Video Website powered by Einstein IndustriesThe Muasher Center

HOWARD JONES, JR., MD: The breakthrough in Norfolk, which allowed us to have the first IVF baby in the United States and, indeed, in the New World was the use of gonadotropins, extra gonadotropins at exactly the right time in the menstrual cycle to recruit more than the single egg, which characterizes the normal menstrual cycle. By using extra gonadotropins, we were able to harvest extra eggs, which was the key to our success.

This success required us to enlarge our staff because the demand for this new service was very great. We were very pleased and happy to be able to have Dr. Suheil very early on. I had known Suheil when we were both in Baltimore at the Johns Hopkins. This was where Suheil received his residency training.

The use of the gonadotropins caused certain changes in the menstrual cycle that we had to understand to make the system work. And we created a taskforce to look at this problem. Suheil was the leader of that taskforce, solved that problem, and enabled us to understand exactly, in the menstrual cycle, when to transfer the developing egg. In other words, Suheil is a problem-solver. Patients with infertility have a problem and need a problem solver.

Now, in addition to having a problem solved, it is necessary and desirable to do this in a compassionate atmosphere. Suheil has surrounded himself with a group that provides this and this group is led by his administrative partner, Bassam Kawwass. I’ve known Bassam for a while too. At one time, he was the administrator of the program in Norfolk and an excellent administrator he was until he went on to bigger and greater things, including the administration of the program near Washington.

I think it’s wonderful that you will have the opportunity to go to an experienced, compassionate program. And I wish you good luck in achieving a pregnancy to have a happy family, which is the goal of all married couples. Thank you.