Dr. Mark Surrey, Southern California Reproductive Center Co-Founder: “We never forget that you are the most important part of the team; we make sure that the treatment plan we devise works with your particular needs and wishes, giving you the best chance of having a baby”

The Southern California Reproductive Center (SCRC) was founded in 1999 by Dr. Mark Surrey and Dr. Hal Danzer, two visionary physicians who saw a critical gap for infertility care. Recognizing that hospitals often lacked the necessary attention and funding for infertility treatment, they set out to establish a fertility center that prioritized the highest quality in laboratory science and clinical care. As infertility rates grew globally and more couples and individuals postponed starting families, the demand for assisted reproductive technology (ART) like IVF became increasingly vital. Today, SCRC stands as a symbol of hope for those facing fertility challenges, boasting four locations across Los Angeles County and Santa Barbara/Ventura County. The center’s flagship locations in Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara are equipped with state-of-the-art surgery centers and ART labs, while the additional locations provide convenient access for pre-testing and cycle monitoring closer to patients’ homes.

At SCRC, treatment is a collaborative effort. Upon receiving a diagnosis, patients are introduced to their personalized fertility team, which is headed by a dedicated fertility doctor and comprises a multidisciplinary group of experts.

This team includes reproductive endocrinologists, embryologists, radiologists, patient care specialists, and complementary and alternative practitioners such as acupuncturists. This holistic approach ensures that every aspect of the patient’s journey is addressed with the utmost care and expertise.

Every member of the SCRC staff, from ultrasound technicians to surgery coordinators, is meticulously selected to provide the best possible support. The center’s ethos revolves around the patient, ensuring that the individualized treatment plans are tailored to meet their specific needs and desires. By maintaining this patient-centric approach, SCRC maximizes the chances of achieving the ultimate goal: helping patients realize their dream of having a baby.

In conversation with Dr. Mark Surrey, Co-Founder of Southern California Reproductive Center

Q. SCRC employs the most innovative technologies in fertility treatments. Can you share some recent advancements or technologies that SCRC has integrated into its practice, and how they have improved patient outcomes? 

We’ve made significant updates to all of our standard operating procedures to ensure optimal patient outcomes. While it’s common for labs to review their SOPs annually without making substantial changes, we’ve taken a proactive approach. By enhancing our SOPs, we create the best possible conditions for embryo growth. For example, we test the pH of all our culture media before use with an iSTAT machine. Given its high cost, many IVF labs don’t have access to this technology. Although all vendors test their culture media before use, our additional testing ensures that it meets our stricter thresholds, providing optimal conditions for embryo development. We’ve also upgraded our incubator monitoring system, allowing us to detect and address any issues within seconds. This ensures that our patients’ embryos are safe and thriving around the clock.

Q. Your practice emphasizes a strong doctor/patient relationship and a stress-free pregnancy. How does SCRC ensure that each patient receives personalized and compassionate care throughout their fertility journey?

At SCRC, we emphasize a strong doctor/patient relationship and aim to ensure a stress-free pregnancy by adhering to the belief that “one treatment doesn’t fit all.” While we have established protocols within our practice, what truly sets us apart is our comprehensive in-house facilities. Our on-site surgery center, ART lab, and Phlebotomy and Andrology lab allow us to conduct thorough blood testing, monitor patients’ cycles, Andrology testing for semen analysis, and identify potential causes of infertility. We also perform x-rays and ultrasounds to evaluate reproductive health, checking for blocked fallopian tubes or abnormalities in the ovaries or uterus.

This diligent pre-testing phase enables us to develop personalized treatment plans tailored to each individual’s unique needs. By understanding the full picture before recommending a treatment plan, we ensure that we address the specific issues affecting each patient. Our approach not only demonstrates our commitment to providing compassionate and thorough care but also strives to deliver the best possible outcomes for our patients on their fertility journey.

Q. SCRC participates in clinical trials of newly developed infertility treatments. Can you elaborate on some recent or ongoing trials and their potential impact on the field of reproductive medicine?

We are actively engaged in researching various methods to enhance thaw outcomes for oocytes. Additionally, we are testing different culture media to investigate any associations between embryo metabolism and pregnancy outcomes. Our research is conducted exclusively on embryos donated to our studies, ensuring that no patient clinical cycles are adversely affected. This approach allows us to rigorously validate our findings and confirm their effectiveness in improving cycle outcomes before integrating them into clinical practice.

Q. Do you have any new services ready to be launched?

Our service isn’t new, but we are renowned in California for handling complex infertility cases. At our Beverly Hills and Santa Barbara offices, we specialize in providing comprehensive care for patients who have struggled with infertility, including those who have not found success at other clinics. We are particularly successful with women aged 38-43 seeking IVF treatment. Our all-inclusive approach means that all monitoring and surgical needs are handled in one convenient location, reducing the stress of working with multiple providers. Additionally, we offer support in finding surrogates and egg donors. For our international patients, we provide concierge services to ensure their stay is comfortable and stress-free, including coordinating hotel accommodations and providing local information for their 10-12 day visit.

Q. What does the future hold for your company and its customers? Are exciting things on the way?

We are consistently working to expand our practice. Our plans include opening additional monitoring locations and adding more Reproductive Endocrinologists (REIs) to our team of physicians both now and in the years to come.

Meet the leaders behind the success of Southern California Reproductive Center

Dr. Mark Surrey and Dr. Hal Danzer, Co-Founders 

Dr. Surrey is a pioneer from the beginning of IVF’s success. He was part of the team in London that helped with the creation of the first test tube baby.

"Our research is conducted exclusively on embryos donated to our studies, ensuring that no patient clinical cycles are adversely affected."