Alan Copperman, MD

Dr. Alan Copperman is Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility as well as the Vice-Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science at Mount Sinai Medical Center. He is a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Copperman also serves as co-director of Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York. He is an experienced and respected clinician and has published numerous award-winning papers and textbook chapters on egg freezing, infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and pelvic surgery. In addition, he has presented research findings and scientific data at both national and international meetings. Dr. Copperman is frequently quoted in the media, both in print (The New York Times, Daily News, Parenting Magazine, etc) and on local and national television and news shows (including Anderson Cooper 360º and 20/20). New York Magazine has recognized Dr. Copperman as one of its Best Doctors seven years in a row from 2002 to 2008 and SuperDocs included him in their 2008 New York issue. The American Fertility Association awarded him its 2003 Family Building Award.

Dr. Copperman received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from New York Medical College. After earning his degree in medicine, Dr. Copperman completed residency in OB/GYN at Yale-New Haven Hospital, then continued his training at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York as the Martin J. Clyman Fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology. Dr. Copperman is board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as in obstetrics and gynecology. He is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Lawrence Grunfeld, MD

Dr. Lawrence Grunfeld is a Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and co-director of Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York. He is board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as in obstetrics and gynecology. Dr. Grunfeld received his medical degree at Mount Sinai and his OB/GYN training at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He also completed fellowships in reproductive medicine at both the Albert Einstein Medical College and Yale-New Haven Hospital. Dr. Grunfeld served as Director of Fellowship Training at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York until 1994, and has been performing IVF procedures since 1986.

Dr. Grunfeld is well known in the field of infertility for his expertise in sonography, reproductive surgery, and in vitro fertilization. He has authored dozens of significant articles in these fields and lectures extensively on infertility. Dr. Grunfeld is recognized for achieving high success rates with IVF, ICSI, ovum donation, and other Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). New York Magazine has recognized him as one of the Best Doctors in New York every year from 2003 to 2008, and SuperDocs has included him in their 2008 New York issue. Dr. Grunfeld received the American Fertility Association Family Building Award in 2001 and the A.T.I.M.E community service award in 2005. He was featured in the documentary And Baby Makes Two.

Tanmoy Mukherjee, MD

Dr. Tanmoy Mukherjee, board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as in obstetrics and gynecology, is Associate Director of the Mount Sinai Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and co-director of Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York. He finished his residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he received the Leo M. Davidoff Society Award as well as the Schulman Award, and completed his fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital. The author of numerous journal articles and textbook chapters, Dr. Mukherjee was also the recipient of the prestigious Society of Reproductive Surgeons Award for his outstanding research related to the effects of hydrosalpinx fluid on the outcome of in vitro fertilization.

In addition to his expertise in in vitro fertilization, egg donation, and other assisted reproductive techniques, Dr. Mukherjee excels in a wide array of medical and surgical treatments for the management of endometriosis, fibroids, abnormal uterine bleeding, and abnormalities of the fallopian tubes. He has lectured and written extensively on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with recurrent pregnancy loss. Best Doctors selected Dr. Mukherjee as one of the "Best Doctors in America" in 2005 and 2006, and Castle Connolly deemed Dr. Mukherjee as being a leader in the field in its "New York Metropolitan Area Top Doctors" in 2006. New York Magazine included Dr. Mukherjee in its 2007 and current 2008 "Best Doctors" issue and SuperDocs recently lauded him in their 2008 list. He has had numerous television appearances that include the Fox News Channel's "Healthwatch" and "Mike and Juliet Show".

Benjamin Sandler, MD

Dr. Benjamin Sandler is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and attending physician at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York. He is co-director of Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York, where he also leads its international program. Board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Sandler completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center in Chicago and continued his subspecialty fellowship training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Dr. Sandler is well recognized for his role in creating and popularizing many current in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols.

Dr. Sandler has authored several book chapters and articles on infertility and has lectured at both national and international meetings. He was the co-author of prize-winning papers in the area of Assisted Reproductive Technologies at the prestigious American Society of Reproductive Medicine annual meetings in 1990, 1991, 1998, and 2005. Dr. Sandler was selected for inclusion in the NY Metro Guide: How to Find the Best Doctors, and was recognized by New York Woman Magazine in 1991 and the Better Living Magazine in 2004 as one of the best infertility specialists in New York. New York Magazine repeatedly has championed Dr. Sandler as one of the Best Doctors of New York in its annual edition of 2004, 2005, and 2006. SuperDocs listed him in its 2008 New York Issue, and Latino Leader's Magazine featured Dr. Sandler in its "New York's Finest" issue in 2006. He received the American Fertility Association Family Building Award in 2001 for his years of dedication and commitment to the treatment of couples experiencing infertility. Dr. Sandler serves on the medical advisory board of the American Fertility Association and is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the American Society of Reproductive Medicine. He also serves as an honorary member of the International Society of Endoscopy and Infertility.

Jane Ruman, MD

Dr. Jane Ruman is board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility as well as in obstetrics and gynecology. She is Assistant Clinical Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Ruman obtained her undergraduate degree with distinction from Duke University. She received her medical degree at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, where she participated in nationally recognized research on factors that control embryo implantation. Dr. Ruman then completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and finished her Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at New York Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia University.

Dr. Ruman has published many award-winning articles on infertility treatment and egg donation. National non-profit organization Fertile Hope frequently calls on Dr. Ruman to deliver lectures on fertility preservation options for cancer patients to medical professionals in the tri-state area. She is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Society for Reproductive Medicine, and the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Natan Bar Chama, MD

Dr. Bar-Chama is the Director of Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital and is Associate Professor of Urology as well as Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Science at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. He also serves as the Director of Reproductive Medicine Associates of New York’s Center of Male Reproductive Health. Dr. Bar-Chama is a board certified urologist who received his medical degree with special distinction for research in male infertility and completed his urology residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 1993, Dr. Bar-Chama was awarded the prestigious New York Academy of Medicine F.C. Valentine Fellowship and completed subspecialty training in male reproductive medicine and surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. His subspecialty clinical practice is exclusively dedicated to male reproductive medicine and microsurgical reconstruction for the treatment of male-factor fertility, which includes vasovasotomy, varicocelectomy, testicular and epididymal sperm retrieval, and vasectomy.

In 1998, Dr. Bar-Chama received the Pfizer Scholars in Urology Award for leadership, innovation, and outstanding achievement in urological science. Dr. Bar-Chama serves on the Board of Directors of the American fertility Association and was awarded the American Fertility Association Family Building Award in 2000. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Society of Male Reproductive Urology (SMRU) of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) as well as on the Board of Directors of the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR). In 2005, 2006, and 2007 he was listed in New York Magazine's "Best Doctors" issue as a top urologist.

Lisa Schuman, LCSW

Lisa Schuman, LCSW is a psychotherapist who counsels individuals, couples and groups on a variety of issues and has specialized in reproductive medicine for over a decade. She earned her graduate degree at Yeshiva University and studied psychoanalysis at the Greenwich Institute in Manhattan. She has also worked with the National Institute for the Psychotherapies and the Object Relations Institute. She is a former board member and support group leader for the American Fertility Association and has been actively involved with many other infertility and adoption organizations. In addition, she is an active member of the Mental Health Professional Group for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

Ms. Schuman helps individuals through family building processes such as infertility, ovum donation, perinatal loss, single parent issues, gay and lesbian issues, surrogacy and adoption. She is also founding director of Adoption Cooperative Consultants, an adoption consulting group. Ms. Schuman is a frequent speaker and consultant for seminars, symposiums and television programs.

In addition to leading private individual and couples therapy sessions at RMA of New York, Ms. Schuman spearheads "Lunch with Lisa" every Friday, a support group session welcoming all RMA of New York patients to join her for lunch and open discussion.

Scientific Director

Jason Barritt, PhD, ELD, HCLD

Dr. Barritt holds national certifications as both a High Complexity Laboratory Director and an Embryology Laboratory Director. He has been awarded New York State Department of Health Certifications for Laboratory Directing in Andrology, Endocrinology and Human Tissue Banking. He serves as the Scientific Director at RMA of New York. Dr. Barritt is Director of RMA of New York’s Andrology and Endocrinology Laboratories, director of the Tissue Bank, and is also co-director of the Embryology Laboratory. Dr. Barritt received his BS degree in biology from Pacific Lutheran University. He obtained an MS degree in Human Genetics and his PhD in Human Anatomy from the Medical College of Virginia. He completed his Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Gamete and Embryo Research Laboratory at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science of Saint Barnabas. As Scientific Director, he coordinates research studies to contribute to the advancement of infertility treatments. Dr. Barritt was particularly instrumental in RMA of New York's promising results utilizing a new technique for female fertility preservation through oocyte cryopreservation. Dr. Barritt has presented his clinical and research findings at meetings around the world and has published multiple research papers in the field of reproductive medicine. He is considered one of the world's foremost experts on the role of mitochondria in human oocytes and embryos.

Dr. Barritt is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Society of Human Genetics, American Association of Bioanalysts, New York Metropolitan Embryologist Society and Alpha-International Society of Scientists in Reproductive Medicine.

Lab Director

Marlena Duke, MSc, ELD

Marlena Duke, MSc, ELD is co-director of the Embryology Laboratory at RMA of New York. Ms. Duke has been overseeing work in the embryology laboratory since its inception in 2002. Ms. Duke is nationally board certified as an Embryology Laboratory Director. She received her Bachelors of Science degree from Cornell University, followed by her Masters of Science degree in Clinical Embryology from the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, where she was class valedictorian and awarded the EMD Serono Pharmaceutical’s prize for outstanding performance. She helps lead a highly skilled team of embryologists and oversees all functions of the embryology laboratory. Her clinical experience in reproductive medicine began in 1991 and she has since worked with internationally renowned embryologists and physicians. Ms. Duke has been invited to teach micromanipulation techniques, such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and assisted embryo hatching, at international workshops. Her research in clinical embryology has resulted in numerous abstracts and papers and she has lectured nationally on her finding.

Ms. Duke has served as co-chair and secretary of the New York Metropolitan Embryologist Society and is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Association of Bioanalysts and Alpha - International Society of Scientists in Reproductive Medicine.