Written by: Bryetta Calloway
When Jennifer Kawwass, MD began her Ob/Gyn residency at Emory, the reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) program was performing roughly 100 IVF cycles per year. Today, the Emory Reproductive Center performs approximately 1,800 cycles annually, matching in a single month what once took an entire year.
This exponential growth in volume has unfolded alongside a deliberate commitment to access, outcomes, and a distinctly personal model of care that distinguishes Emory in an increasingly crowded field.
"Over the last decade, our center has maintained some of the highest pregnancy rates in the country while expanding access and growing our patient volume and national footprint," says Dr. Kawwass, Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics and Division Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. "For us, it is imperative that growth and improved access is paired with excellent, evidence-based, individualized care."
Meeting a National Crisis in Fertility Care
The division's expansion is not simply a local success story; it's a strategic response to a national challenge. Infertility is increasingly prevalent across the United States, and demand for fertility services continues to outpace available access to high-quality, evidence-based care.
"Infertility care is not a niche concern; it's a national problem," notes Dr. Kawwass. "There is a continued need for high-quality, academically grounded care on a national level. Our growth reflects a purposeful effort to close that gap."
Emory's response has been both measured and ambitious. The center, which operates 365 days a year, has built a comprehensive team of over 100 professionals, including nine Reproductive Endocrinologists, a certified nurse midwife, a dedicated Urologist specializing in male fertility, three REI fellows, and a full complement of embryologists, nurses, sonographers, and support staff. This team has strategically expanded clinical capacity across metro Atlanta locations, including satellite sites in Decatur, Johns Creek, and Buckhead, while maintaining strong outcomes, a testament to rigorous lab processes, evidence-based protocols, and continuous quality improvement.
The division has also become a national and international referral center, particularly for medically complex cases requiring specialized expertise. From performing egg retrievals for patients with lymphoma, aplastic anemia, and cardiac disease to managing complex Müllerian anomalies and severe Asherman's syndrome, the center handles cases that many facilities cannot accommodate. Notably, cancer patients requiring fertility preservation are seen within 1-2 days, ensuring timely care when every moment matters.
Academic Medicine Meets Concierge-Level Patient Experience
One of the defining features of Emory's REI program is its commitment to pairing academic rigor with what Dr. Kawwass describes as a "concierge-level" patient experience, a balance that patients often note feels distinct from other medical encounters.
"We work very hard to make sure patients never feel like they're in a factory," explains Dr. Kawwass. "Every patient has a real relationship with their physician. Treatment decisions are made at the intersection of three things: robust evidence, the patient's clinical picture, and the patient's own values and goals."
This philosophy manifests in several key ways:
- Individualized protocols rather than formulaic, age-based, or diagnosis-only approaches
- Responsive, consistent communication, ensuring patients feel heard and supported throughout a vulnerable process
- Integration of patient goals into every step of decision-making, recognizing that "success" looks different for each family
While this approach benefits all clinical domains, its importance is magnified in fertility care, where emotional, financial, and time-sensitive pressures are intense.
Training the Next Generation to Address National Needs
As demand for fertility services grows nationally, the Emory REI division views education as a core part of its mission to address the supply-demand mismatch in the field.
The fellowship currently trains three REI fellows who are deeply embedded in patient care and division activities. Based primarily at the hub clinic in the Emory University Hospital Midtown Medical Office Tower, fellows participate in comprehensive training including outpatient clinical care, IVF procedural training, reproductive surgery, IVF cycle management, and research and quality improvement initiatives.
"Expanding the fellowship is one of the most meaningful ways we can contribute to national access," says Dr. Kawwass, noting plans to grow the program to two fellows per year. "Every graduating fellow amplifies the impact of our work far beyond Emory."
A Prolific Research Environment with National Impact
The REI division stands as a robust academic engine, with faculty collectively authoring over 375 publications, including eight papers in JAMA and other high-impact journals. This scholarly output spans critical areas including IVF outcomes and safety, reproductive endocrinology and hormone disorders, access to fertility care and health policy, and genetics and reproductive counseling.
The division's research benefits from robust interdisciplinary collaborations across Emory, including partnerships with the Rollins School of Public Health, the Department of Human Genetics, and Winship Cancer Institute. These relationships strengthen both the depth and breadth of the center's scientific contributions.
Faculty members hold prominent leadership roles within national societies. Dr. James Toner serves as ASRM Vice President and received the ASRM 2024 Service Award. Dr. Jessica Spencer serves as ASRM Treasurer and as an ABOG Board Examiner. Dr. Kawwass holds the position of SART President-Elect, served on the ASRM Ethics Committee, and received the ASRM 2024 Young Investigator Award. Dr. Heather Hipp is co-chair for the SART research committee and serves as an ABOG Board Examiner. This leadership further positions Emory as both a thought leader and role-model in the field.
Advocacy: From Bedside to Statehouse, and Within Institutional Walls
Beyond the clinic and laboratory, Emory REI faculty are deeply engaged in advocacy to protect and expand access to fertility care. Dr. Kawwass and colleague Dr. Jacqueline Lee, MD, were founding members of the Georgia Fertility Network, a nonprofit coalition dedicated to protecting access to fertility treatment in Georgia.
Their advocacy efforts have yielded tangible results. Working alongside partners, they helped pass House Bill 94, which requires state-regulated health insurance plans to cover standard fertility preservation services, including egg, sperm, embryo, and ovarian tissue cryopreservation, for individuals undergoing medically necessary treatments that may cause infertility, such as cancer, sickle cell disease, and lupus. As of January 1, 2026, health benefit policies in Georgia must include coverage for these fertility preservation services.
The division's advocacy extends to their own institution as well. Faculty have been instrumental in expanding the Emory Aetna fertility benefit for all Emory employees, including medical
trainees, which now includes a $25,000 lifetime maximum for fertility treatment covering IVF, IUI, and egg freezing. A recent study by the division demonstrated that this benefit expansion led more patients to pursue fertility preservation and shortened the duration of infertility prior to seeking care, providing tangible evidence of how policy changes improve access.
"Our advocacy is an extension of our clinical mission," says Dr. Kawwass. "It's not enough to provide excellent care within our walls if people can't access or afford it. Policy work allows us to translate our clinical experience into structural change."
Looking Ahead: Optimizing the Patient Journey
The future of Emory's REI division focuses less on endless physical expansion and more on deepening and optimizing the patient experience. Current and planned initiatives reflect this philosophy:
- Integrated genetics support, including plans for an in-house Genetics Counselor to streamline complex decision-making
- Dedicated male-factor care through their in-house Urologist focused on fertility, ensuring comprehensive, team-based evaluation and treatment
- Ongoing exploration of expanded psychological support, recognizing the emotional dimensions of infertility
- Continued quality improvement in care pathways, communication, and patient education
"Our next chapter is about refinement," Dr. Kawwass reflects. "We want every step of the patient journey to be as clear, supportive, and evidence-based as possible, from initial consultation to long-term follow-up."
A Call to Our Alumni and Colleagues
For alumni and colleagues in the region and beyond, there are several ways to engage with and support the REI division's mission:
Referrals: Alumni and local providers are encouraged to reach out directly when they have patients who may benefit from advanced reproductive care.
Collaboration: Faculty welcome opportunities for research and clinical partnerships, particularly in areas intersecting with oncology, genetics, public health, and health policy.
Learning and Support: Those interested in learning more about the division's growth trajectory, educational initiatives, advocacy efforts, or opportunities to support future plans, including fellowship expansion and patient-support initiatives, are invited to contact Dr. Kawwass directly.
"The Emory Reproductive Center that many of our alumni remember has grown and evolved in profound ways," she says. "But at its core, it is still defined by the same thing: a commitment to scientific excellence in service of patients who are entrusting us with one of the most important journeys of their lives."