Yale Fertility Center

Sonya Abdel-Razeq, MD, specializes in treating women who may require special care during pregnancy, as well as high-risk conditions that can threaten the health of the mother and her fetus. These conditions include autoimmune disorders, cardiac disorders, diabetes and other problems. Dr. Abdel-Razeq delivers babies at Yale New Haven Hospital. A multiple award-winning assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences, Dr. Abdel-Razeq has pursued research interests in maternal and fetal inflammation, and has also become involved in the evaluation and prognosis of renal disease in the critically ill. She enjoys collaborating with a range of other Yale Medicine specialists. “We have a collegiality, pride, and desire to excel amongst our group of providers that spans not only our defined areas of interest and work, but also reaches to affiliated fields of medicine,” she says.

Aydin Arici, MD, is a reproductive endocrinologist and focuses on a variety of health areas, including in vitro fertilization (IVF), infertility, endometriosis, implantation, myomas, and uterine anomalies. Dr. Arici is a professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine. His research interests encompass a broad range of topics, including chemokines, cytokines, and their roles in gynecology and infertility. He is focused on understanding the complexities of endometriosis and its impact on reproductive health, as well as exploring innovative reproductive techniques. Dr. Arici earned his medical degree from Istanbul Medical School in Turkey. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York City, and further specialized with a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

Jacqueline Britt-Friedman, PsyD, is a clinical child psychologist who works with children and adolescents facing a wide range of emotional, learning, and behavioral challenges. She has experience in both school and clinical settings, which helps her understand how children function at home, at school, and in the community. Dr. Britt-Friedman cares for young people with anxiety, mood difficulties, attention and executive functioning challenges, learning disabilities, and social skill problems. She also supports children coping with stress related to school, peers, or family changes. She focuses on helping each child build practical skills to manage daily demands, strengthen resilience, and feel more confident. Collaboration is central to her approach, and she often works closely with families, teachers, and other providers. She also uses psychoeducation—teaching children and caregivers about how the brain works and why certain strategies help—so they feel informed and empowered. “I listen carefully to others to understand their perspectives, offer meaningful support, and determine appropriate next steps,” she explains. “Drawing on my expertise, I work collaboratively with families, educators, and other key stakeholders to help children build the skills they need to navigate challenges and support their growth and development.” As an assistant professor at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Britt-Friedman is involved in clinical teaching and the sharing of research-based practices with trainees and colleagues. She is also an instructor at The Windward Institute, where she advocates for children with language-based learning disabilities and helps educators and caregivers understand how to support these students using proven methods. “I have always been intrigued by how the mind works and enjoy collaborating with others to solve problems and help people,” she says. “I especially love working with children and teens and find it incredibly rewarding. Dr. Britt-Friedman earned her doctoral degree in the School-Clinical Child Program at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University.

When an issue arises in pregnancy, Katherine Kohari, MD, is there to step in. Dr. Kohari specializes in high-risk pregnancies with complications that threaten the well-being of mother, baby or both. “I enjoy helping mothers navigate through the exciting yet complex parts of pregnancy and childbirth,” she says. Dr. Kohari works within Yale Medicine’s Maternal-Fetal Medicine Program, seeing patients in New Haven as well as at satellite offices in Westport and Stamford. She delivers babies at Yale New Haven Hospital. Dr. Kohari’s practice employs the latest 2-D and 3-D ultrasound technology to maximize early and accurate diagnoses. She also performs diagnostic procedures including chorionic villus sampling (CVS), a prenatal test that detects chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome. When an abnormality is found in utero, Dr. Kohari makes a plan before delivery, working with other specialists. “I know how scary it can be for mothers and fathers when a problem is identified before birth,” she says. “The more planning we can do ahead of time, the better we can care for the newborn’s needs and help reassure the family.” Dr. Kohari is also an assistant professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine.

Caring for a woman means caring for an entire community, says Lubna Pal, MBBS (a medical degree awarded in several countries outside of the U.S.), MS. Dr. Pal, a reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist, honed this perspective growing up in Pakistan, where her mother was an an obstetrician-gynecologist and her father a surgeon. “In the developing world, as a woman’s health provider, you’re not just addressing a woman’s health, you’re taking care of the entire family,” she says. “Reproductive endocrinology and infertility appealed to me not just because of the exciting changes in the field, but because, going back to my roots, family building is so critical. Making a difference for couples who are struggling to conceive does more than impact the couple. To me, the implications are societal.” Dr. Pal, whose expertise lies in the management of infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and menopause, says that developing a strong relationship with patients is critical to healing. “You have to be there emotionally for them, to stay the course, through the highs and lows,” she says. “You have to be candid. You have to be sensitive. And you have to be genuine.” Infertility management, she points out, requires a particularly sensitive yet direct approach. “The majority of the time, you are dealing with healthy, young couples, who may be under a tremendous emotional burden,” she says. “When treating infertility with existing technologies and current knowledge, even in the best scenarios the treatment fails 50 percent of the time. Your commitment to the patient needs to be absolute, so that if a cycle fails, they know you did the best that anyone could do.” Dr. Pal is a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine.

A specialist in pediatric and adolescent gynecology, Alla Vash-Margita, MD, describes herself as being “passionate about the well-being and safety of teenage girls.” Dr. Vash-Margita, who is one of the only physicians in the area with advanced training in providing gynecologic care to these age groups, prides herself on being able to make a difference in the lives of young women. “I provide education on sexual health, safety, and healthy choices,” Dr. Vash-Margita says. “I explain the nature of any diagnosis in simple language with plentiful opportunities to ask questions. I use anatomical pictures and drawings to help young patients and their parents understand normal anatomy and its variants as well as diagnosis.” Dr. Vash-Margita’s clinical focuses are congenital anomalies of the female reproductive tract, contraceptive needs of adolescents, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, vulvar and vaginal discharge in prepubertal girls, pelvic pain in adolescent females, polycystic ovary syndrome, and irregular menses in teenagers. She also sees patients at the Adolescent Hematology Gynecology Program at Yale New Haven Children’s Hospital. Doctors at the program provide complex gynecologic care for adolescents and young women who have bleeding disorders. When it comes to treating congenital anomalies, Dr. Vash-Margita ensures that she gives each patient—and her parents—the opportunity to absorb the diagnosis. “I invite the patient and caregivers to come back, scheduling ample time for the visit. Since my patient might be as young as 7 or 12, we sometimes wait until she is ready for the discussion,” she says. “I encourage family to have all discussions with their daughter in the room, otherwise, it creates stigma of secrecy or shame. I often will say, ‘We are here to help. We do not have any secrets.’” Dr. Vash-Margita is an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology, and reproductive sciences at Yale School of Medicine and is active in many national and local organizations dedicated to pediatric and adolescent gynecology.