThe X–Y axis of time and money in a physician’s careerHappiness vs. meaningWhy fertility doctors often benchmark happiness against the status and performance of peersLiving in the moment as an REIThe different kinds of regret fertility doctors describe at the end of their careersConversations like this are rare. If you find value in it, please tell us. Because if the field wants more conversations like this, we need to prove they’re worth having.

What are the drug makers up to?And who’s about to win or lose in fertility pharmacy?This final category overview takes a hard look at the shifting pharmaceutical landscape of legacy manufacturers, rising challengers, supplement disruptors, and the latest in professional services.We also dive into:Why the pharmacy “middle” may be hollowed outWhich models are positioned to scale (and which aren’t)Who operators are calling when they need expert guidanceThe consultants and firms quietly shaping growth behind the scenesDive deeper into any of these topics through our Inside Reproductive Health Digest Articles:⁠Pharmacy, Pharmaceuticals, Professional Services, Supplements

Patients want clearer pricing, clinics want operational sustainability, managed care wants predictable cost control……and everyone wants more transparency.This epiosde centers on the groundbreaking Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (JARG) paper on Activity-Based Costing in IVF and what it actually costs.We’re joined by Pinnacle CFO Shruti Sood, The Fertility Partners CEO Heather Stark, and Chartis Partner Bret Anderson to discuss:Why IVF costs have not been accurately accounted forHow activity-based costing could reshape pricing modelsThe real impact of payer consolidationWhere clinics confuse capacity problems with volume problemsWhether different prognosis patients should be priced differentlyHow managed care pressure will change IVF economics

Clinics are feeling the pressure. And one year after the PGT class action lawsuits, the ripple effects are still unfolding.We’re back with another Fertility Field Overview, and this one looks at what’s happening across patient finance, IVF benefits and third-party reproduction, genetics and diagnostics, and the evolving self-pay landscape.We discuss:Whether IVF benefits managers are helping clinics (or squeezing them)Which lending institutions and loan programs are positioned to rise to the topWhy some say the third-party IVF experience is getting worseWhat’s changed in genetics and diagnostics since the PGT lawsuitHow clinics are reducing workload through at-home testing solutionsHow fertility compares to the broader self-pay healthcare marketDive deeper into any of these topics through our Inside Reproductive Health Digest Articles:Patient Finance, Third Party IVF, Genetics, Diagnostics

Patients, providers, and staff are doing far too much manual work, and with today’s tech it’s time to operationalize.This Fertility Field Overview breaks down the current state of AI-enabled operations, patient journey software, device innovation, cryo safety……and where the field is falling behind.This episode covers:My bold prediction regarding IVI RMA’s approach to tech adoption (Hint: Think late 2000s Google)Why manual workflows are burning out staff and frustrating patientsThe operational tech stack clinics should already be building towardWhere large vendors are stalling (and where fertility-first companies are stepping up)How AI, automation, and safer cryo systems could redefine clinic operationsWhat recent conversations with operators, physicians, and scientists suggest about what’s coming next

For more than a decade, the debate around PGT has felt like the same arguments, the same uncertainty, and little change in day-to-day clinical decision-making.So what’s different now?Joining the conversation are two REIs, Dr. Deirdre Conway of Utah Fertility Center and Dr. Meera Shah of Nova IVF. Together they examine how recent events, emerging data, and evolving lab practices are reshaping how physicians think about PGT.They discuss:What has changed since the late-2024 class action lawsuit against PGT labsHow practices and networks are evaluating PGT lab partnerships todayWhy IVY Fertility has not yet selected a single PGT labWhat additional evidence clinicians want to see around PGT-A and PGT-GWhich PGT lab stood out to Dr. Conway (And the story behind her first case)This is a grounded, clinician-led conversation about evidence, accountability, and what it would actually take for the PGT debate to move forward.

“Everyone in our class is freaking out right now…”That’s the text I got from a fellow last year during the Park City retreat.In this episode, I break down the state of fertility center networks in 2026, based on what I’m hearing directly from physicians, operators, and investors across the field.This is not sponsored commentary, and none of the organizations mentioned had editorial control or preview access. This is my unfiltered read on what’s actually happening, and where things are headed.We cover:Why most large fertility networks are for sale (and why more consolidation is likely in 2026)How the war for REI talent is driving valuation, strategy, and cultureWhy groups of 5–10 physician-owned practices may be critical for innovation long-termWhat younger doctors are actually optimizing for (Hint: it’s not just comp)How burnout, autonomy, research, and safety are becoming competitive differentiatorsThe growing importance of embryology, lab automation, and patient safety infrastructureDon't miss the Inside Reproductive Health article diving even deeper into the state of fertility networks in 2026, which can be found here.

As Boston IVF becomes part of a much larger organization, a natural question emerges: Does a legacy brand get diluted, or does its history shape what comes next?In this episode, Dr. Alan Penzias reflects on Boston IVF’s deep roots and how that heritage continues to influence the organization’s future within the RMA network.The conversation covers:Boston IVF’s founding history and the leaders who shaped itWhether scale threatens (or strengthens)  institutional cultureThe “buy-versus-build” debate playing out across fertility networksDr. Penzias’s perspective on AI and evolving clinical infrastructureHow Boston IVF’s tradition of Grand Rounds has scaled across the networkServing patients in smaller cities and rural communities (without compromising quality)Dr. Penzias also shares updates on longtime Boston IVF leaders, including the evolving roles of Drs. Michael Alper and Selwyn Oskowitz, and reflects on how mentorship and tradition continue to drive innovation.This episode is a thoughtful look at legacy, leadership, and how fertility care evolves without losing its soul.

The gap between provider care and financial counseling may be costing you patients.This episode focuses on that gap.Joining the conversation are Dr. Allison Bloom, practicing REI at Main Line Fertility, and Cheryl Campbell, Director of Operations at BUNDL.Together they examine:Where the clinical care and financial counseling should intersectWhy patients fall out of care between the provider visit and financial counselingWhat physicians and financial counselors should (and should not) communicateHow misalignment leads to patient drop-off (Even among insured patients)How better preparation before the provider visit improves conversion and retentionWhy “covered” patients often still lack sufficient financial guidanceThis is a conversation about improving patient experience while strengthening the practice’s top line.

How do large fertility networks retain great people when everyone is struggling to do the same?In this week’s episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Iris González, Chief Operating Officer of IVI RMA North America, to talks about how one of the largest fertility organizations in the country approaches retention, leadership, and patient experience at scale.Iris shares:How IVI RMA uses regular operator meetings to address retention across practicesThe dyad leadership model used throughout the organizationIVI RMA’s built-in backup staffing strategiesWhy IVI RMA implemented patient advisory councils (and how they act on the feedback)The operational changes they made to improve financial counselingHow IVI RMA tripled patient survey participation (While improving NPS)

How much does an IVF cycle cost?Seems like a simple question. But as this week’s guests explain, it’s not.The way most of us account for “an IVF cycle” hides how many individual work orders and variables are actually involved. That lack of clarity can distort cost, efficiency, and strategy.This week on Inside Reproductive Health, Griffin talks with Steve Rooks, co-author of a groundbreaking paper in JARG on activity-based costing in IVF, and Dr. Jason Barritt, Chief Scientific Officer at Kindbody, to unpack what’s really behind those numbers.Together, they discuss:– Why “an IVF cycle” isn’t a single service but a set of unique work orders– How retrieval volume, ICSI, and PGT each reshape the cost per cycle– The dramatic efficiency differences between labs performing 200 vs. 4,000 cycles per year– The growing impact of managed care on margins– How scalable systems like AURA from Conceivable Life Sciences could expand IVF access

“They expect us to be perfect.”That’s how Dr. Jamie Grifo, Chief Executive Physician of the Inception/Prelude Network, describes the expectations placed on reproductive endocrinologists from patients, payors, and policymakers alike.And while perfection may be impossible, preparation and partnership aren’t.He discusses:– Why NYU Langone has three in-house genetic counselors in their REI department– How they counseled over 700 new patients last year– What led to 300 PGT-M cycles out of 5,500 retrievals– The challenges of sharing counselors across a growing network– Regulatory complexities from state and federal oversight– Why some REIs may be missing key opportunities to help patients with mosaic embryos

Embryologists have a lot riding on the line.Bad supplies can cause big problems. Good supplies can create big improvements.Either way, success rates and patients’ lives hang in the balance. Every detail in the IVF lab matters.  “Good enough” can cost more than it saves, because only the highest standards protect consistency, outcomes and trust..   We’re joined this week by two of the most respected leaders in embryology. Dr. Michael Baker, Lab Director at Aspire HFI, and Dr. Robert Mendola, Lab Director at CCRM and member of the network’s Innovation Advisory Board.Together, they break down:– The full chain of quality assurance, from suppliers to networks to individual lab– The burden and importance of retesting lab materials– Why labs should evaluate not just blastocyst formation but cell counts per blast– The tension between cost control, standardization, and lab autonomy– The suppliers and products that stand out for exceptional quality (including Vitrolife’s media and oils)– Why transparency and competition should set the standard for lab supply quality (instead of regulation)

How are clinicians doing?Patients are expecting more, offering less gratitude, and leaving negative reviews faster than ever. Sound familiar?Dr. Alice Domar, Chief Compassion Officer at Inception, talks about the emotional toll of working in reproductive medicine and what can be done about it.Dr. Domar shares:– Practical strategies for burnout prevention– The one small intervention proven to improve patient retention– Results from three psycho-social trials currently underway at Inception– The patient traits most predictive of treatment dropout– How Inception Fertility supports providers through empathic communication training- What needs to change to better support front-line fertility professionals.

What will the IVF lab look like in five years?Trying to predict and shape that response is Dr. Denny Sakkas, Chief Scientific Officer at Boston IVF and head of the scientific advisory board for AutoIVF.In this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Dr. Sakkas about what automation really means for embryologists, and how new technologies could transform lab operations, chain of custody, and patient safety.Dr. Sakkas shares:– The potential downsides to automation and where caution is needed– How AutoIVF differs from AURA by Conceivable Life Sciences–  His prediction about time-lapse imaging within five years– The areas where embryologists must hold firm on lab standards– The next big innovations he’s watching (and what Boston IVF plans to purchase next year)

Lab directors, how do you make sure your concerns actually reach ownership?Vendors, how are you being vetted by the groups you serve?This week on Inside Reproductive Health, Amy Jones, Chief Quality Officer of Ivy Fertility, talks about how one of the country’s leading networks evaluates quality, chooses partners, and plans for growth.Amy shares:– The specific criteria Ivy uses to vet vendors for cryostorage and digital witnessing– How they’re implementing an AI solution to compare data across EMRs– The patient concierge platform guiding patients through the IVF journey– Where current patient education tools fall short– The tradeoffs of proactive expansion– And why fertility professionals get into trouble when they stay “too stuck in their own lane”

What’s the definition of a cartel, and has the way we pay for care created one in fertility?This week on Inside Reproductive Health, two practice-owning REIs with very different models join Griffin to push that question hard. Dr. Robert Kiltz (CNY Fertility) and Dr. Francisco Arredondo (Pozitvf IVF & The IVF Academy) dig into the economics, the ethics, and the possible alternatives to the status quo.They discuss:Dr. Arredondo’s argument that today’s IVF system resembles a cartel (and what can be done about it)The right question to ask about access and cost in IVFHow insurance helped create today’s medical-industrial complexDr. Kiltz’s meeting with HHS leadership and what it revealedLessons from Aravind Eye Care in India (Could that model work for IVF?)What the IVF Academy is teaching clinicians about entrepreneurship and sustainable practiceThis episode doesn’t offer easy answers. It’s a clear-eyed conversation about structural incentives, mission, and what it will take to make IVF more affordable and accessible.

If you’ve ever tried to get doctors, embryologists, and executives on the same page…you’ll want to hear this one.In this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, Dr. Alison Bartolucci (CSO) and Cara Reymann (CEO) of First Fertility talk candidly about leadership, lab management, and network-wide decision-making.They discuss:– The emotional cost of leading a fertility network– When to build consensus (and when to just drive the bus)– The decision to implement digital witnessing across all nine IVF labs– The “magic question” Cara uses to align stakeholders– Why First Fertility abandoned plans for a single EMR– Why Alison swears by using a lab monitoring service (and the business benefits beyond happy embryologists)

Overwhelm. Anxiety. Cases that stay with you.That’s how some of the field’s most experienced professionals describe genetics in reproductive medicine today.In this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, we brought together leaders from RMA, CCRM, Shady Grove, and GeneScreen to talk about the genetics overload in modern ART.They talk with Griffin about:The liability landmine that genetics has becomeWhy one lab’s “positive” is another lab’s “negative” (The Panel Paradox)Real cases where rare findings blindsided experienced REIsSmart strategies to stratify counseling (Without missing critical risks)The growing complexity of third-party reproductionThe coming wave of whole genome sequencing and polygenic risk scoresThis isn’t a high-level overview. It’s a blunt conversation about the real risks, broken workflows, and what’s coming next for your lab and patients.

Doctors used to dream not just of earning well, but of controlling how they practiced and how they cared for patients.Doctors Cristin Slater, Kevin Maas, and Kyle Tobler—partners at the independently owned Idaho Center for Reproductive Medicine—explain why that dream feels so far away for many.Here’s what we cover:Why Dr. Maas says he’d never go back to a private equity-owned networkHidden legal clauses & earn-outs that can trap REIsThe tug-of-war between business interests and clinical decisionsHow independent practices can innovate (including the tech they love)The advice they’d give to any fellow or young REI thinking about their future, and how they can still live the dream

Beth Zoneraich, CEO of Pinnacle Fertility, is back on Inside Reproductive Health to share the hard numbers and the deeper philosophy behind what she calls the Pinnacle Operational Model.We deep dive into::Why they automate the back end of patient care (but never the front)How 3,000 unanswered phone calls became 500 new patientsThe “J curve” of operational change (where things get worse before they get better)Whether business leaders can help achieve work-life balance for clinical staffThe build vs buy debateHow they saved $1M saved by building (not buying) a witnessing system

With a very limited number of genetic counselors nationwide, it’s impossible for every fertility patient to see one. Clinics like RMA New York are getting strategic.In this week’s episode of Inside Reproductive Health, genetic counselor Teresa Cacchione explains why genetic counseling in IVF is becoming increasingly critical and complex.Teresa discusses:Why and how RMA-NY relies on a partner called GeneScreen Why even low-risk carrier results can confuse patients (and what to do about it)The growing demand for informed consent around PGTThe risks of relying solely on lab panelsHow RMA decides which patients need in-house counselingThe legal and ethical implications of not providing sufficient counseling before treatment

They were lucky.The gas to the incubator stopped flowing, but XiltriX caught the failure in time, no embryos were lost… and no headlines were made.But what happens if the next failure isn’t?In this episode, Dr. Matthew “Tex” VerMilyea of Ovation and US Fertility, and Moises Eilemberg, CEO of XiltriX North America, return to Inside Reproductive Health to ask a hard question:What would your lab do in a crisis?You’ll hear:The catastrophic loss Sweden’s biobank suffered (and what you need to learn from it)Why embryologist shortages are reshaping the IVF labWhat standardizing monitoring protocols could mean for your networkWhy Tex believes monitoring as a service is the futureThe steps to take after a public lab failure (and how to avoid needing them)How XiltriX helps fertility labs gain 24/7 visibility, rapid response alerts, and peace of mindThis isn’t about tech. It’s about protecting the future of your lab, your brand, and your patients.

What happens when managed care surges in IVF, reimbursements drop, and physicians are expected to do more work for less?Dr. Ravi Gada and Manish Chhadua are back on the show, and they don’t hold back. Dr. Gada is a partner at one of the largest independently owned practices in the United States and he and Manish co-own and operate a firm called CloudRx, In this episode, they dig into:What 70 fertility centers are doing to slash administrative costs from prior authorization chaos How medication side savings are shifting into the medical services side (and what that means for practices)Changes in the payer market and insurer preferences you need to know aboutWhy Organon and Follistim have gained so much market share in the past 5–7 yearsWhy academic fertility center ratings are shockingly low (and what private practices can learn from that)

From a founding partner about to retire, to an associate just out of fellowship, all five REIs at Carolina Conceptions sat down to share their takes on staying private, staying aligned, and staying real.Carolina Conceptions invited us in, and we talked real talk about:The golden parachute of private equity (and why they’ve resisted it)The tension between high-touch care and the operational demands of growthHow they’re navigating succession, new tech, and alignment across multiple generations of REIs

I've captured and interrogated one of fertility doctors’ enemies…a lawyer.But this one’s on your side.Matthew Maruca has served as General Counsel for Inception Fertility since 2019, and he’s here to walk you through the legal threats and legislative currents shaping the future of fertility care. While this episode isn’t legal advice, Matt brings insight into how reproductive health is being fought for, and fought against, in the courtroom and the legislature.In this episode, Matt covers:- What’s behind the rise in lawsuits and how they’re modeled after personal injury cases- The emerging legislative strategies from think tanks like the Heritage Foundation- Which reproductive treatments are being targeted (like PGT)- How to draft your consent forms to reduce liability- The #1 thing providers can do to protect themselves from unnecessary litigation- How to keep your premiums down when litigation is on the rise.Listen and learn with Matt Maruca.

Fertility doctors are burnt out.Not all of them, but enough to warrant a real conversation.Dr. Jason Yeh is a full-time fertility physician, a national medical director, an academic-turned-industry leader—and very much in the thick of this discussion.In this episode, we unpack the often unspoken reality of REI burnout and why so many are struggling to stay engaged after a decade in the field.In this conversation, Dr. Yeh shares:What REIs are saying in private physician groups about exhaustion and disillusionmentWhy the 7–10 year career mark is so critical for burnoutThe impact of rising caseloads on quality of life (300+ cycles per year)How Inception is trying to stay physician-friendly (and why autonomy matters)Why executive roles don’t always protect physicians from burnoutHis take on corporate vs physician-led leadership in fertility careWhether you’re a newer fellow just entering the field or a seasoned provider feeling the weight of your career, this conversation is for you.

What if your clinic could see 80 new patients while saving 80 hours of physician time… per doctor… per month?That’s what Dr. Mark Amols and his team at New Direction Fertility Center are working toward—while maintaining a 9 out of 10 rating across hundreds of patient reviews.In this episode, you’ll hear:The top-of-license model (From REIs to admin staff)How to structure visits to dramatically reduce physician hoursWhat operational efficiency really means for patient experienceThe role of cost, time, and medications in improving accessWhy combining new patient and follow-up visits might be the next major shift in efficiency.Dr. Amols proves that operational excellence is not the enemy of humanity in medicine—it’s what makes it possible.

Where do business insight and patient experience come together?In this week’s episode, Dr. Eduardo Hariton shares his POV on cost reductions, business opportunities, and what fertility tech gets right (and wrong) when designing for doctors and patients alike.We talk about:70% or 10%, differences in IVF conversion rateHow to reduce patient drop outHow to measure real IVF conversion ratesWhere Cercle fits in the fertility tech stackHow to balance human touch with scalable systems

What if 25–35% of patients in the U.S., Canada, or Europe left for equal-quality IVF at a quarter of the cost?In this episode we take you back to Mexico City, round zero for what may be the next global IVF surge.Juan Moctezuma, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Reina Madre, and Daniel Madero, CEO of Fertilidad Integral, join the show to discuss:The hub-and-spoke model fueling their growthHow they plan to scale egg freezing and IVF nationwideWhy they’re betting big on automated IVF labs from ConceivableHow tech, capital, and Ob/Gyn funnels could transform IVF care across Latin AmericaWhy this may be one of the biggest untapped investment opportunities in global fertility care.

IVIRMA is so big, they had 1,400 people just at their international congress. But what does it take to implement change, scale care, and keep the patient experience high inside an organization that large?This week’s guest, Dr. Thomas Molinaro, Chief Medical Officer of IVIRMA North America, shares what’s working, what’s still being figured out, and what challenges fertility networks of every size should be preparing for.Tune in to hear about:The AI solution they’re using to save REI time (and how it’s going so far)What they’ve learned from piloting patient journey platformsTheir APP-to-REI ratio and how they approach shared workflowsThe evolving debate over who performs ultrasounds (REIs or sonographers?)The marketing on behalf of REIs before the patient walks in that is critical to careIf you’re curious about the operational future of large fertility networks—or want a blueprint for scaling thoughtfully—don’t miss this episode with Dr. Molinaro.

OB/GYNs are entering the IVF space—but what role should they play?This debate is heating up in fertility medicine, and Dr. Stephanie Kuku, a former OB/GYN surgeon in the NHS and now Chief Knowledge Officer at Conceivable Life Sciences, offers her global, tech-forward perspectiveIn this episode, she talks through:What REIs and OB/GYNs really need from each otherWhere the line is on fertility care qualificationsWhat REI oversight could look like in different countriesHow new tech may expand REI roles (not replace them)How Conceivable is building collaborative care models (including their current 100-patient IRB study)The field is changing. How will REIs lead the way forward?

What standards should be non-negotiable in IVF labs?In this week’s episode of Inside Reproductive Health, we’re joined by Dr. Sangita Jindal—lab director at five IVF centers and former SART president—to discuss the urgent need for standardized embryologist training, better oversight, and technologies that minimize catastrophic lab errors.Tune in to hear Dr. Jindal’s insights on:Why embryologists need national certification (and why ASRM should lead it)The pros and cons of expanding training requirements for embryologistsThe limits of automation without skilled human oversightWhat she values most in the lab monitoring system Xiltrix (and why her other labs don’t have it)Whether every IVF lab should be required to implement e-witnessingThis episode was recorded just after news broke of another embryo loss lawsuit—highlighting the real-world consequences of our field’s biggest vulnerabilities. Don’t miss Dr. Jindal’s thoughtful, candid perspective on what needs to change.

What’s the biggest thing happening in the IVF lab?It might just be automation. This isn’t hypothetical. It’s operating now.We visited Hope IVF in Mexico City to see AURA, the fully automated IVF lab created by Conceivable Life Sciences. We sat down with co-founders Joshua Abram, Dr. Alejandro Chavez-Badiola, and Alan Murray to ask the questions you submitted—and some of our own.Tune in as the founders share:The origin of AURA and what problems they set out to solve.How a team of 3 embryologist technicians could run 2,000+ cycles per year.What IVF cycles really cost (And why CFOs should pay attention)The commercialization strategy behind automation.How this might change costs, outcomes, and the embryologist role forever.

Looking to hire top REI talent? Want more meaningful conversations with clinic execs and embryologists?There’s one summer meeting that keeps coming up in those conversations: The Midwest Reproductive Symposium International (MRSi).In this episode of Inside Reproductive Health, we’re joined by three of its organizers; Dr. GG Collins, Dr. Eric Forman, and Dr. Morgan Wilhoite—who share how they’ve used MRSi to build real connections that last. What you’ll hear in this episode:Why MRSI is uniquely valuable for vendors, fellows, and physiciansThe best ways to meet rising REI talentHow to make your sponsorship dollars work harder for youHow Fellows are building their networks before graduationWhat makes the MRSi environment ideal for genuine, lasting collaborationWhether you’re hiring, building partnerships, or just looking to grow your network, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.P.S. I don’t get anything from this, but if you want to save 10% on your registration, use my promo code: GJONES9