The NYC IVF Team
If you are looking for a fertility clinic that will give you all the time you need to understand your fertility issues and apply only as much science as is needed to achieve your fertility goals, NYC IVF is right for you.
Dr. Alyaa Elassar
MD, MSc., Ph.D., FACOG
Dr. Elassar is a board certified gynecologist specialized in reproductive endocrinology & fertility. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at New York Presbytarian Weill Cornell and her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Connecticut. Alyaa was born and raised in Cairo, Egypt which she frequents to visit family. Through her career she has authored several research papers with focus on hormonal response to fertility treatment in women with low ovarian reserve. Dr. Elassar is a warm soul who has dedicated her personal time to helping others and her professional time to helping women take control of their life stages.
She has two daughters, a college grad and a 13 year old. As an avid soccer fan, you can strike up a conversation with her about the current season and her favorite team, FC Barca. She enjoys watching basketball and loves family gatherings. Ask her about her favorite beaches!
Tamar Badridze
Nurse
Tamar Badridze is a licensed registered nurse at NYC IVF. She started her medical career in the country of Georgia as an obstetrician and gynecologist then received additional training in reproductive health and IVF. She was a co-founder of one of the largest surrogacy and egg donation centers in Europe. Tamar has many years of experience working in the women’s health field in different countries. She is fluent in multiple languages such as Georgian, Russian, Italian and Hebrew. As our nurse, Tamar strives to provide the utmost personal care for our patients. There is nothing more fulfilling than helping our patients achieve their dream of parenthood.
Amy Vance
MS, CGC, Genetic counselor
Amy Vance is a Board Certified and Licensed Genetic Counselor and founder of Bay Area Genetic Counseling, a consulting practice specializing in genetic risk assessment for gamete donors and fertility patients. She is respected as a leader and innovator among genetic counselors. BAGC is a boutique genetic counseling practice with an internationally recognized reputation as a leader and expert in the field of reproductive genetic counseling. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she serves clients from around the country and the globe. Ms. Vance attended Miami University of Ohio and graduated with a B.A. in Zoology. She received her graduate degree from the University of Cincinnati, earning a full scholarship for her graduate work. She has provided genetic counseling since 1991, with clinical experience and significant expertise in prenatal, pediatric, adult, cancer, and reproductive genetics.
Antonia Katrandjieva
Ph.D., D.Sc, Nutritional Counsellor
Antonia Ka, Ph.D., D.Sc is a holistic therapist and esoteric scholar, specializing in women’s health and wellness. For more than 28 years she has researched functional medicine and practiced various ancient and modern holistic modalities and rejuvenation tools, ranging from Yoga, Qi-Gong and prano-therapy; to herbal nutrition, homeopathy, breath & bodywork. Antonia is also licensed in cranio-sacral therapy, emotional freedom technique, embryonic massage and polarity.
You can find Antonia’s extensive educational background and certifications in Fertility and Wellness Therapy here.
Rhea Bhandari
Medical Assistant
Rhea completed her undergraduate degree from Boston University with a B.A. in Neuroscience. She has assisted with research on opioid addiction at the Boston University School of Medicine for three and a half years, and volunteered at the Emergency Department at Massachusetts General Hospital. Rhea aspires to attend medical school in the near future, and hopes to gain greater exposure to the field of reproductive endocrinology under the mentorship of Dr. Elassar. She is excited to have the opportunity to connect with individuals undergoing fertility treatment and provide high-quality patient care!
Dr. Sahar Lashin
MD, PhD, ABAARM, FAAMM, MSc
Dr. Lashin is a Board certified internal medicine physician with a special interest in Integrative therapeutic approach She is certified by the American Board of Anti-Aging and Regenerative Medicine.
Her services include the use of Bio Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) in cases of low ovarian reserve, endometriosis, PMS and PCOS. She works with our patients to optimize their health condition prior to IVF treatment and pregnancy. Dr. Lashin is an expert in thyroid disorders including Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis, hypothyroidism and suboptimal thyroid dysfunction. She conducts virtual consults all over the country.
Laila Aziem
Director of Operations and Business Development
Laila is a University of Chicago graduate with focus in Global Studies and Medicine. She brings her combined studies to NYC IVF to bridge business and healthcare. Through the development of our business model, we continue to prioritize and ensure top quality patient care with an emphasis on individualized attention. While the majority of the fertility field becomes increasingly corporate, Laila works to make sure that our patients feel comfortable and well taken care of in their fertility journey.
About The Founder
NYC IVF Was Founded In 2009 By Dr. Amr Azim,
a reproductive endocrinologist and fertility specialist with special training in treating simple and complex fertility problems. Dr. Azim studied medicine at Cairo University, and later graduated from both residency and fellowship programs at Weill Cornell. He is the principal author on multiple groundbreaking research papers published in top fertility journals; his research specialty focused on fertility for oncology patients. After a few years at Reproductive Medicine Associates (RMA), where he laid the groundwork for a new clinic, Dr. Azim opened his own practice. With the experience and insight of leading large fertility centers, Dr. Azim was committed to opening a clinic that fostered a greater sense of care and compassion for each individual patient. With hard work and dedication, NYC IVF was established.
Dr. Azim started NYC IVF with the belief that reproductive care should provide insight into fertility in a private and stress free atmosphere.
Fertility And Wellness
The KA rejuvenation method is a holistic and individually crafted wellness program to assist women through all stages of their fertility journey. After a personal evaluation of the physical and energetic body, patients are assigned a step-by-step nutritional, breathing and gentle exercise plan to boost functions of the reproductive system, organs and glands.
Trigger point massage is applied to the extremities, head and ears to bolster immunity and promote vitality throughout the hormonal treatment. Daily breath-work boosts circulation and gentle hip-openers stimulate the 2nd chakra for a relaxed and vibrant womb.
Herbal tinctures and organic dietary supplements further assist detoxification and boost fertility. A special embryonic massage of gentle acupressure is administered right before the transfer to tone and stimulate blood flow into the uterus.
During the post-transfer days of rest, five poses to aid implantation are practiced in bed. Each patient leaves with a customized plan of breathing and relaxation to open the body and calm the mind – paving her way into a healthy conception, pregnancy, birth and motherhood.
Antonia Ka, Ph.D., D.Sc is a holistic therapist and esoteric scholar, specializing in women’s health and wellness. For more than 28 years she has researched functional medicine and practiced various ancient and modern holistic modalities and rejuvenation tools, ranging from Yoga, Qi-Gong and prano-therapy; to herbal nutrition, homeopathy, breath & bodywork. Antonia is also licensed in cranio-sacral therapy, emotional freedom technique, embryonic massage and polarity.
Antonia has traveled the world and trained with medicine women and traditional healers, integrating their natural wisdom and indigenous practices into a scientifically tested tool kit for health and growth.
Antonia is founder and producer of Yogea Yoga Wellness platform on YouTube where she offers more than 360 instructional yoga, breathing routines, meditation and visualization practices that target various conditions and needs. The women’s section of the channel features valuable practices to aid through all the seasons of the female journey – addressing PMS; aiding fertility; and guiding women through implantation, conception, pregnancy, motherhood and menopause.
For the past 15 years Antonia has explored different avenues of fertility – bridging allopathic and integrative medicine. She has designed a comprehensive wellness program to assist women through every stage of their fertility. The program that blends herbal nutrition, yoga, breathwork, embryonic massage, reflexology and meditation is personally tailored and suited for women of all ages, and physical conditions undergoing IVF treatment.
Empowering women to meet their personal best in a healthy body and mind, while nurturing their soul and voicing their spirit is Antonia’s greatest passion and personal calling.