THE 14TH ANNUAL MEN HAVING BABIES SURROGACY & GAY PARENTING EXPO NEW YORK NOVEMBER 10–11, 2018 SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10 Registration: 8:30-9:00 AM Planning your journey: 9:00-10:30 AM (Auditorium, floor L2) We will open our session with introductions and a comparison of surrogacy with other parenting options. We will then provide the first part of our comprehensive surrogacy workshop that was developed based on the accumulated knowledge of hundreds of gay men who have already gone through the process. Topics covered will include: • Basic terminology, types and components of typical surrogacy • Major decisions regarding IVF, egg donation and arrangements. surrogacy options. • Typical sequence and timeline for gestational • Considering your family vision, financial constraints, risk surrogacy journeys. tolerance and ethical preferences. • Legal considerations in the USA and Canada. Coffee Break: 10:30 AM–11:00 AM Personal stories panel: 11:00 AM–12:15 PM (Auditorium, floor L2) To help you further understand what surrogacy entails from the personal standpoint, you will have an opportunity to hear personal testimonies from a diverse group of of gay surrogacy dads and the surrogates who helped them. Moderator: Shelly Marsh, former surrogate and MHB Marketing Manager Panelists include: Jeremy MacKechnie Kendra Serauskas David Lat Aretha Sol Lotus Scott Malone “Legal Clinic”: 12:00–6:00 PM (Multimedia room, L2) Several legal experts will be available throughout the day for 20 minute private sessions. This is an opportunity to ask questions and receive general guidance on specific legal issues relevant to various circumstances. However note these sessions are not meant to provide formal legal services or serve as substitute for such. Sign up during registration, or throughout the day, as long as sessions are still available. - Wendy Rudolph, Esq. / ARTparenting - Steve Snyder, Esq. / IARC - Cindy Wasser, L.L.B. / Hope Springs Fertility Law Canada Lunch / Gay Parenting Expo / Book Fair: 12:15–1:45 PM (Floors L1 and Lobby) Enjoy a buffet lunch and our Book Fair on L1, and explore the Gay Parenting Services Exhibit at the main lobby: more than twenty five tables where you can meet and receive information from leading clinics, surrogacy agencies, lawyers and supporting community organizations. The expo will remain open until 5:30pm. Lunch is sponsored by Fertility Specialists of Texas.
Picking providers, budgeting and financial assistance: 1:45-2:45 PM (Auditorium, Floor L2) On the second part of our workshop we will provide peer advice on selecting service providers, cost saving tips, and resources for financial support. Topics covered will include: • Where to start (agency, clinic, surrogate or donor). • Cost saving best practices. • Selecting an agency and clinic. • Financial help through the Gay Parenting Assistance • Estimated costs, and factors that affect costs. Program (GPAP). Break: 2:45–3:00 PM Breakout sessions—come meet the sponsors: 3:00–5:00 PM(Various rooms on L1, L2 and L3 —see table) Attendees will have the opportunity to take part in up to 6 introductory group consultations with the various providers. Take advantage of this opportunity to get to know these agencies and clinics more closely. The sessions will be 17-18 minutes long (plus 2-3 minutes switch time) and take place simultaneously in 4 meeting rooms on L1, L2 and L3. The Gay Parenting Expo will also continue to be available during this period.
2 L1: Older Adult Time Center/Classroom L2: Auditorium L3: Drawing Room L3: Classroom 2
3:00
Leia Swanberg Jerald Goldstein, MD Diane Hinson, Esq. Brandon Bankowski, MD
3:20
Victoria T. Ferrara, Esq. Jerald Goldstein, MD Diane Hinson, Esq. Brandon Bankowski, MD
3:40 Victoria T. Ferrara, Esq. Ashim Kumar, MD Stephanie Scott Wendy Rudolph
4:00 Susanna Park, MD Stephanie Scott Said Daneshmand, MD Marjorie Dixon, MD Scott Buckley
4:20 Susanna Park, MD Nir Keren Steven H. Snyder, Esq. Said Daneshmand, MD Scott Buckley
4:40 Nina Resetkova, MD Nir Keren Steven H. Snyder, Esq. Theresa Ferrara
Private consultations with service providers: 3:00–7:00 PM (Various Rooms) Several clinics and agencies will be available in offices for private consultations with prospective parents that wish to explore the options they offer in more depth. Consultation slots may also be available last minute for those who want to first hear the providers during the breakout sessions. A mindful look at surrogacy - Attitudes and Ethics: 5:00-6:00 PM (Auditorium, Floor L2) In this session we will examine how we feel about surrogacy: the meanings and significance people tend to attribute to surrogacy in their lives, with a special focus on surrogates’ perspective. We will look at questions such as: What are the dominant social perceptions of surrogacy in the U.S. and Canada? How do surrogates understand their experiences? What are the roots for concerns about exploitation and commodification in surrogacy? What are the experiences of children born via surrogacy? We will present recent research on surrogacy, and evidence from studies about the way surrogacy affects the the welfare of the child, the surrogate, and her family. We will also look at programs meant to encourage a more mindful surrogacy experience, such as MHB’s Framework for Ethical Surrogacy. Moderator: Elliott Kronenfeld, LICSW. CST, surrogacy father Speakers / Panelists: • Jan Silverman Ph.D. / CReATe Fertility Centre (Canada) • Michelle Loris, PhD, PsyD, psychologist, Worldwide Surrogacy • Michelle Pine, MHB Board Member and former surrogate
3 Break / Light Supper & Expo: 6:00-7:00 PM Sponsored by Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists.
Teen Panel: Surrogacy children of gay dads share their stories: 7:00 PM (Auditorium, L2) The panel is offered in cooperation with the Outspoken Generation program of Family Equality Council. The program strives to empower those with LGBTQ parents to speak out about our community’s families. This panel is unique for featuring exclusively children in gay headed families formed through surrogacy. Parents, children, prospective parents, psychologists, social workers, students, researchers and other professionals are all welcome. Happy Hour: 8:00 PM (The West End Lounge) Join us at at The West End Lounge, 955 West End Ave, to close the evening with a social gathering. This casual time will be a great opportunity to discuss the information from the day’s sessions as well as network with other parents, intended parents and professionals. Sponsored by Family Source Consultants. Refreshments will be served. Registered attendees receive a coupon for one free drink. SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 11:
Registration: 8:30-9:00 AM Expert Panel: Medical Aspects of Surrogacy 9:00–10:30 AM (Auditorium, L2) The medical screening of future fathers, egg donors and surrogates, the creation of optimal embryos, and the IVF process. The panel is sponsored by American Fertility Services. Moderator: Michael Doyle, MD / MHB board Panelists: - Ashim Kumar, MD / Western Fertility - Jerald Goldstein, MD / Fertility Specialists of Texas - Daniel Shapiro, MD / Prelude - Said Daneshmand, MD / San Diego Fertility Center - Samuel Pang, MD / Boston IVF Private consultations with service providers: 9:00 AM–1:00 PM (Various Rooms) Several clinics and agencies will be available in offices for private consultations with prospective parents that wish to explore the options they offer in more depth. Consultation slots may be available last minute for those who want to first hear the providers during the breakout sessions. Coffee break: 10:30-10:45 AM Expert Panel: Budgeting and Insurance 10:45–11:45 AM (Auditorium, L2) A closer look at medical insurance and surrogate compensation packages. The panel is sponsored by ART Risk. Moderator: Ron Poole-Dayan / MHB board Panelists: - Scott Buckley / Circle Surrogacy - Victoria Ferrara / Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists - Diane Hinson, Esq. / Creative Family Connections - Leia Swanberg / Canadian Fertility Consulting Q&A Sessions: 11:45 AM–12:45 PM (Auditorium, L2) LEGAL EXPERTS: Legal status of surrogacy across the USA and Canada, contracts, securing parentage rights Panelists: - Wendy Rudolph, Esq. / ARTparenting - Steve Snyder, Esq. / IARC - Cindy Wasser, L.L.B. / Hope Springs Fertility Law Canada
BUDGETING & FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE: Cost saving best practices, the Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP) Panelists: - Ron Poole-Dayan / MHB - Executive Director - Lisa Schuster / MHB - GPAP Case Manager
4 CO-SPONSOR AND HOST OUT OF THE J, AT THE MARLENE MEYERSON JCC MANHATTAN:
The Marlene Meyerson JCC Manhattan empowers and connects the LGBTQ Jewish community through social and cultural events, lectures, museum and theater trips, and support services. We are committed to building a welcoming, inclusive environment that allows you to meet new people build and community. In addition to JCC programs, our relationships with multiple partner groups enable us to serve a diverse community of all ages, genders, and sexual orientations. www.jccmanhattan.org/lgbtq COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONS FAMILY EQUALITY COUNCIL Family Equality Council is the national expert on LGBTQ parents and their families. We promote lived and legal equality for these three million parents and their six million children. We foster supportive communities, educate the public, and pursue policy change to advance equality for LGBTQ-headed families across the United States. Current legal and cultural structures hurt LGBTQ parents and their children. Through our commitment and expertise, we are the national organization advancing an inclusive family agenda within and beyond the LGBTQ movement. Family Equality Council is committed to a future in which families with parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer are legally recognized, valued by society, and afforded equal opportunity to thrive. www.familyequality.org
5 PANELISTS: Scott Buckley, MD Scott Buckley is the Director of Operations at Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation, LLC. He received his bachelors at Boston College and his law degree from Boston College Law School.Scott not only oversees the day-to-day operations at Circle, but also addresses insurance questions and conducts legal consultations with intended parents. He has had the pleasure of helping Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation bring over 1,700 babies into the world for couples and singles from 73+ countries and 6 continents. Scott has moderated and presented on the legal aspects of surrogacy and egg donation at conferences throughout the United States, Europe and Australia. He has been recognized as a Rising Star by Super Lawyers each year since 2012.
Said Daneshmand, MD Dr. Daneshmand has expertise in complex IVF cases, and his research has featured work on endometrial receptivity as a way to maximize the probability of success during IVF. He is internationally recognized for his expertise in egg donation and surrogacy, and is one of the main providers of third-party care in the United States, with patients traveling from more than 35 countries in 2016 alone. He is known for developing and implementing cutting-edge technologies, including NGS (next generation sequencing), the latest and most precise technique for assessing embryonic genetic health. Dr. Daneshmand completed his fellowship and residency at UCLA. He is double board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology as well as in Reproductive Endocrinology. Among his achievements, Dr. Daneshmand is the recipient of numerous awards including the Eileen Pike Medical School Valedictorian Award, the PCRS Fellowship and Practicing Physician Research Award, as well as the recipient of the prestigious ASRM STAR Award in 2017. He has served as the President of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (Iota Chapter) and is a member of the Decherney Society, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Dr. Daneshmand speaks French, Spanish and Farsi. Victoria Ferrera, Esq. Victoria Ferrara is the Founder and Legal Director of Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists, LLC, a successful surrogacy matching agency, through which she has helped many couples and individuals have children. One of her achievements is the landmark decision of Raftopol v. Ramey, 12 A.3d 783 299 Conn. 681 (2011), a Connecticut Supreme Court case that essentially created a new way to establish legal parentage in Connecticut, i.e., by being a party (Intended Parent) to a valid gestational agreement regardless of genetic connection to the child to be born to the gestational surrogate. Attorney Ferrara appears frequently in courts throughout the State of Connecticut for all matters in involving assisted reproduction law, pre-birth orders, and adoptions, including co-parent and step-parent adoption matters. She is a member of the Academy of Assisted Reproductive Law Attorneys, the Family Law Institute, the National Gay and Lesbian Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, and the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association.
Jerald Goldstein, MD Founder and medical director of Fertility Specialists of Texas, Dr. Jerald S. Goldstein is a native Texan who received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas. He is board certified in both obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Dr. Goldstein was an assistant professor in the division of reproductive endocrinology at Washington University Medical Center, St. Louis. He has presented before numerous medical conferences and published in such peer-reviewed journals as Fertility and Sterility and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Goldstein is a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Goldstein has repeatedly been recognized by peers and patients alike as a leader in his field. He has been voted a Best Doctor in D Magazine, as well as listed as a top doctor in several publications including Texas Monthly’s annual list of Super Doctors.
Diane Hinson, Esq. Diane Hinson, a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, founded Creative Family Connections LLC on the principle that “everyone can build a family.” After starting her own family as a single mother, Diane built a full-service surrogacy agency and reproductive rights law firm that is consistently one of the highest-ranked agencies in the world. Clients from across the country and around the world choose CFC for the compassionate care and legal expertise that Diane and her team provide. Because of her passion for family equality, Diane has fought to obtain landmark court rulings for same-sex parents. She has opened doors to IVF clinics for gay fathers, drafted and advocated for gay-friendly surrogacy legislation, served as HRC’s pro-bono counsel for surrogacy issues, spoken frequently about surrogacy, and provided surrogacy advice on the well-known Surromoms.com website. She has also collaborated with fellow surrogacy attorneys to develop an in-depth 50-state surrogacy law analysis, which is widely relied upon in the surrogacy world and cited in the media: www.surrogacymap.com
6 Elliott Kronenfeld, LICSW. CST Elliott Kronenfeld, LICSW, CST is a certified sex therapist and a father through adoption and gestational surrogacy. He has worked in the fields of adoption, gestational surrogacy and family formation for 15 years. He is known around the country as a specialist in fertility, and speaks at various venues about how GLBTQ families are formed and thrive. He is the founder and Clinical Director of Insight Brookline Psychotherapy in the Boston area. His new book, Couples by Intention, is due out by the end of the year.
Ashim Kumar, MD Dr. Kumar is dual board certified in both reproductive endocrinology and obstetrics and gynecology. His clinic is located in Encino just outside Los Angeles, California. The CDC has recently ranked his practice-Western Fertility Institute #1 in the nation and California with IVF success rates in 3 different categories. In recent years Dr. Kumar has focused his efforts for those that have had difficulty conceiving and require third party reproduction (egg donor and/or gestational surrogacy). Because of his high success rates, patients fly in from all over the world for assistance in becoming parents. Many of his current patients come in from Australia, Austria, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, The United Kingdom, and many more countries. Combining meticulous attention to detail, a 7-day a week work ethic, the best support staff (nursing & embryology) and the latest in technology, he is able to obtain the highest pregnancy rates achievable today. He has been asked to present his work here in the United States, and internationally in Australia, India, China, and Italy and has contacts in numerous clinics that collaborate closely to provide seamless care. His entire staff recently marched in the Los Angeles Gay Pride Parade making history as the first Fertility Clinic to support a non profit and march in 2018, because his 28 person team truly believes, “Love Makes A Family.”
Michelle Loris, Psy.D. Michelle has been a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice for nearly twenty years, and has extensive experience in the assessment of surrogacy-related cases and the evaluation of potential gestational surrogates. A hands-on and meticulous therapist, Michelle ensures that each carrier is evaluated carefully and thoroughly before approval. Michelle also serves as the Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Sacred Heart University where she is a full-time Dean and Professor of Psychology.
Samuel C. Pang, MD Dr. Samuel Pang is a Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist and the Medical Director of Boston IVF’s Donor Egg and Gestational Surrogacy Program. Dr. Pang and his husband have two sons conceived through IVF with donor eggs and gestational surrogacy, so he fully appreciates the process of IVF with donor eggs and gestational surrogacy from both the patient and clinical perspectives. Since 1996, Dr. Pang has led Boston IVF’s Third Party Reproduction Program, which provides IVF for patients who need to use donor eggs and/or a gestational surrogate. He has been treating gay male couples with IVF since 1998, and has since treated dozens of gay male couples successfully. Additionally, he has been recognized by Boston magazine as Top Doctor in the field of infertility since 2012. Dr. Pang completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Toronto and received his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the UCLA School of Medicine.
Wendy Rudolph, Esq. Wendy Rudolph has worked with ARTparenting since 2015, primarily representing Intended Parents in surrogacy agreements but also in egg donor agreements. She was previously a partner at Caplin & Drysdale in Washington, DC, specializing in corporate and securities. Her work included public and private offerings and drafting and negotiating contracts for a wide range of individual and corporate clients. Wendy has also worked representing children in child abuse cases, and mediating commercial disputes. She has spent much of her time in recent years working with non-profits in leadership positions, including her current role as co-chair of an international collaborative funders group.
7 Daniel Shapiro, MD Dr. Shapiro is the medical director of RBA and MyEggBank- North America. Dr Shapiro organized the nation’s first operational frozen egg banking operation in 2007, which made egg donation services more accessible and affordable without compromising on outcomes. He is a native of Miami, Florida and a graduate of Bowdoin College and Emory Medical school. His residency training was in Philadelphia at Pennsylvania Hospital and his completed fellowship at the University of Connecticut. He is double boarded in OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology-Infertility. Dr Shapiro has been an invited speaker multiple times and continues to do CME and CNE programs on a regular basis. He is married to Nadine Becker, MD, also an OB/GYN and together they have three adult children
Jan Silverman, Ph.D. For the past 25 years, Jan Silverman has worked in the field of reproductive health; supporting, educating and advocating for those requiring assistance to make their families. Starting off as a grass roots advocate, Jan co-founded the first Canadian infertility support network. After earning a second master’s degree, Jan established and ran the infertility support and education program at women’s college hospital in Toronto for 21 years. Jan was one of 11 experts selected to participate in the provincial expert panel on infertility and adoption. She is now in private practice providing counselling services to the Create Fertility Centre. Over the years she has provided services to the Gay Parenting Network, Daddies and Papas To Be and Dykes Having Tykes. Jan created her own family by adopting two (former) children.
Steve Snyder, Esq. Steven H. Snyder, Esq., is the founding and principal partner of Steven H. Snyder & Associates, and he is the Director of the International Assisted Reproduction Center, a full-service surrogacy and egg donation agency, both located in the U.S. in Minnesota. Mr. Snyder is an active leader in numerous professional organizations, including RESOLVE, the American Fertility Association, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and the American Bar Association Assisted Reproductive Technology Committee. Mr. Snyder is the author of numerous articles and continuing legal education materials. He is also a frequent national and international lecturer and continuing legal education presenter in the area of assisted reproductive technology law. Mr. Snyder regularly contributes to various media interviews and publications as a legal expert in assisted reproduction and third-party reproduction legal issues.
Leia Swanberg As CEO of Canadian Fertility Consulting, Leia is passionate about bringing holistic surrogacy as an alternative option to intended parents in Canada. Known for her compassion, altruism and true commitment to her cause, she is dedicated to helping her clients find the best, safest and most mutually beneficial surrogacy arrangements. Leia’s personal passion for alternative family building began at age sixteen, when she was a birth mother to a daughter placed in an open adoption. Since then, she has had four children of her own, has been a gestational surrogate twice and an egg donor six times. Leia turned her passion into a full-time business in 2007, founding Canadian Fertility Consulting (CFC). CFC is now Canada’s foremost surrogacy consulting service, with 37 staff members working across three offices in Parksville, B.C., London Ontario and Cobourg, Ontario. Leia is a prominent advocate for all aspects of the surrogacy experience and for empowering women to make the best choices for both their physical and emotional health.
Cindy Wasser, L.L.B. With her unique background as a high profile criminal defence lawyer for almost 30 years and, extraordinary journey as an Intended Parent, Cindy Wasser offers an unparalleled service to Intended Parents, Surrogates and Donors. Her firm, Hope Springs Fertility Law™ is one of the leading firms in Canada with a large international clientele. When the RCMP investigation into ART began in February 2012, Cindy was called upon to provide legal advice to other fertility lawyers, medical practitioners and, consultant agencies. Cindy has lectured about fertility law at medico-legal conferences and at hospitals and is published in a leading medical journal. During her criminal law career she successfully defended high profile cases; published and lectured. Cindy was a founding Director of the Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted; the Chair of the Criminal Justice Section of the Ontario Bar Association and; a member of many Law Society Committees. Cindy and her husband are parents to two perfectly created daughters with the generous assistance of an ovum donor and two Surrogates.
8 MHB SPEAKERS: Anthony Brown, Chairman of the Board Anthony currently is a senior associate at the law firm of Chianese and Reilly Law,P.C., heading their family and estates law division serving married and unmarried individuals, couples and families. Anthony is the Executive Director of The Wedding Party and has been a Board member since its inception in 1999. Anthony is the founder of TimeForFamilies.com, a web environment dedicated to assisting gay and lesbian couples create their own families. Anthony has worked as a law guardian at The Children’s Law Center, representing the legal needs of children in Brooklyn Family Court. Anthony also worked as a legal intern for Lambda Legal in the summer of 2002. Anthony was appointed as a board member and Secretary of the board of Men Having Babies upon its incorporation in July 2012 and has served as Board Chairman since 2013.
Micahel Doyle, MD, Board Member Dr. Doyle is the founder of CT Fertility where he served as medical director for 25 years. During that time he was responsible for the successful surrogacy journeys of hundreds of gay men both in the US and abroad, and in his career helped in the creation of over 7,000 babies. He was an early advocate for safe and ethical surrogacy treatment and a strong proponent of non-anonymous egg donation. He also led one of the first and largest frozen donor egg banks in the US. After retiring from clinical practice in 2017, Dr. Doyle now devotes some of his time to several non-profits which are focused on educational access and community development, and he currently plays lead roles in both philanthropic and VC groups which invest in and assist social entrepreneurs around the world. He is thrilled to join the Men Having Babies board and hopes to focus on both development efforts and advocacy initiatives aimed at legalizing surrogacy anywhere where it currently faces opposition.
Katelyn C. Jakobsen, LICSW, Social Worker Katelyn joined the Men Having Babies team in October 2013 as part of the launch of the Gay Parenting Assistance Program. Her primary focus is conducting psycho-social assessments and helping IP’s and gestational surrogates to properly structure their surrogacy experience from the beginning. A Licensed Clinical Social Worker specializing in providing clinical support during the gestational surrogacy experience, Katelyn holds a Master’s of Social Work degree from the University of Michigan. Upon completion of her degree, she worked for social services in multiple states, specializing in foster care and adoption until she made the transition to surrogacy in 2008. Katelyn also works as a consultant at The Center for Surrogacy and Egg Donation in Southborough, MA, managing the surrogate screening process. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and presents at their annual conference on clinical aspects of surrogacy. Katelyn resides in a suburb of Boston, MA, wife to husband, Bjorn, and mother to two young, energetic and adorable boys, Carter and Bradley.
Shelly Marsh, Marketing Manager Shelly joined the Men Having Babies team in December 2017 as our Marketing Director. Her primary focus is help promote our organization while growing the attendance and visibility of our conferences. Prior to joining our team she worked at a California based fertility clinic as the Marketing Manager. Shelly is also a three time surrogate mother to same sex male couples domestic and international. She lives in Southern California with her wonderful husband Brian and two children, Aubrey and Stella.
Frank Nelson, board member Frank Nelson is a High School Teacher, working with at-risk youth in Toronto, Ontario. Frank received his Bachelor Degree in Architecture from Ryerson University and his Bachelor of Education from the Ontario Institute of Studies in Education at the University of Toronto. Frank and his husband BJ have a son Milo who was born in June 2014 via gestational surrogacy. By some twist of fate, their birth photo went viral, and their surrogacy story was shared around the world. Since then, they have started their own website, familyisaboutlove.com, and they have also written a children’s book called Milo’s Adventures: A Story about Love, about their surrogacy journey. Frank believes that it is important to teach others about surrogacy, the importance of skin to skin contact and to show the world that family is about love.
9 Michelle Pine, Board Member, Chair of the Surrogates Advisory Committee Michelle Pine is a special education teacher for students with mild disabilities at an alternative high school in Klamath Falls, Oregon, having previously taught special education and Language Arts in Portland. Michelle holds two Masters in Education from Concordia University and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Eastern Oregon University. When not working, Michelle enjoys reading and writing and spending time with her family exploring Oregon. Michelle was a gestational surrogate for a same-sex couple from Israel in 2015, and has recently begun a second journey with a serodiscordant couple from San Francisco. She and her husband have three amazing children, all who played an important role in both of her first surrogacy journeys.
Ron Poole-Dayan, Board Member / Executive Director Ron is the executive director and founding board member of Men Having Babies. He has over 20 years of experience in marketing and business strategy development both in the USA and internationally. Ron earned his Masters degree in political economy and comparative politics from Columbia University, and his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Ron is married to Greg Poole-Dayan, the COO of the Wartburg, a leading provider of senior healthcare and residential services in NY. The couple met in 1994, and is among of the first same-sex couples in the nation to father children through gestational surrogacy. The twins, born in 2001, were conceived with the use of eggs donated by Greg’s sister, and carried by a gestational carrier. Ron has been the MHB program coordinator since 2005, and was appointed as the Executive Director of Men Having Babies upon its incorporation in July 2012.
Lisa Schuster, GPAP Case Manager Lisa joined the MHB team in January of 2018 as the Stage II GPAP Case Manager. Lisa’s responsibilities include coordination of the selection and matching process of Stage II candidates, and managing their journeys and budgets until they become parents. Lisa’s professional background is in business development and government contracting, and she also served as treasurer and financial planner for a local non- profit. Lisa was a gestational carrier twice for an international same sex male couple, and she lives with her husband and three children in Maryland.
Sherman L. Taylor II, Board Member Sherman is a technology manager in the Research & Development organization of Procter & Gamble, based in Cincinnati, OH. Sherman received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Chemical Engineering and Colloids, Polymers and Surfaces from Carnegie Mellon University. Sherman leads of group of scientists and engineers to create new and improved consumer products; he has worked across a variety of brands in his career including Pampers, Vicks, PuR, Swiffer, Magic Erasers, Bounce and Downy. Sherman also leads the design of corporate training programs to accelerate the growth and development of New Hires upon entering the company. Sherman and his husband Andrew have a son via surrogacy, born in 2013.
Melissa Woodle, Events Manager Melissa joined MHB as Events Manager in February 2018. Melissa brings vast experience in event production for both private and corporate clientele, across the US and internationally. She studied Business at Indiana University before continuing onto UNC, Greensboro, graduating Summa Cum Laude in Education. Melissa began her career teaching in Title I schools in North Carolina before entering marketing / business development for companies such as Miller Brewing, Coors, & Gallo Wineries. For the past decade, she has been back home in Chicago (Go, Cubs, Go!), working in family office administration.
10 BREAKOUT SESSIONS: Brandon Bankowski. MD Dr. Bankowski is one of the most-respected and experienced physicians helping LGBTQ intended parents build their families through donor egg surrogacy in the USA. He is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist with extensive experience in IVF, egg donation, surrogacy and genomics. He has practiced at Oregon Reproductive Medicine (ORM) since 2005. He and his partners at ORM have helped LGBTQ intended parents from across the world build their families. Dr. Bankowski is passionate about providing ORM’s patients the best care and the highest chance for success on their first attempt, while looking after the genetic health of their family. His vision lead to the formation of ORM Genomics, ORM’s industry-leading reproductive genomics program and in-house genetics laboratory, as well as the integration of advanced genetic screening of all donors in the ORM Donors program. He is committed to helping LGBTQ intended parents using donor egg surrogacy benefit from the latest advances in genetic screening to help them have the best chance of a healthy baby on their first attempt.
Susanna Park, M.D. World renowned for her fertility expertise, IVF success and excellence in medical care, Dr. Susanna Park has practiced as an infertility physician for the past 15 years. Dr. Park joined the San Diego Fertility Center in 2012 following her tenure at Columbia University in New York City. Her passion is to combine her extensive experience as an infertility physician with individualized care and compassion. Dr. Park is double board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She graduated summa cum laude from Siena College and obtained her medical degree at Albany Medical College. Dr. Park completed her residency and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Park has developed a large international referral practice due to her excellent patient rapport and high success rates with a variety of treatments including IVF, donor eggs, egg freezing and gestational surrogacy. Dr. Park works closely with the leading surrogacy agencies to assist the LGBT community build families.
Stephanie Scott Stephanie Scott is the Executive Program Director at Simple Surrogacy. Stephanie is responsible for the initial screening of all Intended Parents, Surrogates, and Egg Donors who apply with our program. She reviews all new applicant profiles, records, references, insurance policies, and ensures all applicant background investigations have been completed and cleared before matching within our program (investigation includes a search of both Federal and State criminal records, as well as a Residential History and Social Security Verification). She also ensures that the surrogates in our program have optimal medical coverage to cover the pregnancy and delivery and arranges for all parties to obtain a life insurance policy.
Nina Resetkova Nina Resetkova is a Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biochemistry and a Minor in Management from McGill University in Montreal, Canada in 2005. Nina earned her medical degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine in 2010. While completing her medical education, she simultaneously obtained a Master’s in Business Administration. She then completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD. During her residency, she served on the ethics and quality improvement committees. She was actively involved in the Johns Hopkins House Staff Council, and served as the elected Vice Chair of Communications from 2013-2014.
Marjorie E. Dixon, MD Dr. Dixon is a graduate of the McGill University’s School of Medicine. Her initial postgraduate training was at the University of Toronto, in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Her passion for reproductive medicine continued during her postgraduate training with a 3-year subspecialty, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology accredited fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Vermont. Dr. Dixon is an active member of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Center and holds the position of Assistant Professor at the University of Toronto, where she actively participates in medical student and resident education. She continues to be an invited speaker at both national and international conferences in her field of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility as she continuously advocates for the women’s health and the LGBTQ community.
11 Theresa Ferrara
Theresa brings a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience to her position at Fertility SOURCE Companies. As a three-time gestational carrier she has extensive knowledge of the unique journey of third party reproduction. Her sincerity and empathy shines through in her desire to guide Intended Parents, surrogates and egg donors through this wonderful journey. Theresa is passionate about working diligently to ensure all parties enjoy a smooth surrogacy and/or egg donation process. She is committed to keeping clients informed in all aspects of their journey with her exceptional communication and dedication to each individual. Theresa takes pride in helping create families.
Nir Keren Nir Keren, originally from Israel now lives in Toronto, Canada with his partner Bob. Nir has assisted several of his friends throughout their surrogacy journeys, in different countries which has opened his eyes to the many challenges intended parents are facing to create their families. Nir’s background is in business improvment and marketing however after seeing first hand the obstacles international IP’s endure, he felt that his mission and passion is to bring the awareness of the Canadian surrogacy option to IP’s seeking alternative options. He has now dedicated his life to support IP’s around the world to have a smooth and straight-forward journey in Canada. Alongside Dr. Librach and The CReATe Fertility Centre, he has now established ‘Babies Come True’, a concierge service in Canada that will help and support international IP’s throughout their surrogacy journey. Nir and his husband are currently going through the process of surrogacy in Canada themselves and love to share their story.
12 SPONSORS DIRECTORY WORLDWIDE SURROGACY SPECIALISTS
Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists (WSS) is dedicated to assist couples and individuals with the desire to achieve a family through third party assisted reproduction by providing attentive, individualized representation at an affordable price. WSS is a caring and highly competent team of professionals led by Founder and Legal Director Victoria T. Ferrara, Esq. We are here to save Intended Parents time, anguish and money, and to be a source of support for all parties so they can focus on the joys of creating a family. Worldwide is a member of Resolve (The National Infertility Association), the American Fertility Association, and the prestigious American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Lawyers. Please visit our website to learn more about our dedicated team of professionals or like us on Facebook to get updates and the latest news about the surrogacy journey. www.worldwidesurrogacy.org FERTILITY SPECIALISTS OF TEXAS Fertility Specialists of Texas (FST) has a reputation for success, offering cutting-edge technology coupled with individualized, patient-focused care that results in some of the highest pregnancy and live birth rates in the nation. With more than 25 years combined experience, our team of specialists provide the latest in reproductive technology at our state-of-the-art fertility center in Frisco, Texas, as well as at our satellite offices in Dallas and Southlake. Though headquartered in Texas, we are an international practice, offering services to patients around the world. At FST, our goal is to provide the most advanced fertility treatment available in a caring, compassionate environment where each patient is treated as an individual. We’re dedicated to providing same-sex couples the best medical plan for having a biological child, to provide the latest reproductive options available, to serve as a one-stop resource for information, guidance and referrals for navigating third-party fertility and to make family building via fertility treatments efficient, effective and as affordable as possible. At Fertility Specialists of Texas, we’re passionate about what we do, how we do it and why. Fertility Specialists of Texas: where the waiting ends and families begin. www.fertilitytexas.com
SAN DIEGO FERTILITY CENTER
San Diego Fertility Center is one of the most highly respected and well-established fertility centers worldwide, serving a diverse patient population with compassion and respect. San Diego Fertility Center is proud to offer the LGBT community solutions in achieving parenthood through egg donation, surrogacy, IVF and Intrauterine Inseminations. San Diego Fertility Center consistently maintains some of the highest live birth rates for Egg Donor IVF worldwide! San Diego Fertility Center’s in-house Egg Donor Program (anonymous or known) is supervised by nationally recognized fertility specialists. Egg Donor IVF recipients have the option of selecting an in- house candidate or utilizing an agency egg donor. San Diego Fertility Center partners with national and international surrogate agencies to help Intended Parents successfully build their families. San Diego Fertility Center has a Success Guarantee financial program which offers hope, confidence and peace of mind that you have chosen the right team to build your family! www.sdfertility.com
13 SIMPLE SURROGACY
Simple Surrogacy was founded in 2002 to assist couples and individuals in achieving a family through assisted reproduction. We were founded on one simple principle: to provide our clients with the highest standard of care at an affordable price. We are one of the largest surrogacy and egg donation agencies in the U.S., and are highly regarded in the surrogacy community for our expertise, support and professionalism. Simple Surrogacy has worked with many International Clients on their journey to becoming parents, using our personal attention to detail, prompt response and matching times, and affordable prices. Our counselors, coordinators and owners are all experienced in assisted reproduction, as former surrogates, Intended Parents or Egg Donors. It is our pleasure to offer our clients that insider’s expert knowledge at significantly reduced costs that enable many people to become Parents through Surrogacy. www.simplesurrogacy.com
CREATIVE FAMILY CONNECTIONS
Founded in 2001 by Diane Hinson, Creative Family Connections LLC, is a full-service surrogate matching agency and law firm. CFC passionately upholds the principle that “everyone can build a family”—Diane began her own family as a single parent. CFC provides its clients – more than half of which are same-sex couples – with premiere concierge-level support from its caring case managers, as well as expert legal services, all in one integrated entity. The surrogate screening process at CFC is highly rigorous, resulting in the acceptance of only 2% of potential candidates who apply. CFC’s surrogates are not only healthy and clinically pre-approved, but they have a deep desire to help build someone’s family. CFC’s mission is to make every surrogacy journey as happy and stress-free as possible, while also legal and ethical. CFC is honored to be ranked as a top surrogacy company in the world by parents who have completed their surrogacy journey, as compiled by Men Having Babies. www.creativefamilyconnections.com
IARC
IARC is a U.S. surrogacy agency that has facilitated over 1,000 births for parents in over 21 countries in its 35 year history. Expert surrogacy from the heart is our mission. We are proud to offer affordable full-service support for all legal, medical, financial, insurance, and administrative aspects of this process while always remaining focused on the well-being of all parties involved. You may count on us for thorough education, transparency, and personalized attention for each step of your program. This is not a “one size fits all” process, and we help intended parents make customized decisions that are best for their needs, budgetary and otherwise. This is an emotional step but also one that is filled with excitement. Joining your family on this journey would be our sincere privilege! www.fertilityhelp.com
OREGON REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE
ORM is one of the most experienced IVF clinics for donor egg surrogacy. For 30 years we have been helping LGBTQ intended parents build their families. We are recognized globally for personalized care and consistently achieving among the highest live birth success rates. ORM Donors is our in-house egg donor program. Our local donors are fully and rigorously-screened which minimizes time, risk and cost for intended parents. ORM Surrogacy is our program for intended parents working with a surrogate. We have a dedicated team for managing these complex processes and longstanding relationships with the most experienced and respected surrogacy agencies. ORM Genomics is our program for integrating the most advanced reproductive genomics care and screening into every journey. Our goal is to give every intended parent the very best chance for success and a healthy baby on their first attempt. ww.oregonreproductivemedicine.com
14 CIRCLE SURROGACY
Circle Surrogacy & Egg Donation was founded on the belief that everyone should have the opportunity to be a parent. To this day, that belief is at the core of everything we do. For over 20 years we’ve helped straight and LGBTQ+ couples and singles fulfill their dreams of parenthood. We’ve helped bring more than 1,700 babies into this world…and counting! Our innovative offerings include unlimited matching, unlimited IVF, and a variety of programs customized to fit your needs. We’re an agency comprised of social workers and lawyers, accountants and intake associates, and program managers and coordinators; but, more importantly, we’re an agency made up of parents, surrogates and egg donors, who are passionate about helping people build their families, and who are invested in each and every journey. Our mission is to go above and beyond to grow families around the world by connecting, guiding and supporting intended parents, surrogates and egg donors on one of life’s most extraordinary journeys. Together, we make parenthood possible. www.circlesurrogacy.com
CANADIAN FERTILITY CONSULTING
Canadian Fertility Consulting (CFC) is a full-service Canadian surrogacy agency dedicated to helping couples and individuals who are pursuing surrogacy and egg donation to start or grow their family. We have the right people in place to make your dreams come true with our highly-trained and dedicated team. Our goal is to make the surrogacy process as stress-free and successful as possible. Canadian Fertility Consulting is dedicated to taking the confusion out of fertility choices. We care about our clients and pursue options to each individuals’ needs and only offer those with the best chance of success. Our team understands and appreciates the desire you have to create or expand your family. Our experience in the fields of gestational surrogacy and egg donation has proved invaluable to hopeful parents. It’s our mission is to see that your dreams come true! www.fertilityconsultants.ca
BOSTON IVF
Everyone’s journey to parenthood is unique. No one understands this more than Boston IVF, whose dedicated staff is as diverse as its community. With more than 90,000 babies born since 1986, we offer a customized array of family-building services and resources to help you reach your goal of becoming a parent. Our LGBTQ Program at Boston IVF has achieved numerous “firsts” in reproductive care, including the first fertility doctor in New England (Dr. Samuel Pang) to assist a male couple in having children through IVF – and the first fertility center in New England to assist a lesbian couple achieve pregnancy (where both mothers were listed as parents on a birth certificate). Our mission is to not only provide the most innovative and passionate care – but also to instill hope and a shoulder to lean on when you need it most. www.bostonivf.com
WESTERN FERTILITY INSTITUTE
The Mission of The Western Fertility Institute and Dr. Kumar is to provide a supportive & comfortable environment using the latest technology and equipment to achieve a healthy pregnancy. The CDC just ranked Western Fertility Institute (WFI) #1 in the nation and California for their IVF success rates. The WFI clinic is the only member of the Men Having Babies network with in house surrogates, donors, world renowned doctors/embryologists and seamless integration. WFI’s different financial packages and comprehensive care make it the one and only affordable stop you need, to grow your beautiful family. Dr. Kumar now travels globally to share his insight & expertise to others about WFI, and how he can help them pursue their dreams of parenthood. If you would like to book an appointment with Dr. Kumar, please send an email to [email protected] or call on +1 818 292 2242 and be a part of a magical journey. www.westernfertility.com
15 CREATE FERTILITY CENTRE Working with you to CReATe the family you’ve always dreamed of. Under the leadership of Dr. Clifford Librach, CReATe (Canadian Reproductive Assisted Technologies) Fertility Centre specializes in highly individualized care for clients from across Canada and around the world. “Our patients have unique hopes and dreams for a family” says Dr. Librach. Our team of professionals collaborate with you to provide personalized care with state-of-the-art on-site services including anonymous or known egg donation, gestational surrogacy, cryopreservation and Pre-Implantation Genetic Screening (PGS). As such, CReATe offers success rates among the top facilities in the world. Our staff strongly believe in caring for the whole patient taking into consideration social, cultural and spiritual needs. www.createivf.com AMERICAN FERTILITY SERVICES
American Fertility Services (AFS) was founded by world-renowned fertility specialists with proven success to serve the LGBTQ community globally and coming out as the First U.S. Third-Party (Donor-Egg-Surrogacy) Oriented Practice. AFS has an unparalleled in-house donor-egg program, with fully-screened, flexible cost-effective individual or shared-cycle programs, diverse multicultural- ethnic range of unknown or known donors with a simple online secure worldwide access. With over 50 years of combined experience in donor-egg-surrogacy, our professionals are well-recognized and respected by the leading surrogacy matching agencies. Our groundbreaking proprietary online communication-portal brings together all parties involved facilitating communication, transparency, simplifying your journey. We offer unprecedent guaranteed success programs that are competitive and cost-effective using the most cutting-edge innovative technologies. With our unique boutique practice and complementary concierge services in Greenwich, CT - Our Love & Your Family Dreams awaits you at AFS. www.americanfertility.com FAMILY SOURCE CONSULTANTS
Family Source Consultants’ has been assisting with family building for eleven years since January of 2007. Our home office is based in Chicago, IL with additional offices in Dallas TX, Miami FL, and San Diego CA. As members of ASRM (The American Society of Reproductive Medicine) we are third party reproduction experts who have a deep passion for assisting others with their family building endeavor through Surrogacy and/or Egg Donation. Family Source Consultants is committed to equality! More than half of our Intended Parents are of the same sex. We look forward to helping you learn more about this incredible path to parenthood and would love to talk with you by phone or email, or via a no-cost Skype or in-person consultation. www.familysourcesurrogacy.com ANOVA FERTILITY At Anova Fertility & Reproductive Health we believe that all should have the opportunity to have a family if they choose to, regardless of their ethnic background, religion or coupled status, gender identity or sexual orientation. Anova Fertility is the home of the first next-generation IVF lab in Canada. Our mission is to achieve the best possible fertility outcome for you, by providing you with exceptional reproductive health care in our comfortable, welcoming and inclusive environment. We will work with you to ensure that the reproductive care you receive is personalized, focused on your needs and provided with integrity. Through a supportive culture, our team of doctors, nurses and lab technicians at Anova Facility takes pride in helping members of the LGBTQ community grow their families. We offer assisted reproductive services using Sperm Donation, Egg Donation, and Gestational Surrogacy. www.anovafertility.com GAY PARENTS TO BE (GPTB) AT REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATES OF CONNECTICUT (RMACT)
Gay Parents to be at Reproductive Medical Associates of Connecticut is an informational resource and link to gay biological parenting services. We strive to provide the best care for LGBTQ couples and individuals as they navigate all of the options to bring a child into the world. We know that choosing an outstanding fertility center is paramount to having successful results when planning to have children. GPTB at Reproductive Medicine Associates of CT(RMACT) provides the highest quality treatment and outcomes for gay men, lesbians, and transgender individuals and couples. At GPTB and RMACT we work with surrogacy agencies, egg and sperm donors (known and anonymous), and attorneys to help you grow your family. Gay Parents To Be is conveniently located within 60 minutes of New York City and accessible by train. Dr. Leondires and the team at GPTB have successfully helped hundreds of couples realize their dreams through third party reproduction. RMACT is proud to be designated a 2017 leader in LGBTQ healthcare equality by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). www.rmact.com
16 FERTILITY SOURCE COMPANIES
Fertility Source Companies’ mission is to provide individuals who are unable to conceive with the assistance they need to become parents, including matching them with an egg donor, surrogate or both. As one of the largest egg donor and surrogacy agencies operating in the United States, Fertility SOURCE Companies is proud to provide our clientele with the most comprehensive third party reproductive care and coordination. Through its divisions, The Donor SOURCE and The Surrogacy SOURCE, the company’s commitment is to provide the highest degree of compassion, support and guidance to recipients, egg donors and surrogates. Fertility SOURCE Companies is proud to serve our LGBT community. As the world of assisted reproduction continues to advance, LGBT families have the distinct opportunity to pave the way for families empowered by choice that refuse to be limited by conception challenges or biological origin. www.thesurrogacysource.com ART PARENTING
WISHING TO COMPLETE YOUR FAMILY? Couples and singles have more options than ever before. Make sure you understand your choices, how to ensure your parental rights — and get the personal guidance you deserve. ARTparenting has been helping LGBT couples and singles build families since 1993. COMPREHENSIVE SURROGACY PROGRAM: We’ll guide you from start to finish: finding the right gestational surrogate, managing expenses, and coordinating the entire process through the birth. LEGAL SERVICES: For LGBT parents, in particular, it is essential to ensure you’re recognized as the child’s sole legal parent(s). We offer legal assistance with second-parent adoption, egg/embryo/sperm donation, birth orders, and surrogacy agreements. JUST ASK: Our founder, Meryl Rosenberg, and associate attorney Wendy Rudolph, will personally answer your questions and handle legal representation. www.ARTparenting.com PRELUDE
Love is love. We embrace all families. Prelude is a network of top-tier fertility centers across the US offering comprehensive fertility care. Whether you are single or a couple, we are here to help you start your family. We compassionately support individuals and couples through this process. Egg Donor: Choose an anonymous or known egg donor with the option of using our in-house Egg Donor Agency. Gestational Carrier: Choose an anonymous or known gestational carrier. We can provide referrals to reputable agencies. IVF : Donor eggs are inseminated in the IVF lab with the sperm of one or both of the male partners. One resulting embryo is then transferred to the uterus of the gestational carrier. With Pacific Fertility Center, you are working with one of the leading fertility clinics in the Bay Area. Having supported the LGBTQ community for decades, we have the expertise and partnerships to make parenthood a reality. Make your family come true. Ready? Let’s build your family. www.preludefertility.com MAIN LINE FERTILITY
Main Line Fertility has been a leader in reproductive medicine throughout the greater Philadelphia area and the nation for over 25 years. A convenient 1 hour and 20-minute train ride from New York City, we pride ourselves on personalized care in an inclusive and supportive environment. MLF coordinates both known and anonymous donor cycles. Our exclusive in-house donor egg bank gives patients access to over a thousand high quality eggs in a time frame that fits their busy schedules. Patients can choose a fresh or a frozen donor egg cycle. In addition to meeting FDA compliance standards, our egg donors complete a thorough medical, psychological and genetic screening process. All procedures are performed at our onsite state-of-the-art IVF laboratory and surgery center. Our highly experienced third-party reproduction team guides our patients through all aspects of surrogacy, egg and embryo donation. www.mainlinefertility.com
17 ALL FAMILIES SURROGACY
All Families Surrogacy, LLC, is a thriving gestational surrogacy agency based near Portland, Oregon, with a passion for helping to create all kinds of families. Founded and operated by experienced surrogates, AFS has gained a stellar reputation worldwide for our professionalism and our personal dedication to our surrogates and Intended Parents. www.allfamiliessurrogacy.com
SACRED SURROGACY
Surrogacy is the most extraordinary and unforgettable gift. Surrogacy is not just a medical act of kindness, but a soul contract that you are making with another person to bring life into the world. This is an incredible journey for surrogates and intended parents, and we want you to feel honored for it. The Sacred Surrogacy movement offers a deeper way to view this remarkable journey. It is a way to embrace the beauty that is inherently a part of the surrogacy process, and to navigate the path of alternative family building. Through our program intended parents and surrogates learn self care practices, as well as ways to connect to the process in a soul fulfilling and meaningful way. We now serve many families across the world each year through our retreats, online classes, and subscription boxes. www.sacredsurrogacy.com
SURROGACY ESCROW ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT
Experienced, Bonded, and Insured Escrow Account Management. Our guiding principles at SEAM, LLC are transparency and outstanding customer service. We provide real- time access to account statements and daily payment processing. Prompt communication is provided concerning every phase of the process, ensuring accounts are managed smoothly. Intended parents, donors and carriers are treated with respect and personal attention. www.surrogacyaccount.com
ART RISK
ART Risk Financial & Insurance Solutions, Inc., is an insurance brokerage firm specializing in risk reduction for the Assisted Reproduction Technology (ART) community. With over 16 years of experience working with agencies, attorneys, and intended parents, ART Risk combines technical expertise that commands current market trends with a collaborative business model for client long-term satisfaction. Understanding the financial needs of their clients, ART Risk has professionally partnered with Universal Family Insurance, LLC and NES Assurance to provide unprecedented strength in product, underwriting, and claims management. ART Risk offers a fundamentally different approach in providing insurance services to the ART community. Providing clients with the knowledge to better understand their liability exposures as well as structure the best available financial risk management solution, is always the highest priority of ART Risk Financial & Insurance Solutions, Inc. www.artrisksolutions.com
EMD SERONO
EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a specialized biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing therapies with groundbreaking potential. At EMD Serono, we recognized the potential of specialty pharmaceuticals and patient care long ago, and have been dedicated to delivering on their promise ever since. We have a legacy of both trying to find solutions to hard to treat conditions, as well as developing patient assistance programs that help ensure that those who need our therapies are able to access them. As one of the top five U.S. companies exclusively focused on specialty care, we see our innovation as a matter of balancing science with emotion – integrating our top minds in research and development with the insights from patients and health care practitioners confronting real- world concerns. www.emdserono.com
18 DESIGN RX
DesignRx® provides fertility medication discounts to cash paying patients through its national network of best in class fertility specialty pharmacies. The DesignRx program offers significant discounts off of manufacturer list prices. Additionally, needs-based discounts are available for qualifying patients through the DesignRx First Steps patient assistance program. DesignRx® is also proud to support the Men Having Babies Gay Parenting Assistance Program by providing up to 75% off of our already deeply reduced medication prices. fertilitybydesign.com
HOPE SPRINGS FERTILITY LAW
With her unique background as a high profile criminal defence lawyer for almost 30 years and, extraordinary journey as an Intended Parent, Cindy Wasser offers an unparalleled service to Intended Parents, Surrogates and Donors. Her firm, Hope Springs Fertility Law™ is one of the leading firms in Canada with a large international clientele. Cindy prepares contracts between Intended Parents and their surrogates and donors and obtains the Declaration of Parentage quickly and efficiently, once the baby is born making her clients’ journey as simple as possible. When the RCMP investigation into ART began in February 2012, Cindy was called upon to provide legal advice to other fertility lawyers, medical practitioners and, consultant agencies. Cindy has lectured about fertility law at medico-legal conferences and at hospitals and is published in a leading medical journal. www.hopespringsfertlitylaw.com
VILLAGE FERTILITY PHARMACY
For over thirty years, Village Fertility Pharmacy has been building a reputation by providing fast, compassionate, and dependable service to fertility professionals and their patients. You will find our staff thoroughly knowledgeable about the medications we provide and the issues you face. Our Third Party Department includes LGBTQ Specialists who are expert patient care coordinators, registered nurses, and pharmacists; dedicated to providing comprehensive support to our LGBTQ patients and their providers. Our focus is on exceptional service and competitive pricing, and our passion and dedication are reflected in the thoughtful services we provide for you and your providers. www.villagepharmacy.com
ELEVATE EGG DONOR AGENCY
Elevate Egg Donor Agency was born just after my husband and I finished our own search for an egg donor. After 3,500 profiles, we found her! She was smart, she was kind, and she was beautiful in our eyes. However, she was also hard to come by. We found that finding the right donor for us was one of the most challenging aspects of this journey. At Elevate, we strive to create a donor pool that is full educated, altruistic, intelligent, healthy donors to make your search a little easier. As intended parents ourselves, we know how important it is to not be left in the dark during your journey. We are here to provide transparent, affordable, and ethical matches to help you build your dream of having a child. We are with you every step of the way. www.elevateeggdonoragency.com
INNOVATIVE HEALTH DIAGNOSTICS
At Innovative Health Diagnostics, we are a FDA Donor and Clinical Laboratory. We are a family, supporting the creation of Beautiful Families, as a best in class laboratory. Our passion resides in all the lives we have impacted supporting the creation of beautiful families and serving those, the healthcare community, in carrying the hope of family forward. www.ihealthdiagnostics.org
19 20 SAN DIEGO Fertilit Center hold on to your dreams
Dr. Susanna J. Park
Dr. Said Daneshmand
Guiding you in your journey to parenthood 11425 El Camino Real GLOBAL LEADERS IN EGG DONOR-SURROGACY CYCLES San Diego, CA 92130 San Diego Fertility Center is proud sponsor of For more information, contact MEN HAVING BABIES 2018 Jo Ann Levitan 858.794.6363 WWW.SDFERTILITY.COM | WWW.EGGDONORS.COM [email protected]
21 IS Family
GROW YOUR FAMILY with the Exerts
SURROGACY I EGG DONORS I IVF REPRODUCTIVE GENOMICS
Learn more at OregonReproductiveMedicine.com +1.503.274.4994
22 23 Questions about your family building options? We have answers.
Since 1986, Boston IVF has recognized equality and freedom in parenting.
With more than 90,000 success stories, we offer a comprehensive array of family-building options, cutting-edge technologies and proven experience that will help you to experience the joys of parenthood.
www.bostonivf.com
24 25 Your Family Building Resource
ivf
surrogacy
egg donation
FAMILY SOURCE CONSULTANTS
At FAMILY SOURCE, our team of experts aims to make your journey a positive and fulfilling experience – from selecting an Egg Donor, to matching with your Surrogate, through the birth of your child, and even in the months beyond.
Schedule a no cost in-person consultation at one of our offices in gayparentstobe.com Chicago, Miami, Dallas or San Diego or from your own location via Skype. 011.844.203.7208 (800) FSC-0529 WWW.FAMILYSOURCESURROGACY.COM
26 TRUSTED BY THE LEADING AGENCIES
Welcome to American Fertility Services (AFS) founded by world-renowned fertility specialists Great with proven success to serve the LGBTQ community globally and coming out as Stories. THE FIRST U.S. THIRD-PARTY (DONOR-EGG-SURROGACY) ORIENTED PRACTICE Start Here Dr. joao de Pinho
WWW.AMERICANFERTILITY.COM +1 (203) 774-9900 100 Putnam Green, Greenwich, CT 06830 Let our family, grow your family.
OUR LOVE & YOUR FAMILY DREAMS We're with you for every chapter of your story, from choosing the right surrogate to the finalization of the AWAITS YOU AT AFS birth. Book your appointment today by emailing [email protected]. SSSSS------AAA TTTTTTTTTT
TT------DDDDD PPPPPPP IIIIIIIIII SSSSSS - & REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CCCC------PPPPPPPP
GGGGGGGGGG SSSSSSS 25 Sheppard Ave West, Suite 650, Toronto | 416-225-4440 anovafertility.com 2019 CONFERENCE SCHDEULE
MHB WEST COAST PARENTING OPTIONS FOR San Francisco January 12-13 EUROPEAN GAY MEN PARENTING OPTIONS FOR Brussels September 21-22 ASIAN GAY MEN MHB CANADA Taipei March 9-10 October 19th MHB MIDWEST MHB NEW YORK Chicago April 13-14 New York November 9-10 FLORIDA / LATIN AMERICA MHB ISRAEL Fort Lauderdale June 8-9 Tel Aviv December 6-7
www.menhavingbabies.org
27 NOTES
28 NOTES
29 NOTES
30 FROM THE SURROGACY ADVISOR PEER RATINGS DIRECTORY from www.menhavingbabies.org/ratings as of 10/26/18
Average GPAP GPAP State Satisfaction Year # of Reviews journey Discount Discount GPAP Pro Score Founded cost ($) Rate Units bono? USA SURROGACY AGENCIES WITH 10+ REVIEWS Golden Surrogacy IL 10 2013 20 $129,000 10% 5 - Same Love Surrogacy CA 9.9 2014 22 $126,400 15% 4 Yes Surro Connections OR 9.9 14 $109,200 15% Unlimited - Creative Family Connections* MD 9.6 2001 71 $133,600 Yes NW Surrogacy CA 9.3 1994 62 $123,100 20% 5 - All Families Surrogacy OR 9.3 2014 21 $145,700 10% 30 Yes IARC* MN 9.2 2003 33 $106,700 15% 10 Yes ARTParenting MD 9.2 1996 37 $99,400 20% 8 Yes Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists* CT 9.1 2006 59 $128,200 20% 5 Yes Simple Surrogacy* TX 8.8 2002 70 $100,800 30% Unlimited Yes Family Source Consultants IL, FL, OH, TX 8.5 2006 60 $111,900 15% 3 Yes Circle Surrogacy MA 8.2 1995 149 $135,600 30% 4 Yes Growing Generations CA 7.8 1996 21 $168,000 - - - Extraordinary Conceptions CA 7.7 2004 27 $129,300 - - - Canadian Fertility Consultants* Ontatio 7.5 2007 15 $97,300 10% Unlimited Yes Reproductive Possibilities NJ 7.3 2009 27 $124,400 - - - Center for Surrogate Parenting (CSP) CA 6.6 1980 14 $126,200 - - - USA SURROGACY AGENCIES WITH LESS THAN 10 REVIEWS Agency for Surrogacy Solutions, Inc. CA 9.7 2003 3 $166,700 25% 24 - Alternative Reproductive Resources (ARR) IL 8.7 1992 3 $113,300 15% 4 Yes Open Arms Consultants FL 8.5 2003 8 $102,900 10% Unlimited - Canadian Surrogacy Options Ontario 8 6 $90,000 - - - GPAP IVF CLINICS Overall Year # of Reviews GPAP Discount Rate Discount GPAP Pro Score Founded Units bono? CLINICS WITH 10+ REVIEWS Los Angeles Reproductive Center CA 10 2016 12 $2,500-$3,500 Unlimited Yes San Diego Fertility Center (SDFC)* CA 9.8 1989 34 15% 10 Yes California Fertility Partners* CA 9.6 22 20% 20 Yes Fertility Specialists of Texas* TX 9.6 2005 14 Yes aParent IVF IL 9.6 10 - - - Western Fertility Institute CA 9.5 2016 10 25% Unlimited Yes Fertility center of Las Vegas NV 9.3 1988 48 4500 10 Yes La Jolla IVF CA 9.2 26 - - - Fertility & Surgical Associates of CA CA 9.2 1999 14 - - - Fort Worth Fertility TX 9.2 2008 26 - - - Oregon Reproductive Medicine* OR 9.1 1989 99 $3,500-$4,000 Unlimited Yes Fertility Center of IL (FCI) IL 9.1 49 - - - Reproductive Medicine Associates of CT (RMACT)* CT 9 2002 14 10% 4 Yes RMA NJ NJ 8.8 19 - - - HRC Fertilty CA 8.7 24 - - - CReATe Fertility Centre Ontario 7.7 1991 10 20% 5 Yes New England Fertility (NEF) CT 7.2 14 - - - CLINICS WITH LESS THAN 10 REVIEWS CCRM (Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine) CO 9.3 1988 4 - - - Reproductive Biology Associates (RBA) GA 9.2 1983 6 - - - Pacific Fertility Center-San Francisco CA 8.7 1999 6 - - - ReproMed Ontario 8.3 9 - - - Markham (Canada) Ontario 5.9 7 - - -
31 About Men Having Babies
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TheThe Gay Gay Parenting Parenting Assistance Assistance Program Program (GPAP) (GPAP) TheThe Gay Gay Parenting Parenting Assistance Assistance Program Program (GPAP) (GPAP) was created was created as part asof ourpart mission of our tomission make surrogacy to make surrogacyservices more affordable for gay men. GPAP annually provides dozens of couples with access to substantial discounts and about $750,000 services more affordable for gay men. GPAP annually provides dozens of couples with access to substan- in cash grants and free services from sixty-nine leading service providers. Funds for this program come from event sponsorshiptial discounts fees andand direct about donations. $750,000 Applications in cash grants for discounts and free (Stage services I) are from accepted about onsixty-nine a rolling basis,leading and service candidates for grantsproviders (Stage .II) Funds are evaluated for this programannually. come from event sponsorship fees and direct donations. Applications for discounts (Stage I) are accepted on a rolling basis, and candidates for grants (Stage II) are evaluated annually. SurrogacySurrogacy Advisor Advisor Directory Directory In anIn effortan effort to promote to promote transparency transparency and affordability, and affordability, MHB conducts MHB conducts extensive extensivesurveys of surveyshundreds of of hundreds surrogacy ofclients Using the surrogacydata, we receive, clients. we Using compile the exclusive data we ratingreceive, tables we withcompile satisfaction exclusive levels rating for various tables 20with agencies satisfaction and clinics, levels as for well as successvarious rates, 20 andagencies real cost and figures. clinics, Thisas wellinformation as success has alreadyrates, andhelped real many cost prospectivefigures. This parents information save thousands has already of dollars by identifyinghelped many affordable, prospective effective parents providers. save The thousands directory ofincludes dollars a bycomprehensive identifying affordable, listing of over effective 100 providers providers. from the USAThe and directory beyond withincludes contact a comprehensiveinformation, descriptions listing of of over services, 100 providersvideo introductions, from the andUSA reviews. and beyond A universal with contactconsultation requestinformation, form allows descriptions our members of services,to contact videodozens introductions, of providers in and one reviews. step. A universal consultation request form allows our members to contact dozens of providers in one step. Advocacy and International Collaboration MHB’sAdvocacy network of collaborating and Research LGBT family organizations worldwide continues to grow. 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Surrogacy Board eW also and Forum work community toon Facebook raise partners awareness for worldwide, dads about and surrogacysurrogates,MHB works by assisting toand promote setting academic a Frameworkup the studies, first foe ever maintaining EthicalSurrogacy Surrogacy the MHB Speakers thatSurrogacy benefit Bureau Forum all parties. on Facebook involved. foreW dadsalso workand tosurrogates, raise awar and settingeness up aboutthe first surrogacy ever Surrogacy by assisting Speakers academic Bureau. studies, maintaining the MHB Surrogacy Forum on Facebook for dads and surrogates, and setting up the first ever Surrogacy Speakers Bureau.
Sherman