GENESIS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Director of Resident Education

Alexander M. Kotlyar, M.D. is a fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinologist. He is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology and board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Dr. Kotlyar is committed to providing compassionate, efficient and evidence-based care for his patients. Born in the Ukraine and raised in Brooklyn, Dr. Kotlyar completed his undergraduate degree at New York University. He then performed RNA biology research at The Rockefeller University before completing medical school at Dartmouth. Dr. Kotlyar then completed his residency at the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic, where he received numerous teaching awards in addition to receiving the top resident award in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Following residency, Dr. Kotlyar completed his fellowship at the Yale University School of Medicine. His research at Yale won awards from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). Throughout his training, Dr. Kotlyar has published numerous research articles, review papers, and book chapters on topics as varied as pubertal development, endometriosis and robotic gynecologic surgery. He is also a recipient of the SRI-Bayer Discovery/Innovation grant for this work on the treatment of endometriosis. His clinical interests include endometriosis, reproductive surgery, recurrent pregnancy loss, and recurrent implantation failure. He is fluent in Russian and conversational in German. Dr. Kotlyar strongly believes that the structural and endocrine issues underlying infertility are best overcome when the physician and the patient collaborate on navigating the optimal, and sometimes difficult, pathway to success.

Alka Goyal, PhD, HCLD/CC is the Director of Laboratories at GENESIS. She holds a High Complexity Laboratory Director's license and a Clinical Consultant certification from the American Board of Bioanalysis. She has been involved in the field of reproductive medicine for over 25 years. Dr. Goyal had her first exposure to IVF at the world-renowned Monash University in Australia and thereafter received her PhD from Bombay University. She trained at a number of leading IVF centers world-wide, including the Institut Universiari Dexeus in Barcelona, Spain. Dr. Goyal was responsible for setting up laboratories and serving as a laboratory director in two excellent programs in Canada. She was the senior scientist responsible for setting up a PGD and vitrification program at The Reproductive Care Center in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, following which she joined The Center for Human Reproduction in New York, as the Head of Embryology services. Her extensive research and clinical experiences include benchmark work in molecular biology and expertise in all aspects of IVF, including vitrification and stem cells. Dr. Goyal is honored to have the opportunity to work with the outstanding team at GENESIS and hopes to play a role in furthering Laboratory driven research.

Job Titles:

• Reproductive Endocrinologist

David Kulak, M.D. is a board-certified sub-specialist in Reproductive Endocrinology. Dr. Kulak received his medical degree and completed his residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He then completed his fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Rutgers University Hospital. Dr. Kulak is passionate about treating all patients, couples and families with personalized and compassionate care aimed towards their specific goals. Dr. Kulak believes in using all possible treatment options for fertility care including lifestyle and diet modification, oral medication, surgical treatments and IVF. He is committed to bringing patients the highest level of care with cutting edge techniques and treatments. Dr. Kulak has developed and led research studies aimed at optimizing IVF success rates and he has developed new medical regimens for treating abnormal uterine bleeding. Dr. Kulak is actively involved in research to advance the care of his patients. He has received multiple awards for his research on IVF outcomes, hormone levels in IVF and in-vitro studies on advanced imaging techniques. He has presented his research both nationally and internationally and has moderated national research sessions on menopause. He has written multiple book chapters on topics such as infections in pregnancy, ectopic pregnancies and fibroids. He has published research on topics such as fertility diets and optimizing IVF success rates in IVF cycles in premier US journals.

Job Titles:

• Director of Male Reproductive Health

Jacob Khurgin, DO is a fellowship-trained urologist whose special interest is in the field of men's reproductive health, fertility and reconstructive urological surgery. A native New Yorker, he attended Stuyvesant High School in downtown Manhattan. He received his undergraduate degree from Columbia College, followed by his medical degree at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, NY. Dr. Khurgin completed his internship and urological surgery residency at the Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, PA. While serving as chief resident in urology, he received several awards, including Resident of the Year and the ACOS Resident Achievement Award. His postdoctoral fellowship was completed at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. Dr. Khurgin has published on a variety of urological topics in peer-reviewed journals and textbook chapters. He has presented at national urological meetings and continues to be active in urological research. He also serves as a reviewer for several urological journals. He is a member of multiple urological and medical societies, including the American Urological Association, American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and American Medical Association. Dr. Khurgin has a special interest in male fertility. He strongly believes that a thorough evaluation of the male is essential to couples having difficulty conceiving. Male fertility potential is often considered a secondary issue or even overlooked completely, but appropriate assessment often uncovers underlying problems requiring attention, such as hormonal, genetic, metabolic and general health concerns. Dr. Khurgin's work as part of our team is meant to expedite the evaluation of the male partners who seek care for infertility at GENESIS. His fluency in both Russian and Hebrew facilitates easily communication with the diverse population that we serve.

Job Titles:

• Egg Donation Support Staff Member
• Program Coordinator
• Donor Egg Program Coordinator

Jennifer Mundo is the donor program coordinator at GENESIS. She obtained her Bachelor's Degree in Psychology from St. Francis College. Prior to joining the GENESIS team, she worked predominantly as a Coordinator for Individuals in Crisis, with Developmental Delays and Disabilities. Because of Jennifer's experience in monitoring, facilitating and revising services for families struggling with adversities, setbacks and loss, she is able to provide a compassionate yet comprehensive approach to the care of patients in the program. Jennifer works very closely with the clinical and laboratory staff to ensure that the GENESIS program is in strict compliance with the most up to date guidelines and national recommendations. To ensure that potential egg donors accepted into our program meet FDA and Department of Health Guidelines as well as our own strict criteria, Jennifer conducts an initial FDA/Medical screening of all donor applications and meets with potential donors to review the egg donor process. She coordinates the different stages of screening that donors will undergo. Jennifer meets with donor egg recipients, and takes them through the various stages of the egg donation process. These stages include preliminary screening, matching couples with an egg donor and then providing individualized care through the entire cycle.

Job Titles:

• Director of IVF
• Physician Available at This Location

Katherine Melzer-Ross, M.D. is a fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinologist dedicated to assisting families in their journey towards parenthood. Since attending her first birth as a medical student, she has always known that providing care to women is where her passion lies. Dr. Melzer Ross has been bringing this passion to her practice at Genesis Fertility since joining us in 2013. Her special interests include early embryo development, fertility preservation, and preimplantation genetic diagnosis. She is also a skilled hysteroscopic surgeon and treats a variety of conditions that alter fertility, such as uterine fibroids, polyps, and anomalies. Dr. Melzer-Ross was raised in Brooklyn and attended Stuyvesant High School. She obtained her undergraduate degree in Human Biology from Stanford University. She then served as a clinical cancer researcher for several years within the Department of Dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center. Dr. Melzer Ross subsequently obtained her medical degree from the University of Buffalo, graduating summa cum laude and being inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha as a junior medical student. She completed her residency training in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Brown University/ Women & Infant's Hospital of Rhode Island and was awarded numerous teaching awards during her time there. Her sub-specialty fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility was completed at NYU Langone Medical Center. Dr. Melzer-Ross is board-certified in both Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. She is an active member of the American Congress of Obstetrics & Gynecology, and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). She has authored research papers in peer-reviewed journals and has presented her research at numerous national meetings.

Job Titles:

• Counselor
• Egg Donation Support Staff Member
• Genetic Counselor

Katherine Mah, M.S. is the genetic counselor at GENESIS. She studied biology at the University of Chicago, where she received her undergraduate degree, and at the University of Michigan, where she received her master's degree. Katherine also received a master's degree in human genetics at Sarah Lawrence College and is a board certified genetic counselor. Before joining GENESIS, Katherine worked as a genetic counselor at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and The Rockefeller University in Manhattan. At GENESIS, Katherine meets with patients who are considering testing their embryos for chromosomal and/or genetic conditions. She reviews the procedures involved in this testing and the information that it can provide. Katherine also meets with patients who are at increased risk to have pregnancies affected with genetic or chromosomal conditions to discuss their screening options.

Job Titles:

• Clinical Psychologist

Kris Bevilacqua, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist specializing in the emotional issues that surround infertility, third party reproduction, and women's health. Always interested in the ethical and political aspects of reproductive issues, she has performed and published clinical research about infertility in a variety ethnic groups and cultures. Dr. Bevilacqua serves on the executive committee of the Mental Health Professional Group for the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. In that capacity, she has been chairperson of the Abstract Committee, organized professional symposia, and presented original research at the ASRM annual meetings.

Job Titles:

• Founder
• Medical Director
• Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics
• Physician Available at This Location

Richard V. Grazi, M.D. is the founder of GENESIS and Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at Maimonides Medical Center. Dr. Grazi received his undergraduate degree from Cornell University and his medical degree from the SUNY at Buffalo School of Medicine. Dr. Grazi completed his internship and residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the New York University Bellevue Hospital Medical Center. He finished his postdoctoral fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at the UMDNJ New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Grazi is an Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at SUNY Downstate School of Medicine. He is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and in reproductive endocrinology. A fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American College of Surgeons and the Society of Reproductive Surgeons, Dr. Grazi has published and lectured extensively on clinical and ethical issues related to reproductive medicine. He has been named by New York Magazine as one of the Best Doctors in the New York Metropolitan Area. The Castle Connolly Medical Guide has recognized Dr. Grazi as one of America's Top Doctors. publication Roth, D, Grazi, RV, Lobel, SM: Extremes of body mass index do not affect first-trimester pregnancy outcome in patients with infertility. Am J ObGyn, 188:1169-1170, 2003

Job Titles:

• Reproductive Endocrinologist

Ruchi K. Amin, MD, is a fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist. She is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology and board-eligible in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Dr. Amin completed her undergraduate degree with Summa Cum Laude honors at the University of Michigan and her medical degree at Wayne State University. During medical school she received the prestigious Howard Hughes Medical Institute research award and spent a year performing research at the University of Pennsylvania. She completed her OB/GYN residency at Hutzel Women's Hospital in Detroit. Her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility was at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Amin has known ever since medical school that the only occupation that would fulfill her life would be reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She is passionate about providing safe and effective care to every single one of her patients. She is also a firm believer in individualized, compassionate care and works hard with her patients to achieve shared goals. Furthermore, Dr. Amin's fellowship training at UTSW puts her in a position to create unique treatment plans for patients with diminished ovarian reserve or with previously failed IVF cycles. Dr. Amin has an extensive research and clinical background. She has presented her work at many national meetings. She is currently writing a second installment of a work entitled "Diminished Ovarian Reserve and Reproductive Technologies: Current Research and Clinical Management."

Job Titles:

• Member of the Medical Team
• Certified Nurse Practitioner

Shira S. Yaffe is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner specializing in women's health. As a WHNP her role at GENESIS is to bring her training and unique perspective to help provide quality care to her patients. Shira earned her first undergraduate degree as a registered nurse at Kingsborough's nursing program, located in Brooklyn. During her time there she had a special opportunity to perform her clinical rotations at many of the local area medical facilities such as Maimonides Medical Center and Methodist hospital. She then received her BSN from Grand Canyon University with a focus on research techniques and the future of nursing. Following this, Shira attended SUNY Downstate University and earned her masters as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner. During her program she delved into didactics and clinical rotation in gynecology, obstetrics and women's mental health. Shira has had a lifelong desire to help women and has spent the majority of her career doing so. Starting from her first obstetrical nursing school rotation, she knew that there was something special about caring for women. Her long tenure in pediatrics before and during her schooling opened her eyes to the many needs of mothers both physically and mentally. It is for these reasons that Shira decided to specialize her nurse practitioner degree in women's health. It is her passion and goal to help women create new communities based on supporting one another and providing access to information that can help them live healthy and happy lives. Her dream is to have resources provided to women to help deal with everything from struggles with fertility to child rearing and mental health.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Medical Team
• Women 's Health Nurse Practitioner

Temima Loeb is a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner, board-certified by the National Certification Corporation. She has over seven years of experience as a nurse in fertility and reproductive health and obstetrics and gynecology. At GENESIS, she helps oversee the donor department, facilitating with egg donation and gestational surrogacy. She believes strongly in excellent patient care and takes time to ensure that her patients are well-informed about their treatment plan. Her approach to fertility is comprehensive, integrating diet, exercise, emotional wellbeing, and medicine. Her goal is to make the fertility journey, with all its clinical, logistical and emotional challenges, as positive and smooth as possible. She is passionate about helping people realize their dreams of building a family.

Job Titles:

• Director, Donor Program

Tendai M. Chiware, M.D. is a fellowship trained reproductive endocrinologist committed to helping people start or complete their families. Born in London, she attended medical school and trained in Obstetrics and Gynecology in the U.K. She then relocated to the U.S., where she completed residency training at the St. Joseph Mercy Health System in Ann Arbor Michigan. She completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Vermont. Dr. Chiware's interests lie in reproductive surgery and the treatment of PCOS and she has special competency in the field of assisted reproduction - in particular, fertility preservation and optimizing the response to ovarian stimulation. Dr. Chiware has worked extensively with the World Health Organization to improve access to reproductive services. In that capacity, she has traveled extensively on short missions around the world that have aimed to improve the quality of care. She has written about and presented the results of her research work at numerous national and international conferences. She is the recipient of many awards and has also received grant funding for this work. Dr. Chiware is passionate about providing her patients with innovative and cutting edge treatment. She believes in patient-centered and personalized care, emphasizing patient education and inclusion in all decision-making regarding their care. Her primary goals are to establish excellent working relationships with her patients and to achieve for them the best possible outcomes. Her most prized professional goal is to help her patients become parents.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Medical Team
• Certified Nurse Practitioner
• Family Health Nurse Practitioner

Yitty Fisch is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner specializing in health of all ages. As a FNP her role at GENESIS is to bring her 12 years of medical expertise and unique perspective to help provide quality care to her patients. Yitty earned her first undergraduate degree as a registered nurse at Kingsborough's nursing program, located in Brooklyn. During her time there, she had a special opportunity to perform her clinical rotations at many of the local area medical facilities such as Maimonides Medical Center and NYP-Methodist Hospital. After obtaining her BSN from University of Chamberlain, Yitty attended Stony Brook University and earned her masters as a Family Nurse Practitioner. During her program, she delved into many fields of medicine to serve many different aspects of patient care and for all ages and stages. Yitty has 12 years of critical care experience as an ER nurse and in Nursing Administration. She has experience as a Primary Care NP having cared for newborns through geriatric patients. Yitty then joined GENESIS knowing that there was something special about caring for women.