Fertility Counseling
Florence Hightower,PsyD, MSW, LISW-CP, is
a clinical psychologist, who specializes in fertility counseling. Dr. Hightower
serves as coordinator of the Advance Fertility & Reproductive Endocrinology
Institute in vitro fertilization program, and provides counseling services to
couples and individuals in our IVF treatment and egg donor programs. She also
maintains a private psychotherapy practice, where she emphasizes fertility
counseling.
We at Advanced Fertility &
Reproductive Endocrinology Institute located in West Columbia, South Carolina,
recognize that couples and individuals dealing with infertility issues often
face emotional and personal challenges in their efforts to resolve their
infertility and build a family. Because infertility can affect all aspects of
life, we have developed a range of services to provide couples and individuals
with the personalized support they may need before, during, or even after
infertility treatment. Counseling and support services include guidance in
managing stress, handling anxiety or depression, maintaining positive
relationships with family and friends, dealing with work issues, and
psychological testing. Designed by Dr. Hightower, these counseling services are
confidential and dedicated to ensuring an optimal experience while participants
are involved in the fertility process. If you would like a consultation with
Dr. Hightower in our West Columbia, South Carolina office,
please contact the Advanced Fertility and
Reproductive Endocrinology Institute today. Patients from throughout the state
of South Carolina, including nearby Charleston, may contact our practice for
fertility consultations.
back to top
>>
Janice G. Edwards, MS, CGC, is a genetics
counselor who has been certified by the American Board of Medical Genetics
since 1984. She is currently a Clinical Associate Professor at the University
of South Carolina School of Medicine where she is Director of the Genetics
Counseling Program. Ms. Edwards served on the South Carolina Committee for the
Protection of Genetic Privacy and was instrumental in developing legislation
preventing discrimination in health insurance. She has published extensively in
the field of genetics counseling and is active in the clinical teaching of
genetics counseling degree candidates.
Ms. Edwards provides genetics counseling
at our Institute to patients contemplating intracytoplasmic sperm injection
(ICSI), testicular sperm extraction (TESE), and preimplantation genetic
diagnosis (PGD). She also counsels patients suffering from habitual abortion,
premature ovarian or testicular failure, identified genetic conditions,
advanced maternal age, and those with abnormal pedigrees. If you would like a
consultation with Janice Edwards in our West Columbia, South Carolina office,
please contact the Advanced Fertility and
Reproductive Endocrinology Institute today. Patients seeking genetics
counseling from throughout South Carolina including Charleston meet with Ms.
Edwards.
back to top
>>
Betty J. Bruner, RTT, RDMS, has been
certified by the American Registry of Diagnostic Medical Sonographers since
1991. She assists Dr. Whitman-Elia with the ultrasound evaluation of patients
undergoing ovarian stimulation regimens for ovulation induction and in vitro
fertilization, hydrohysterosonography, early pregnancy monitoring, and
gynecologic screening. Her many years of experience bring a special expertise
to our Advanced Fertility Institute.
back to top
>>
Dr. Scott M. Sweazy serves as the on-site
andrology and urology consultant for Advanced Fertility. A practicing urologist
with a special interest in male infertility, Dr. Sweazy is certified by the
American Board of Urology. He performs on-site testicular sperm extraction
procedures (TESE) for Advanced Fertility's male infertility patients.
After receiving his undergraduate degree
from the University of Kansas, he received his MD degree and completed
residencies in both general surgery and urology at the University of Kansas
Medical Center. In 2001, Dr. Sweazy was presented with the coveted RNC National
Leadership Award. Dr. Sweazy is a frequent academic lecturer.
back to top
>>
Senior Embryologist and Laboratory
Supervisor, Richard Kordus, leads the lab team at Advanced Fertility &
Reproductive Endocrinology Institute.
Rich received his degree in chemistry and
biology from Valpariso University in Indiana and began his distinguished career
as an embryologist in December of 2000 at the Advanced Institute of Fertility
in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Two years later he was hired as one of
the laboratory supervisors at Reproductive Medicine Associate (RMA) of New
Jersey where he worked with nine other embryologists in a high volume
laboratory setting. He spent two years at RMA of New Jersey where they
performed between 2000-2500 cases per year. In addition to his role as
supervisor, Kordus also personally performed all forms of micromanipulation
(ICSI, Assisted Hatching, Biopsy).
In January, 2004, Kordus was named Senior
Embryologist and Laboratory Supervisor in his current position at Advanced
Fertility & Reproductive Endocrinology Institute in West Columbia, South
Carolina. Here, he is responsible for supervising all aspects of embryology,
andrology, and endocrinology laboratory services.
Advanced Fertility offers full service,
on-site endocrinology, andrology and embryology laboratory services. We offer
embryo culture to 8-cells or extended culture to the blastocyst stage as well
as micromanipulation for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), testicular
sperm extraction (TESE), assisted hatching, and preimplantation genetic
diagnosis (PGD). Our pregnancy rates are excellent; please click here to
review our rates.
In addition to the services associated
with in vitro fertilization, our laboratory provides the following
services:
- Phlebotomy
- Serum steroid and protein assays
- Routine Semen Analysis
- Anti-sperm antibody testing
- 24-hour motility testing
- Kruger’s Morphology
- Sperm Preparation for Chromatin
Structure Assay (SCSA)
- Semen washing for intrauterine
insemination (IUI)
- Sperm DNA Decondensation Assay (SDD)
We are located in West Columbia, South
Carolina. But we have provided world-class results to infertility patients from
nearby Charleston as well as around the globe. If you are interested in IVF,
ICSI or other infertility treatments, please contact
us today!
back to top
>>
Acupuncturist
Martin Herbkersman -
Acupuncturist
Clinical studies continue to suggest a direct relationship
to higher IVF success rates when Acupuncture is included in the treatment
protocol. These studies suggest the ancient Chinese holistic therapy increases
blood flow to the uterus therefore providing for an even more favorable home
for newly fertilized eggs.
Advanced Fertility & Reproductive
Endocrinology is pleased to offer treatments from National Board Certified
Acupuncturist, Martin Herbkersman
Herbkersman attended one of the finest
Acupuncture schools in the US, Emperor's College in Santa Monica, California,
and graduated summa cum laude after four years of post-undergraduate education.
He is the president of the Board of Directors of the American
Association of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (AAAOM) and serves as Chairman
of the South Carolina Acupuncture Advisory Committee to the Board of Medical
Examiners.
Herbkersman is also a member of the American Society for
Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).
back to top
>>
|
