We are compassionate. Our staff offers you their experience in a very relaxed atmosphere. We understand infertility is stressful and we strive to put you at ease from the moment you walk in to our facilities.
Kutluk “Lucas” Oktay, MD, PhD, FACOG is Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Yale University School of Medicine. Dr. Oktay completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Connecticut Health Science Center in Farmington, CT, followed by a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, TX. He was subsequently awarded to be an American College of OBGYN (ACOG)/Royal College of OBGYN (RCOG) Exchange Fellow in the Department of Reproductive Biology, Obstetrics & Gynecology at Leeds University School of Medicine/Leeds General Infirmary in the UK. Dr. Oktay subsequently obtained a Doctor of Health Sciences degree (PhD) from the University of Ghent, Belgium.
Learn more about Dr. Oktay
Dr. Oktay’s professional life has been dedicated to the science of fertility preservation and infertility treatments. As a clinician-scientist, he is a leading expert in fertility preservation, as well as in ovarian stimulation and in vitro fertilization. He developed and performed the world’s first ovarian transplantation procedures and pioneered new ovarian stimulation protocols for embryo and oocyte freezing for breast and endometrial cancer patients. In addition, he described the first oocyte freezing protocols in young pubertal girls with Turner syndrome and other medical conditions. He has championed fertility preservation in children of all ages. Dr. Oktay conducted key research on ovarian follicle and embryo development, as well as on controlled ovarian stimulation and in vitro fertilization. Following his first description of the relationship between BRCA mutations and low ovarian reserve, his work led him to discover a key role for DNA repair efficiency in oocyte aging.
Dr. Oktay was invited to serve on the President’s Cancer Panel as an expert on fertility issues of cancer patients and fertility preservation. In attestation to his recognition as a leading clinician-scientist in infertility field, he has been continuously funded by the National Institutes of Health to study various aspects of ovarian biology and fertility preservation. Furthermore, he serves as the Co-chair of the American Society of Clinical Oncology Committee for Fertility Preservation Guideline for People with Cancer since 2005. Dr. Oktay founded and was elected as the first President of the Fertility Preservation Special Interest Group at American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the largest within the society. He also served as the Guidelines Committee Chair at Turner Syndrome Foundation, which produced the first guidelines document on fertility preservation for young females with Turner Syndrome.
Dr. Oktay received many prestigious awards both from professional and patient organizations. He was named among the top Doctors in America by Castle and Connolly numerous times, received innovator award from Resolve, and the Champions of Hope award from Fertile Hope. He has been invited to endowed lectures in top standing institutions and major academic conferences in the US and around the world in infertility, cancer, pediatric endocrinology, obstetrics & gynecology, genetics, aging, and other fields.
In 2008, after a 10 year career at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University, Dr. Oktay transitioned to NYMC, and subsequently founded the Innovation Institute for Fertility Preservation and IVF (IFP). He was the Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Director of Division of Reproductive Medicine & Infertility, and also served as the Vice Chair of Research in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at NYMC. Dr. Oktay has also served as a consultant physician at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and Consultant for Cancer and Allied Diseases at Memorial Hospital and currently continues his active collaborations with renown cancer specialists at MSKCC. In 2017, Dr. Oktay was recruited to Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine as the Director of the Laboratory of Fertility Preservation while still continuing his role as the Medical Director of Innovation Fertility Preservation and IVF in NY.
A significant contributor to the peer-reviewed literature, Dr. Oktay has published extensively in leading medical journals, such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Science Translational Medicine, JAMA, JAMA Oncology, and Journal of Clinical Oncology.
Anastasia Yedynak, RN, Nurse Coordinator: Anastasia is energetic, extremely pleasant, and deeply committed to your care. As a registered nurse, she brings medical expertise—armed with a BSN and RN license—to guide you through treatment protocols, answer medication questions, and ensure your journey follows best-practice clinical standards. Fluent in Russian and Ukrainian, Anastasia provides culturally sensitive and linguistically accessible support, making sure our international patients feel understood and confident. She will be a contact, helping with every step of your customized care with clarity, empathy, and professionalism.
Na-Young Rho, PhD, Postdoctoral Associate: Dr. Na-Young Rho is an accomplished scientist and expert in clinical ovarian tissue freezing, and in vitro oocyte maturation. She's dedicated to bringing innovation to our laboratory with her one-of-a-kind expertise and impeccable work ethic. Both ambitious and collaborative, Dr. Rho fosters rigorous science while mentoring others, aiming to translate discoveries into clinical applications that transform reproductive medicine. Your tissue and cells are safe with her.
Carlo Acosta, Chief Embryologist: Carlo leads the embryology laboratory team and oversees procedures critical to in vitro fertilization (IVF), such as embryo handling, micromanipulation, and other lab-based fertility technologies. Carlo is the embodiment of steadfast care, always going the extra mile with quiet dedication after decades of working alongside Dr. Oktay. He anticipates needs before they arise, offering support with thoughtful precision and empathy.
Nadia Reyes, Coordinator and Patient Satisfaction Representative: Nadia is caring, attentive, and detail-oriented, committed to ensuring patient satisfaction every step of the way. She will guide you through the complexities of fertility and fertility preservation treatments with clear, empathetic communication—handling appointment scheduling, billing questions (including insurance and payment details), and delivering personalized updates so the process is seamless and stress-free. You’ll be warmly welcomed by Nadia at each visit, and she looks forward to supporting you with compassion and professionalism on your next appointment.
Claire Kelley, Media and Patient Services Coordinator: Claire is a grad student at New York University, who oversees digital media outreach and crafting and scheduling social content and supporting promotional efforts. She also serves as the friendly, professional point of contact in the office, welcoming patients, and coordinating appointments. She brings a youthful, lighthearted charm—always ready with a warm smile and a playful quip to make every patient feel at ease.
We are a group of highly skilled and dedicated physicians, scientists, nurses, and healthcare personnel that are happy to serve our patients' needs and get them the family they deserve. We enjoy seeing our patients pregnant and on their way towards the family they dream of. We are passionate about our work and love the challenge of getting patients to have a successful outcome, especially those that had failed elsewhere. We work based on your eggs' schedule, not because we are special but because your eggs and embryos are.
We have a diverse multi-cultural team of dedicated, experienced, and highly qualified staff in the field of reproductive medicine. Our physicians are Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) and/or in OB/GYN with more than 25 years of experience in fertility. Our embryologists have at least 5 years of experience and our more senior ones practicing for more than 30 years as clinical embryologists. We specialize in difficult to get pregnant patients and in patients with previous failed IVF cycle. We offer one-of-a-kind laboratory techniques that are meant to maximize patients' chances of getting pregnant. Come in and see if we can make your dream a reality.
Our staff speaks English, Arabic, Chinese, Filipino, Hindi, Hungarian, Nepalese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, and Turkish.
