PROCREATE FERTILITY CENTER OF VIRGINIA - Key Persons
Dr. Christian Perez founded Procreate Fertility Center of Virginia in 2016 as a result of the necessity to provide a personalized and cost efficient alternative to the care of infertile couples coming from any place in the state of Virginia. During the last 15 years he has devoted 100% of his time and effort to the care of infertile couples and to treat all conditions that interfere with the woman's conception process.
He is Board Certified by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a Fellowship-trained Reproductive Endocrinologist. Dr. Perez completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency as well as one year as Chief Resident at the Thomas Jefferson University affiliated program, the Lankenau Medical Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His subspecialty training includes a two year Reproductive Medicine Fellowship at the top ranked European academic fertility center at the University D'Aix Marseille in France and a four year Reproductive Biology Fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His vast research experience includes advancing the understanding of the embryo implantation process at a molecular and cellular level by studying the role of proteins and growth factors during the embryo implantation cascade. He has extensive experience and expertise in the medical and surgical treatments of all reproductive disorders. Dr. Perez's interests include all aspects of the Assisted Reproductive Technologies as well as minimally invasive surgical treatment of uterine fibroids, advanced endometriosis, and tubal ligation reversal surgery utilizing the DaVinci Robotic platform.
Dr. Perez has received several academic and teaching awards, has been a speaker at many national and international specialized conferences, and has published numerous scientific papers, articles, and book chapters in three different languages. He is an active member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), The European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE), The American society of Reproductive Surgeons (SRS), The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and The American Association of Gynecological Laparoscopists (AAGL).
Dr. Jennifer Patrick brings decades of embryology skill and experience to the Procreate team as our High Complexity Laboratory Director (HCLD). She holds a PhD in Biopreservation from University of North Carolina in Charlotte and is an HCLD board-certified embryologist with 20 years of experience. She is responsible for the first live birth from vitrification in North Carolina and South Carolina as well as the first live birth from blastocyst biopsy in North Carolina. In addition to her Lab Director activities with Procreate Fertility Center and IVF Virginia, Dr. Patrick manages an embryo donation program and serves on the embryology advisory board for several PGT companies. She is also well known and respected in the academic community and has published multiple abstracts and papers on topics of mosaicism and embryo culture. Dr. Patrick is the proud mother of 3 boys and enjoys spending time with them outdoors.
Job Titles:
- Practice Administrator
- Procreate Fertility Organization As Practice Administrator
Erika Spearin joined Procreate Fertility Organization as Practice Administrator in 2021, bringing diverse experience in office administration, health information, supply chain management, and direct patient care. She earned an MBA in Healthcare Management from Regent University in 2022. She also holds a bachelor's degree in biology, magna cum laude from University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth, where she focused on ecological developmental biology and comparative embryology. She also attended medical school at Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Erika utilizes her unique career and educational background to unite clinical and non-clinical health professionals and drive the optimization of patient care and organizational growth. She is an active member of the American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the Health Care Compliance Association (HCCA), and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). She is also a Presidential Member of the National Society for Leadership and Success (NSLS) and is a founding member of Chesapeake Professional Women for Good.
Erika hails from Easton, MA and currently resides in Norfolk, VA with her husband and a mischievous cat. In her spare time, Erika enjoys writing on subjects such as leadership, mentoring, humor and human interest, innovation, managing organizational change, human resources management, and communicating science and health topics to non-scientists. She is also a certified massage therapist. Outside of work, Erika and her husband enjoy biking, kayaking, driving, beachgoing, and spending time with their son and daughter-in-law.
Job Titles:
- Women 's Health Nurse Practitioner
Katherine Duey is a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner and has specialized in reproductive medicine and the treatment of infertile women since 2011. She graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Science in Nursing in 2010 from Old Dominion University. Prior to working in women's health, she spent over 6 years working in the emergency department. Her strengths include educating couples about their causes of infertility and empowering couples to make informed decisions while guiding them through their infertility.
Katherine enjoys caring for women throughout their entire lives but has a special interest in the reproductive years. She has a keen interest in diagnosing, treating, and educating women about their reproductive system and fertility issues including PCOS. She is passionate about women's health, treating infertility, and empowering women to understand and appreciate their bodies.
Katherine is eager to share her knowledge and experience with patients and peers. She has presented on PCOS and infertility at the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners. She is a member of the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. Katherine continues to seek opportunities for educational growth and continues to advance her education with a focus on infertility.
Job Titles:
- Laboratory Manager
- Technician
Lucy Lynch is a laboratory technician and laboratory manager specializing in reproductive laboratory procedures, reproductive cell and tissue regulations, and stem cell preservation. She excels in client education and promoting a safe, effective, and state-of-the-art laboratory experience to ensure the best results for our patients.
Lucy was raised in the Appalachian Mountains, so you may still detect a hint of her accent. Lucy discovered her enjoyment for laboratory medicine during her early career in veterinary medicine. She relocated to the east coast to pursue her education and graduated from Old Dominion University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Philosophy. During her time at ODU, Lucy acted as a member of the College of Sciences Student Fellows program, and collaborated with peers to perform, write, and present research for the Department of Chemistry.
Lucy is a qualified Senior Andrologist and Junior Embryologist working towards certification as a Embryology Laboratory Scientist. She is a member of the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB), American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), and the College of American Pathologists (CAP).
Dedicated to her career development, Lucy enjoys working in a variety of laboratory roles currently including stem cell preservation with Telomerix Stem Cell Biobank. She intends to enter a masters degree program for Laboratory Medicine within the next year.
Job Titles:
- Certified Physician Assistant
Mary Jo Dougherty is a Certified Physician Assistant who joined Procreate Fertility Center in August 2021. She earned her bachelor's in biological anthropology and anatomy and master's in health science degrees at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, then completed her Physician Assistant education at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Mary Jo has been a practicing Physician Assistant since 2006, specializing in OB/GYN and Physical Medicine. She enjoys educating women about fertility and reproductive health.
Born and raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Mary Jo currently resides in Virginia Beach with her husband and 3 boys. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watersports, and watching her kids play sports.
Job Titles:
- Licensed Professional Counselor
- Professional Counselor
Michelle Juarez is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has a passion for providing counseling services for individuals who have experienced a reproductive trauma such as infertility, miscarriage, or infant loss. She received her Master of Science in Education in 2013 from Old Dominion University and has been working with women and couples exclusively since that time. She is a member of the American Counseling Association, National Board of Certified Counselors and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine.
Michelle's experience enables her to provide individuals and couples with coping skills to assist with managing the complex emotions and psychological pain associated with a reproductive trauma. She empowers women by providing psycho-education and normalizing their experience. Michelle's focus on a strength-based approach in counseling enables women and couples to discover their inner strengths to overcome the hardships of reproductive trauma.
Job Titles:
- HCLD
- Member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine
Silvina M. Bocca, MD, PhD, HCLD has over 20 years of experience in the diagnosis and treatment of female and male infertility and in IVF laboratory embryology. She is subspecialty certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility as well as a certified Embryologist and High Complexity Laboratory Director.
Dr. Silvina Bocca graduated with a PhD in Biomedical Sciences from Old Dominion University and Eastern Virginia Medical School. She initiated her career as an embryologist at the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine and later became a certified Laboratory Director. She then completed medical school, Ob/Gyn residency, and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility fellowship at EVMS, where she currently serves as Professor in the Master of Clinical Embryology program.
She is experienced in all areas of Assisted Reproductive Technologies including in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer, as well as endoscopic surgery. Her clinical interests include treatment of recurrent miscarriage, fertility preservation, premature ovarian insufficiency, and male infertility. Well-regarded in the mid-Atlantic community, she has earned numerous accolades for her quality, patient-centered care. She has also received invitations to participate in national and international scientific conferences and to advise pharmaceutical expert panels.
Dr. Bocca is a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), where she serves as Chair of the Coding Committee. She is also a member and former Vice President of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART).
Dr. Bocca's passion is driven by the bonds she builds with her patients over the course of their lives and the enjoyment she holds in helping them become a family.
Stacey Seeley MSN, APRN, WHNP-BC is a practicing women's health nurse practitioner specializing in sexual and reproductive health. After leaving a high school teaching career, she earned her ADN from Carolinas College of Health Sciences in Charlotte, NC and her BSN while working as a registered nurse in critical care and hospice. Ultimately her passion for patient centered care and shared decision making led her to earn her MSN from Frontier Nursing University in KY with a women's healthcare focus and emphasis on rural and underserved populations. She is a member of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health (NPWH), the Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners (VCNP), the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and The International Marcé Society for Perinatal Mental Health. She has been a conference presenter in the field of best practices in contraception for VCNP. Prior to joining Procreate Fertility Center of Virginia, Stacey provided full spectrum sexual and reproductive healthcare as well as gender affirming hormone therapy for patients in Hampton Roads. When not in the clinic you can find Stacey spending quality time with her husband and son on their "farm" in Chesapeake which includes her dogs, cats, dairy goats, a plethora of chickens and ducks, and a soon to be bountiful garden.