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Patients at Boston IVF work with one team of caregivers. This allows us to develop personal relationships based on communication and trust - the foundation of quality care.
Following are brief biographies of the members of our medical, scientific, and counseling staff. All Boston IVF physicians are affiliated with The Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. Medical Staff Dr. Michael M. AlperBoston IVF Medical Director & Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Alper co-founded Boston IVF in 1986. Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, he received his medical degree from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec. He fullfilled his residency at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston, where he also completed his fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. In addition, he completed two years of post-graduate research at the University of Ottawa in Canada.
Dr. Alper is an Associate Clinical Professor at Harvard Medical School. His interest of in vitro fertilization has led him to be involved in many research studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has written numerous articles, abstracts, letters and books---and has lectured at many scientific meetings throughout the world. His focus of research has been to maintain the highest quality of treatment in IVF and in other areas of clinical and scientific research (such as egg freezing and fertility diagnostics). In his spare time Dr. Alper enjoys aviation, new technologies and most importantly, travelling with his wife and two young boys. Dr. Alper sees patients at the Waltham and Worcester Centers, Bangor, ME, Scarborough, ME and Nantucket. Call (888) 300-BIVF to contact Dr. Alper's office. Click here to contact our Patient Liaison, Rhonda
Dr. Steven R. BayerReproductive Endocrinologist
 Dr. Bayer joined Boston IVF in 1998. He is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Bayer received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Ohio State University and completed his residency training at Mt. Carmel Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He then completed his research fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Beth Israel Hospital and the Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Prior to coming to Boston IVF, Dr. Bayer was Director of the In Vitro Fertilization program at New England Medical Center and was an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Tufts Medical School. He then moved on to the Boston Regional Center for Reproductive Medicine in Stoneham, MA where he served as Medical Director.
Dr. Bayer has written numerous published articles, book chapters and is the first author of a book entitled “The Boston IVF Handbook of Infertility”. He is actively involved in clinical research which has focused on the identification of factors that affect IVF success and ovulation induction protocols used for IVF. Dr. Bayer is a dedicated teacher of medical students, residents and fellows. He has a special interest in ovulatory disorders, reproductive surgery and in vitro fertilization.
He is a member of several professional societies including the Boston Obstetrical Society, New England Fertility Society, American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, among others.
In his spare time Dr. Bayer enjoys woodworking and pizza making. Dr. Bayer is a Clinical Instructor at the Harvard Medical School and sees patients at the Concord Center, Waltham Center and in Dover, NH. Call (888) 300-BIVF to contact Dr. Bayer's office. Click here to contact our Patient Liaison, Rhonda
Dr. Brian M. BergerReproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Brian M. Berger, Medical Director of the South Shore Center and Director of Boston IVF's Donor Egg and Gestational Carrier program, has been in practice for over 10 years. Board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Dr. Berger specializes in the treatment of women with unexplained infertility, decreased ovarian function or elevated FSH, treatment of miscarriage, as well as male infertility. He completed a Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of California/San Diego and the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York. Many patients seeking treatment by Dr. Berger have previously experienced IVF failures at other centers. He strives to consistently provide the utmost personal, compassionate and state-of-the-art care while delivering cutting-edge medical techniques and protocols.
Dr. Berger is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the New England Fertility Society and the Massachusetts Medical Society. He currently teaches at Harvard Medical School and has lectured worldwide on various topics in reproductive medicine, including diminished ovarian function, recurrent miscarriage, ovarian hyperstimulation, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and optimizing progesterone therapy in infertility. His research has focused on studying and developing new fertility-enhancing protocols (he recently published an original protocol for treating women with decreased ovarian function). He has been invited to review articles for several medical journals including Fertility and Sterility. He has also written numerous articles and chapters for medical text books and recently authored a chapter titled Infertility in Older Women in Endocrinologic Basis and Management Options in Women. Dr. Berger sees patients at the South Shore Center and treats and montitors patients at both the Waltham and Boston Centers. Call (888) 300-BIVF to contact Dr. Berger's office. Click here to contact our Patient Liaison, Rhonda
Dr. Merle J. BergerReproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Merle Berger, one of the founders of Boston IVF, has been in practice for over 35 years. Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Reproductive Endocrinology, he received his medical degree from Western Reserve University, School of Medicine. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Berger was a research fellow in obstetrics and gynecology at Harvard Medical School and surgery at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. Formerly Dr. Berger was the Medical Director of Boston IVF and the President of the Boston Fertility Society.
Dr. Berger is currently an Associate Clinical Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School and has been teaching at Harvard for over 35 years. He is on staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and heads the Medical Advisory Committee for Mass NARAL. He is proud to have been teaching students, residents and fellows, conducting research in the field of reproductive medicine, and caring for infertility patients for his long career.
In his spare time Dr. Berger is an avid tennis player, sailor and chef.
Dr. Berger sees patients at both the Boston and Waltham Centers. Call (888) 300-BIVF to contact Dr. Berger's office. Click here to contact our Patient Liaison, Rhonda
Dr. Selwyn OskowitzBoston IVF Surgical Director & Reproductive Endocrinologist
 Dr. Oskowitz, one of the founders of Boston IVF, has been in practice for over 25 years. He received his medical degree from the University of Witwatersrand, South Africa and completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Colorado, Denver. He was a research fellow at Beth Israel Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston in Reproductive Endocrinology. Dr. Oskowitz was formerly the medical director of Boston IVF as well as the president and Founder of the Boston Fertility Society. The Consumer's Research Council of America lists Dr. Oskowitz in America's Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists; Boston Magazine lists Dr. Oskowitz in Boston's Best Infertility Specialists. He received the Lew Millendez Award from the Combined Jewish Philanthropies Health Professionals and the Family Building Award from the American Fertility Association.
Dr. Oskowitz has the distinction of delivering the first In-Vitro fertilization child conceived in Massachusetts. He also achieved the first conception and birth by Gamete Intra-Fallopian Tube Transfer (GIFT) in Massachusetts. Dr. Oskowitz has been teaching Reproductive Biology at Universities for 25 years. He is currently Assistant Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School and is on staff at New England Baptist Hospital and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Columbia Labs in New Jersey and is involved with many professional societies such as the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology and the Society of Male Reproduction and Urology. He has conducted research into the causes and treatment of infertility and written numerous original reports and articles in peer-reviewed journals. He is an accomplished speaker and has a long list of invited presentations and lectures nationally and internationally.
Dr. Oskowitz sees patients at the Boston Center. Call (888) 300-BIVF to contact Dr. Oskowitz's office. Click here to contact our Patient Liaison, Rhonda
Dr. Alan S. PenziasBoston IVF Surgical Director & Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Penzias is the Surgical Director of the Surgery Center of Waltham, a division of Boston IVF, has been in practice for over 15 years. Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from SUNY – Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital/Harvard Medical School and his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Yale University School of Medicine.
Dr. Penzias is the Director of the fellowship program in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School and Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School. He has received numerous grants for research in the field of infertility, the most recent being a comparison study of medication in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF. He is an active member of almost a dozen infertility and medical societies and is on the Board of Directors of the American Fertility Association and is a member of the Executive Counsel of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies. He is also on the Editorial Board of Reproductive Biomedicine online and serves as an ad hoc editor for Fertility and Sterility, reviewing papers submitted for publication.
Dr. Penzias has served on the Medical Advisory Boards for Organon, Serono Laboratories, and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. He has published more than 75 peer reviewed articles, reviews, chapters, abstracts and books in the field of infertility. His book, “The Boston IVF Handbook of Infertility,” co-authored with Dr. Alper and Dr. Bayer, has been labeled as “the premier resource" in the field.
In his spare time Dr. Penzias, a licensed pilot, enjoys aviation and traveling.
Dr. Penzias sees patients at the Waltham Center, Mt. Auburn Center, Portland, ME and Lewiston, ME. Call (888) 300-BIVF to contact Dr. Penzias' office. Click here to contact our Patient Liaison, Rhonda
Dr. David RyleyReproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Ryley, a native of the Boston area, is a graduate of the Tufts University School of Medicine.
After completing his internship and residency at Tufts, Dr. Ryley practiced general Obstetrics and Gynecology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital from 1989-2002. He completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in 2005, and has extensive experience in infertility, ovulatory dysfunction, recurrent miscarriage, and reproductive genetics. Dr. Ryley’s research interests include the genetic control of oocyte maturation, IVF outcomes in patients with a decreased response to ovulation induction, and the effects of body mass index on female fertility. He has presented his research at the national meetings of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the Society of Gynecologic Investigation and his research has recently been published in Fertility and Sterility. Dr. Ryley has co-authored book chapters on normal and abnormal sexual development with national leaders in the field of reproductive endocrinology and he is a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School.
His interests also include the preservation of fertility for male and female survivors of cancer, as well as those who are undergoing treatment for cancer. Dr. Ryley was recently appointed to the medical advisory board of Fertile Hope, a national nonprofit organization based in New York that provides comprehensive support to cancer patients whose medical treatments put their fertility at risk.
Dr. Ryley is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. He is board certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in General Obstetrics and Gynecology and hold a subspeciality certification in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is an active member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and continues to contribute to research in the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. He is on staff at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Newton-Wellesley Hospital.
In his spare time Dr. Ryley plays piano and is an avid sports fan. Dr. Ryley sees patients at the Boston Center. Call (888) 300-BIVF to contact Dr. Ryley's office. Click here to contact our Patient Liaison, Rhonda
Dr. Rita SneeringerReproductive Endocrinologist
 Dr. Sneeringer received her undergraduate degree from Villanova University and her medical degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. She completed an internship and residency in OB/GYN at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center - and then completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at BIDMC, Harvard Medical School and Boston IVF.
Dr. Sneeringer is a clinical instructor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. She is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. She is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is board eligible for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Dr. Sneeriniger's scientific research focuses on identifying ovarian factors that are associated with optimal fertility outcomes. Her clinical research, which has has been presented and published nationally, involves comparing rates of successful treatment among specific patient groups. She also continues to be involved in research studies at Boston IVF. Her clinical interests include all areas of reproductive endocrinology including infertility, polycystic ovarian disease, amenorrhea, premature ovarian failure and hyperprolactinemia. Additionally, Dr. Sneeringer is interested in the medical and surgical treatment of fibroids and endometriosis for patients seeking to preserve fertility. In her spare time Dr. Sneeringer enjoys photography, drawing, watercolors and hiking the mountains of New England. Dr. Sneeringer sees patients at the Waltham Center. Call (888) 300-BIVF to contact Dr. Sneeringer's office. Click here to contact our Patient Liaison, Rhonda
Dr. Kim L. ThorntonReproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Thornton is Clinical Director of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis at Boston IVF. Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, she received her medical degree from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine, Cleveland OH. Dr. Thornton completed her residency in Obstetrics/Gynecology at Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT. Prior to joining Boston IVF, Dr. Thornton was an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington, CT.
Dr. Thornton is the Division Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Assistant Professor in the Department of OB-GYN at Harvard Medical School. She is on staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Metrowest Medical Center, Framingham, and Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Newton. Dr. Thornton is actively involved in American Society of Reproductive Medicine and has served on numerous committees within the society. She is also an active member of the New England Fertility Society and the Obstetrical Society of Boston. She has written numerous chapters, articles and abstracts. She is a reviewer for “Fertility and Sterility” and “Obstetrics and Gynecology” and is a co-investigator in the NIH funded trials of “Conventional Infertility Therapy versus FAST Track to IVF” and “Optimal Infertility Therapy RCT: Women 40 and Older”.
In her spare time Dr. Thornton enjoys cooking, fine dining, traveling and reading.
Dr. Thornton sees patients at the Framingham, Waltham and Worcester Centers. Call (888) 300-BIVF to contact Dr. Thornton's office. Click here to contact our Patient Liaison, Rhonda
Dr. Alison ZimonReproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Zimon received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine. After her residency in Obstetrics & Gynecology at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, she continued her training in Boston and completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School and Boston IVF.
Dr. Zimon is committed to optimizing women's health & fertility, and aims to improve reproductive healthcare access and education. Her practice involves all aspects or reproductive endocrinology, including infertility and recurrent pregnancy loss. She has a particular interest in conditions affecting ovarian health and function including infertility, polycystic ovarian disease, endometriosis, diminished ovarian reserve and premature ovarian failure. She has focused her scientific research on aging mechanisms in the ovary and has presented and published this work internationally. She is a clinical instructor at Harvard Medical School, is a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the New England Fertility Society and the Massachusetts Medical Society.
In her spare, time Dr. Zimon enjoys painting, drawing and photography--as well as reading, cooking, hiking, snowboarding and golf.
Dr. Zimon sees patients at the South Shore and Fall River Centers. Call (888) 300-BIVF to contact Dr. Zimon's office. Click here to contact our Patient Liaison, Rhonda
Carol Lesser, NPNurse Practitioner
 Carol Lesser, a nurse practitioner at Boston IVF since 1988, has been providing infertility services to couples in the Boston area for more than 25 years. Ms. Lesser is NAACOG certified as an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner and NCC certified in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility.
She earned a BS in Psychology from Cornell University, a BSN from SUNY Stony Brook and an MSN with a specialty in OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner from Harvard Community Health Plan (HCHP) in Cambridge, Massachusetts. A previous member of Resolve of the Bay State and a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the New England Fertility Society, Ms. Lesser was the 2006 recipient of the national Jean Purdy Visionary Award for Excellence in Reproductive Nursing and the 2009 recipient of RESOLVE's Hope Award for Service. She has delivered presentations on the subject of fertility enhancement at numerous seminars, including the Nurse Practitioner Associates for Continuing Education, and speaks frequently to IVF nursing groups across the United States. Ms. Lesser has authored several publications on infertility --in medical journals, as ASRM abstracts, in online newsletters and for CME programs. Her areas of interest include ovarian decline in the later reproductive years; in vitro fertilization medications and the patient experience with injections for controlled ovarian stimulations. She has also served as a consultant to the infertility industry. In her spare time Carol enjoys yoga, meditation and a love of travelling anywhere warm! Ms. Lesser sees patients at the Boston Center.
Ariel Mullen, PA-C, MSPAPhysician Assistant Ariel Mullen, a Physician Assistant at Boston IVF, received her undergraduate degree at Simmons College and completed her Masters of Science (MS) in Physician Assistant Studies at the University of New England. She is nationally certified by the National Committee for Certification of Physician Assistants.
Ms. Mullen is also a current member of the New England Fertility Society and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. She has worked in the field of women's health/reproductive endocrinology for over seven years. In her spare time Ariel enjoys reading and hiking. Ms. Mullen sees patients for initial consults, physical exams, diagnostic procedures, prenatal evaluations and treatment consults at the Waltham, Quincy and Worcester Centers.
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Scientific StaffC. Brent Barrett, PhDScientific & Laboratory Director Dr. Barrett is responsible for laboratory protocols, quality control, and is involved in several research projects. Dr. Barrett, who has more than 15 years experience working with mammalian oocytes and embryos, received his doctoral degree in biology from Boston College. He completed postdoctoral studies at the University of Colorado Medical School including basic research in reproductive biology and the control of oocyte maturation.
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Counseling Staff Alice Domar, PhDExecutive Director, The Domar Center for Mind/Body Health
 Dr. Domar, the Executive Director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health, is a pioneer in the application of mind/body medicine to women's health issues. She not only established the first Mind/Body Center for Women's Health, but also conducts ongoing ground-breaking research in the field. Her research focuses on the relationship between stress and different women's health conditions, and creating innovative programs to help women decrease physical and psychological symptoms.
She has conducted research on infertility, breast cancer, menopausal symptoms, ovarian cancer, and premenstrual syndrome, earning an international reputation as one of the country's top women's health experts. She is the founder and executive director of the Domar Center for Mind/Body Health.
Dr. Domar received her M.A. and PhD in Health Psychology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Ferkauf School of Professional Psychology of Yeshiva. Her post-doctoral training was at Beth Israel Hospital, Deaconess Hospital, and Children's Hospital, all in Boston. She is an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School, and a senior staff psychologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.
Dr. Domar has compiled an impressive list of accomplishments as an author, media authority and sought-after public speaker. She is the author of numerous books, a columnist for Health Magazine, on the advisory board for Parents Magazine and on the Board of Experts of Luminari. She is also the series editor for the new series of mind/body books by Harvard Medical Publications/Simon and Schuster. Dr. Domar has appeared on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, Dateline NBC, CNN and the CBS and NBC Evening News, to name a few. She presents lectures and conducts workshops throughout the US and around the world. She was named to the prestigious list of 15 “Women to Watch in 2004” by Lifetime TV.
Social Worker/Counseling StaffOur professional counselors, who are Masters-level social workers, hold the highest level of licensure in Massachusetts. They are all Licensed Independent Clinical Social Workers (LICSW) and have a Board Certified Diploma in Clinical Social Work (BCD). They each have over 30 years of experience working in fertility treatment centers and hospital settings. Lynn Nichols, LICSW, BCD
Lynn is a clinical social worker with a particular expertise in women’s health issues, infertility and pregnancy loss. She offers both short and long-term individual and couples therapy. Ms. Nichols has served as chief clinical social worker in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Departments of both Beth Israel Deaconess and Brigham and Women’s Hospitals. She received her Masters degree in Social Work from the University of Connecticut.
Terry Chen Rothchild, LICSW, BCD
Terry is a clinical social worker who offers consultations related to the emotional aspects of infertility, egg donation, sperm donation, and adoption. She provides gestational carrier evaluations. She also offers psychotherapeutic consultations and both short-term and long-term psychotherapy to individuals and couples. She received her Masters degree from Boston University School of Social Work.
Jeanie Ungerleider, LICSW, BCD
Jeanie is the Director of Psychological Services at Boston IVF and chairs Boston IVF’s Ethics Committee. She offers individual and couples consultation and psychotherapy. She specializes in infertility, including issues of reproduction with donor sperm, ovum donation, pregnancy loss, secondary infertility, and adoption. She received her Masters degree from Simmons College School of Social Work.
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