For families across western Michigan searching for personalized reproductive care, The Fertility Center (TFC) has been a trusted name since opening its doors in Grand Rapids in 1991. Located at 3230 Eagle Park Drive NE on the northeast side of Grand Rapids, TFC serves patients not only from Kent County but from across the broader west Michigan region — including Kalamazoo, the Lakeshore communities, and patients traveling from as far as Mason and northern Michigan through satellite offices. The practice has earned a 4.4-star rating with more than 265 Google reviews, a reflection of more than three decades spent helping thousands of families grow. Founded by Drs. William Dodds and James Young, TFC was built on a straightforward philosophy: deliver exceptional fertility care at an affordable cost. Today, under new physician leadership, that founding mission remains the center of everything TFC does.
One of the practice's defining commitments is ensuring patients know that IVF is not the automatic answer. For over 95% of TFC patients, IVF is not the first step or the only option. The team takes a shared decision-making approach, pairing evidence-based guidance with each patient's personal preferences, beliefs, and goals.
Physicians and Clinical Team
The Fertility Center's physician roster brings together board-certified reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) specialists with deep ties to Michigan's academic medical community.
Valerie Shavell, M.D. leads the practice and joined TFC in 2013. She earned her undergraduate and medical degrees from Cornell University and completed both her OB/GYN residency and REI fellowship at Wayne State University. Dr. Shavell holds a clinical assistant professorship in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at both Michigan State University College of Human Medicine and Western Michigan University School of Medicine. Her clinical focus areas include recurrent pregnancy loss, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), fertility preservation, and third-party reproduction using donor sperm, eggs, or embryos.
Emma Giuliani, M.D. joined TFC in September 2020. She completed her OB/GYN residency at Michigan State University/Grand Rapids Medical Education Partners and her REI fellowship at the University of Michigan. Dr. Giuliani is board-certified in REI and has developed special expertise in oncofertility (fertility preservation for cancer patients), recurrent pregnancy loss, and endometriosis. She is fluent in both English and Italian.
Gary Jones, M.D. brought a distinguished career to TFC when he joined in 2022. He attended medical school at Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine, completed his internship and residency at the Naval Hospital in San Diego, and trained in his REI fellowship at Wayne State University. His career includes serving as Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the Naval Hospital in Oakland and years in private REI practice in Dearborn and Chicago. Dr. Jones has extensive experience teaching OB/GYN residents and fellows and has particular interest in uterine abnormalities, ovulation induction, and all facets of IVF care.
Sarah Bjorkman, M.D. is a board-eligible REI specialist and board-certified OB/GYN who earned her medical degree from Michigan State University, completed her OB/GYN residency at Yale, and pursued her REI fellowship at the University of Iowa. Her research has been published on embryo transfer success factors, IVF pregnancy screening, third-party reproduction, endometriosis, and uterine anomalies. Dr. Bjorkman is particularly focused on shared decision-making, egg freezing, PCOS, cost-effective treatment, and reproductive surgery. (Currently not accepting new patients.)
Mili Thakur, M.D. joined TFC in September 2017. She is board-certified in OB/GYN with a specialization in Reproductive Endocrinology, Infertility, and Medical Genetics, offering expertise in ultrasonography, hysteroscopic surgery, and fertility preservation. Dr. Thakur is fluent in English, Hindi, and Punjabi. (Currently not accepting new patients.)
The clinical team is rounded out by Shana Broxup, PA-C, a Western Michigan University Master of Medical Science graduate who started at TFC in 2011 as a sonographer before earning her PA certification in 2021, and Melissa Prins, PA-C, who also holds a Master of Medical Science from Western Michigan University and brings a background in women's health urogynecology.
Services and Treatments
The Fertility Center offers a comprehensive menu of diagnostic and treatment services covering the full range of reproductive medicine:
- Fertility testing and evaluation for both women and men
- Timed intercourse cycles with monitoring
- Intrauterine insemination (IUI)
- In vitro fertilization (IVF), including fresh and frozen embryo transfer cycles
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)
- Egg freezing (oocyte cryopreservation) for elective fertility preservation and oncofertility
- Embryo freezing (cryopreservation)
- Preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) for aneuploidies and monogenic disorders
- Carrier screening and reproductive genomics consultation
- Donor sperm insemination and IVF cycles
- Egg donation program (donor application and recipient services)
- Embryo donation (donating and receiving embryos)
- Gestational carrier / surrogacy coordination for intended parents
- Recurrent pregnancy loss evaluation and management
- Reproductive surgery scheduling
- Andrology laboratory services including semen analysis
- Emotional support counseling and the Exhale Support Program
- LGBTQ+ family building services for same-sex couples and single individuals
- Fertility preservation for individuals diagnosed with cancer
Laboratory and Success Rates
TFC's embryology laboratory is housed within its main Grand Rapids office and is accredited through The Joint Commission. The lab is equipped with current assisted reproductive technology (ART) capabilities, including:
- Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) for male factor infertility
- Time-lapse photography for continuous embryo monitoring without disturbance
- Blastocyst culture to the extended culture stage
- Assisted hatching
- Embryo biopsy for preimplantation genetic testing
- Embryo and oocyte cryopreservation using vitrification
The embryology team operates in close coordination with the physician team to optimize outcomes at every stage of the IVF process. TFC also has an andrology laboratory on-site for semen analysis and sperm processing.
The Fertility Center reports its IVF outcomes annually to both the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which publishes ART success rate data for all reporting clinics in the United States. Because live birth data requires complete documentation, success rate reports are typically published on a two-year lag. TFC encourages prospective patients to visit SART and CDC websites directly to review current and preliminary cycle reports. The practice notes openly that cross-clinic success rate comparisons require careful context, as patient characteristics, entrance criteria, and treatment protocols vary meaningfully between programs.
Patient Experience
The reviews that have accumulated around The Fertility Center over more than three decades reflect something that goes beyond clinical competence. Patients consistently cite warmth, accessibility, and the sense that each physician genuinely knows them as individuals rather than case numbers. Patient testimonials shared on the practice website describe encounters with multiple doctors across a treatment journey and finding each one "sweet, caring, and helpful." Others describe arriving skeptical or discouraged — after a year or more of trying without success — and leaving the first appointment with clarity and renewed confidence.
The practice's "Fertility Diaries" contest, running annually, invites former patients to share their family-building stories, and the resulting archive reflects the breadth of paths that lead people through TFC's doors: couples struggling with unexplained infertility, individuals using donor sperm, same-sex couples building families, and cancer patients who preserved their fertility before treatment. The depth of that community suggests a practice that stays meaningfully connected to the families it helps create.
TFC's ancillary support programs also distinguish it. The Exhale Support Program offers an emotional outlet alongside clinical care. Dedicated emotional support counseling, yoga for fertility resources, and nutritional guidance are available to patients who want a more integrative approach to their journey.
Considering At-Home Insemination?
Not every fertility journey begins in a clinic. At-home intracervical insemination (ICI) is a lower-cost, private option that suits patients with no known fertility diagnosis — including single parents by choice, same-sex couples, and people who want to try a few cycles before committing to clinical treatment.
At-home insemination kits like those from MakeAMom come with step-by-step instructions designed for donor or partner sperm. Kits are a one-time purchase that can be reused until conception succeeds, require no clinic visit, and arrive in plain, discreet packaging. Many patients use them as a first step while working toward a fertility consultation — or alongside ovulation tracking while they wait for an appointment slot.
If you have a known fertility diagnosis, have been trying for 12 months without success (six months if you're over 35), or your physician has already recommended IUI or IVF, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist is the right next step.
Insurance and Financing
Michigan does not have a comprehensive infertility insurance mandate covering IVF, which means coverage varies substantially by employer and insurance plan. Some Michigan-based employers and state employee plans do include infertility benefits, but patients should verify their specific coverage before beginning treatment. TFC's business office team helps patients navigate insurance questions and understand what their plans may cover for diagnostics, medications, and procedures.
For patients without insurance coverage or facing out-of-pocket costs, TFC partners with CapexMD to offer fertility-specific financing options — a lender that specializes in reproductive medicine loans and often provides more favorable terms than general medical credit products. The practice also maintains information about the Family Building Fund and additional area support resources for patients facing financial barriers.
One hallmark of TFC's founding philosophy is its emphasis on affordability relative to national peers. The founders built the practice around delivering excellent outcomes at substantially lower costs than many other programs, and that commitment to accessible pricing remains part of the practice's identity today. Patients comparing cost across fertility clinics in Michigan will find TFC's transparent approach to pricing a meaningful differentiator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does The Fertility Center accept patients without a referral? Yes. Patients can contact TFC directly to schedule a new patient consultation without a referring physician. The practice provides guidance on when scheduling makes sense and what to expect at a first appointment on its website.
What does a first appointment at TFC involve? The initial consultation typically includes a review of your medical and reproductive history, discussion of any previous testing or treatments, and a conversation with your physician about next diagnostic steps. TFC recommends that both partners attend when applicable. The practice aims to leave patients with a clear understanding of their situation and a preliminary roadmap by the end of the visit.
Can TFC help same-sex couples and single parents? Yes. The Fertility Center has dedicated resources and clinical pathways for the LGBTQ+ community and single individuals. Services include IUI with donor sperm, IVF with donor eggs or donor sperm, embryo donation, and gestational carrier coordination. The practice's providers are experienced working with a broad range of family-building scenarios.
How do I access TFC's IVF success rate data? TFC submits annual outcome data to SART and the CDC. You can review their published results at the SART clinic finder or the CDC's ART reporting website. Keep in mind that reported rates reflect cycles from two years prior due to live birth documentation requirements. For the most current perspective, ask TFC's team directly during your consultation — they can walk you through recent outcomes and what factors most influence success in your specific situation. If you are also exploring IVF treatment options more broadly, our guide covers what to look for when evaluating any clinic's reported rates.