OUR FAMILY COALITION & MEN HAVING BABIES

PRESENT:

THE SAN FRANCISCOSURROGACY

CONFERENCE & EXPOSATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2017

5:30–8 P.M.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 15, 20179 A.M.–6 P.M.

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AGENDA

SATURDAY, JANUARY 14:Registration: 5:00–5:30 PM (10th Floor)

Is surrogacy right for you? Overview and personal stories: 5:30 PM–6:30 PM (Commandants Room, 10th Floor)We will open our session with introductions, a comparison of surrogacy with other parenting options, and an overview of the considerations for choosing various parenting routes.

To help you further understand what surrogacy entails from the personal standpoint, you will have an opportunity to hear personal testimonies from a diverse group of of gay surrogacy dads and the surrogates who helped them.Moderator:

Heather Jacobson, PhDHeather Jacobson is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Texas at Arlington whose research centers primarily on various routes to family formation. She is the author of Labor of Love: Gestational Surrogacy and the Work of Making Babies.

Panelist include:

John MaroneyJohn and his husband Denis live in Southern California. In October 2016 they welcomed their son Liam, born via gestational surrogacy. The couple were recipients of GPAP Stage II benefits for their journey.

Jonelle MartinJonelle, a mother of three from Sacramento, is the gestational surrogate who carried Liam for Denis and John.

Mario Kevesic Mario and his partner Mano are very new parents from Northern California: they welcomed their daughter Naya, born via gestational surrogacy, in December 2016. The couple were recipients of GPAP Stage II benefits for their journey.

Rachelle Myers-NelsonRachelle is a surrogate mother who helped two different gay couples from Italy: a singleton boy in 2013 and twin boys in 2015. Rachelle is also a member of MHB’s advisory committee, recently gave several media interviews to Italian and Belgian media, and has served as an advocate and public speaker on matters including surrogacy, gay marriage and gay parenting.

Coffee break: 6:30-6:45 PM

How do we feel about surrogacy?: 6:45-8:00 PM (Commandants Room, 10th Floor)In this session we will examine the meanings and significance people tend to attribute to surrogacy in their lives, with a special focus on surrogates’ perspective. With the help of several surrogates, a sociologist and a psychologist, we will look at questions such as:

What are the dominant social perceptions of surrogacy in the U.S. and Canada? How do surrogates understand their experiences? What are the roots for concerns about exploitation and commodification in surrogacy?What are the experiences of children born via surrogacy?

We will present recent ethnographic research on surrogacy, and evidence from studies about the way surrogacy affects the the welfare of the child, the surrogate, and her family. We will also look at programs meant to encourage a more mindful surrogacy experience, such as the Sacred Surrogacy (part of the Sacred Living movement) and MHB’s Framework for Ethical Surrogacy.

Moderator: Ron Poole-Dayan, surrogacy father, executive director of MHBSpeakers / Panelists:

Heather Jacobson, PhD, Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Texas at Arlington.Elaine Gordon, PhD, Clinical Psychologist, third party family building.Rachelle Myers-Nelson, surrogate mother and a member of MHB’s surrogates advisory board.Nici Shipway, birth doula, curator of the Sacred Surrogacy program.Jonelle Martin, a surrogate mother

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SUNDAY, JANUARY 15:

Registration: 8:30-9:00 AM (10th Floor Foyer)

Planning your parenting journey: 9:00-10:30 AM (Commandants Room, 10th Floor)This is the first part of our comprehensive surrogacy workshop that was developed based on the accumulated knowledge of hundreds of gay men who have already gone through the process.Topics covered will include:

• Basic terminology, types and components of typical surrogacy arrangements.• Typical sequence and timeline for gestational surrogacy journeys.• Legal considerations in the USA and Canada.• Major decisions that shape the surrogacy journey.• Considering your family vision, financial constraints, risk tolerance and ethical preferences.

Coffee break: 10:30-10:45 AMSponsored by Canadian Fertility Consulting

Picking providers, budgeting and financial assistance: 10:45 AM–12:00 PM (Commandants Room, 10th Floor)On the second part of our workshop we will provide peer advice on selecting service providers, cost saving tips, and resources for financial support. Topics covered will include:

• Where to start (agency, clinic, surrogate or donor)• Selecting an agency and clinic• Estimated costs, and factors that affect costs• Cost saving best practices.• Financial help through the Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP).

Lunch / Gay Parenting Expo: 12:00 - 1:30 PM (Crystal Ballroom, 11th Floor)Enjoy a buffet lunch and explore our Gay Parenting Services Exhibit: more than twenty five tables where you can meet and receive information from leading clinics, surrogacy agencies, lawyers and supporting community organizations. The expo will remain open until 6:00pm. Lunch is sponsored by the San Diego Fertility Center.

Breakout sessions–come meet the sponsors: 1:30–3:30 PM (10th Floor Rooms: Regimental, Heritage, Commandants, plus Crystal Lounge, 11th Floor)Attendees will have the opportunity to take part in up to 6 introductory 20-minute group consultations with the various seminar sponsors. Take advantage of this opportunity to “shop around” and get to know these agencies and clinics more closely. Breakout sessions’ table on page 5.

Break: 3:30–3:45 PM

Optional private consultations: 3:30–8:30 PM (various suites on the 4th floor, please check with participating providers for more details)Several clinics and agencies will be available in offices for private consultations with prospective parents that wish to explore the options they offer in more depth. Prospective parents may request to coordinate consultations in advance using this form. Consultation slots may also be available last minute for those who want to first hear the providers at the conference.

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SPECIALTY PANELS Commandants Room, 10th Floor Regimental Room, 10th Floor Heritage Room, 10th Floor

3:45-4:30 pm

BUDGETING:

A closer look at medical insurance and surrogate compensation

packages

MODERATOR:Ron Poole-Dayan / MHB board

PANELISTS: - Diane Hinson, Esq. / Creative Family

Connections- Leia Swanberg / Canadian Fertility

Consulting- Steve Snyder, Esq. / IARC

- Rachelle Myers-Nelson / MHB’s Surrogates Advisory Committee

MEDICAL WORKSHOP I:

Choosing egg donors and creating optimal embryos

MODERATOR:Dr. Georges Sylvestre / MHB board

PANELISTS: - Guy Ringler, M.D. / California Fertility

Partners - Dr. Brandon Bankowski, M.D. /

Oregon Reproductive Medicine

Psychological and social issues during the surrogacy process

MODERATOR:Heather Jacobson, Ph.D., University

of Texas at Arlington

PANELISTS: - Qin Fan, Psy.D. / Clinical Psychologist,

California Pacific Medical Center - Elaine Gordon, Ph.D./ Clinical Psy-

chologist, third party family building

4:30-5:15 pm

EXPERT LEGAL PANEL:

Legal status of surrogacy across the USA and Canada, contracts, securing

parentage rights

MODERATOR:Anthony Brown, Esq. / MHB board

PANELISTS: - Tabitha Lundberg Koh, J.D. / NWSC

- Ellen Trachman, Esq. / Colorado Surrogacy

- Deborah Wald, Esq. / The Wald Law Group

- Alex MacNab LLB, / Moe Hannah

MEDICAL WORKSHOP II:

choosing an optimal surrogate and making crucial decisions during

the IVF process

MODERATOR:Dr. Georges Sylvestre / MHB board

PANELISTS: - Susanna Park, M.D. / San Diego

Fertility Center- Dr. Mousa Shamonki, M.D. / Fertility

& Surgical Associates of CA

LIFE AFTER BIRTH

Resources and Family Support Services with Our Family Coalition

FACILITATOR:Polly Pagenhart, Our Family Coalition

Gay parenting expo / networking reception: 5:15–6:00 PM (Crystal Lounge, 11th Floor)Prospective parents, parents (&children!), psychologists, social workers, students, researchers and other professionals are invited to network and exchange perspectives over refreshments. Our Surrogacy Expo will run in parallel.

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BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Time10th Floor:

Commandants Room10th Floor:

Regimental Room10th Floor:

Heritage Room11th Floor:

Crystal Lounge

1:30-1:482 minute break to

Switch Rooms Dr. Susanna Park and Dr. Said Daneshmand Leia Swanberg Dr. Brandon Bankowski Victoria Ferrara, Esq.

1:50-2:082 minute break to

Switch Rooms Dr. Susanna Park and Dr. Said Daneshmand Nici Shipway Dr. Brandon Bankowski Steven Snyder, Esq.

2:10-2:282 minute break to

Switch Rooms Dr. Guy RinglerDiane Hinson, Esq. Dr. Vicken Sahakian

Donna Raidy

2:30-2:482 minute break to

Switch Rooms Dr. Guy Ringler Dr. Carl HerbertJennifer White

Cora Jenson

2:50-3:082 minute break to

Switch Rooms Dr. Mousa Shamonki John Chally, JD Brad Spencer

Christina Thursby

3:10-3:30Amy Kaplan John Chally, JD Dr. Peter Uzelac Carly Gonzalez

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COLLABORATING ORGANIZATIONSABOUT OUR FAMILY COALITION

Our Family Coalition promotes the equality and well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer families with children. We foster leadership in advocacy efforts that promote social justice to ensure that all the families in our community are respected and loved. The organization provides a variety of vehicles for LGBTQ families with children to engage effectively in public education and advocacy efforts that challenge the bias and discrimination that affect them. We aim to reach a diverse grassroots base of LGBTQ families where they are and engage them in challenging the many societal barriers they face.

www.ourfamily.org

ABOUT GAY FUTURE DADS

Gay Future Dads was formed in 2004 by a group of single gay men in the Castro area of San Francisco who were interested in learning about becoming parents and who wanted to find new and different ways to meet other guys who wanted to become parents. Since that time Gay Future Dads has grown into a unique social group and support network of more than 100 members who get together at casual events in members’ homes, local cafes and at special events like the SF LGBT Film Festival and SF Gay Pride Celebration. We have gone on to make good friends, form coupled relationships and have children through co-parenting, adoption and surrogacy arrangements.

www.gayfuturedads.org

ABOUT THE FAMILY EQUALITY COUNCIL:

Family Equality Council is the national expert on LGBTQ parents and their families. We promote lived and legal equality for these three million parents and their six million children. We foster supportive communities, educate the public, and pursue policy change to advance equality for LGBTQ-headed families across the United States. Current legal and cultural structures hurt LGBTQ parents and their children. Through our commitment and expertise, we are the national organization advancing an inclusive family agenda within and beyond the LGBTQ movement. Family Equality Council is committed to a future in which families with parents who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer are legally recognized, valued by society, and afforded equal opportunity to thrive.

www.familyequality.org

ABOUT SACRED SURROGACY

Sacred Surrogacy is a personal soul calling and a way to walk this path in a deep and mindful way. It has manifested itself into a support network, in person retreats and guidance for Surrogates, Donors, and Intended Parents. The programs help people moving through the process in a way that allows them to connect with themselves and with this very special journey. During this process various topics pertinent to surrogacy/donation will be explored, and participants will be encouraged to embrace this beautiful journey they’re on. Surrogacy is a true journey of self, and can be such a blessing to your life in so many ways.

www.sacredsurrogacy.com

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PANELISTS:Brandon J. Bankowski, MD, MPHDr. Bankowski is one of the most-respected and experienced physicians helping LGBTQ intended parents build their families through donor egg surrogacy in the USA. He is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist with extensive experience in IVF, egg donation, surrogacy and genomics. He has practiced at Oregon Reproductive Medicine (ORM) since 2005. He and his partners at ORM have helped LGBTQ intended parents from across the world build their families. Dr. Bankowski is passionate about providing ORM’s patients the best care and the highest chance for success on their first attempt, while looking after the genetic health of their family. His vision lead to the formation of ORM Genomics, ORM’s industry-leading reproductive genomics program and in-house genetics laboratory, as well as the integration of advanced genetic screening of all donors in the ORM Donors program. He is committed to helping LGBTQ intended parents using donor egg surrogacy benefit from the latest advances in genetic screening to help them have the best chance of a healthy baby on their first attempt.

Qin Fan, Psy.D.Qin Fan is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in San Francisco and an adjunct instructor in the Department of Psychiatry at California Pacific Medical Center. She received her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Argosy University San Francisco and Masters in French Literature from the University of North Caroline-Chapel Hill. Her doctoral dissertation investigated women’s experience of loss following failed in vitro fertilization attempts. In her practice and teaching, she focuses on reproductive mental health, specifically on the third party reproduction. A member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and Gaylesta of San Francisco, she supports the family building efforts of all individuals and has extensive experience working with LGBTQ community.

Elaine R. Gordon, Ph.D. Elaine Gordon is a Clinical Psychologist with a specialty in infertility, child development, adoption, reproductive medicine, and third party family building. Besides her role as a therapist and group facilitator working with patients struggling with infertility related issues, she lectures on various topics surrounding the psychological and ethical issues of contemporary family building. Dr. Gordon is the author of “Mommy, Did I Grow in Your Tummy? Where Many Babies Come From, a children’s book dedicated to explaining a child’s unique reproductive beginnings whether it be IVF, egg donation, sperm donation, surrogacy or adoption. Dr. Gordon is well versed in both the medical and psychological aspects of reproductive medicine utilizing third parties. Her involvement in egg donation and surrogacy programs has stimulated an interest in the issues surrounding secrecy and disclosure in third party parenting. Related to the disclosure/nondisclosure issue is the need to assess the advantages and disadvantages of open versus closed donation policies. She lectures on disclosure policies and how you talk to children about non-traditional family building with the focus being the best interest of the child.

Diane S. Hinson, Esq.Diane Hinson, a cum laude graduate of Harvard Law School, founded Creative Family Connections LLC on the principle that “everyone can build a family.” After starting her own family as a single mother, Diane built a full-service surrogacy agency and reproductive rights law firm that is consistently one of the highest-ranked agencies in the world. Clients from across the country and around the world choose CFC for the compassionate care and legal expertise that Diane and her team provide. Because of her passion for family equality, Diane has fought to obtain landmark court rulings for same-sex parents. She has opened doors to IVF clinics for gay fathers, drafted and advocated for gay-friendly surrogacy legislation, served as HRC’s pro-bono counsel for surrogacy issues, spoken frequently about surrogacy, and provided surrogacy advice on the well-known Surromoms.com website. She has also collaborated with fellow surrogacy attorneys to develop an in-depth 50-state surrogacy law analysis, which is widely relied upon in the surrogacy world and cited in the media.

Heather Jacobson, Ph.D.Heather Jacobson is Associate Professor of Sociology at the University of Texas at Arlington where she directs the Master’s in Sociology Program and teaches courses on families, reproduction, and qualitative research methods. She is also an affiliated faculty member of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program. She holds a PhD in Sociology from Brandeis University and an MPhil in Women’s Studies from Trinity College Dublin. She is a family sociologist whose research centers primarily on various routes to family formation. She is the author of Labor of Love: Gestational Surrogacy and the Work of Making Babies, published by Rutgers University Press in 2016, and Culture Keeping: White Mothers, International Adoption, and the Negotiation of Family Difference, published by Vanderbilt University Press in 2008. Her work has been featured on the National Public Radio program Think and in The Boston Globe, Contexts, Brain Child Magazine and the radio program Creating a Family: Talk about Adoption and Infertility. She serves on the editorial board of the journal Adoption Quarterly.

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Tabitha Lundberg Koh, J.D.Tabitha is the Director of Legal Services at Northwest Surrogacy Center, LLC. A graduate of the University of California Berkeley Law School and an attorney since 2007, her practice areas include adoption, surrogacy, and assisted reproductive technology, as well as estate planning and probate. She is licensed to practice law in California, Oregon, and Washington. Tabitha is a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys , Oregon Women Lawyers (OWLS), and the Oregon Gay and Lesbian Law Association.

Alex MacNab, LLBAlex MacNab has extensive training and experience in interest- based negotiation, mediation and arbitration. He offers creative solutions for clients in a way that best fits their needs whether that be through lawyer-assisted negotiation, mediation or arbitration, with litigation as the method of last resort. He also specializes in reproductive law and is well-known for helping families with third party assisted reproductive techniques including donor egg, donor sperm, traditional and gestational surrogacy, as well as adoption. Alex’s legal career began in 2004 in Newfoundland and Labrador where he practiced with the Legal Aid Commission in Labrador. Alex gained experience in the areas of criminal defense and family law, appearing regularly in both the Provincial and Supreme Courts. Alex’s educational background includes a Law Degree from Dalhousie University Law School, and a BA from Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.

Susanna Park, M.D.World renowned for her fertility expertise, IVF success and excellence in medical care, Dr. Susanna Park has practiced as an infertility physician for the past 15 years. Dr. Park joined the San Diego Fertility Center in 2012 following her tenure at Columbia University in New York City. Her passion is to combine her extensive experience as an infertility physician with individualized care and compassion. Dr. Park is double board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. She graduated summa cum laude from Siena College and obtained her medical degree at Albany Medical College. Dr. Park completed her residency and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Park has developed a large international referral practice due to her excellent patient rapport and high success rates with a variety of treatments including IVF, donor eggs, egg freezing and gestational surrogacy. Dr. Park works closely with the leading surrogacy agencies to assist the LGBT community build families.

Guy Ringler, M.D.In clinical practice for over twenty years, Dr. Guy Ringler has developed a large international referral practice due to his excellent patient rapport and expertise in IVF, surrogacy, and gay family building. As one of the world’s first fertility doctors to help gay men become fathers through egg donation and surrogacy, Dr. Ringler has been recognized by the American Fertility Association (AFA) with an Achievement Award. He regularly lends his voice to the public conversation about gay family-building as a spokesperson for GLAAD and a contributor to the Huffington Post. Dr. Ringler has worked closely with the AFA to increase public awareness of fertility options for people with HIV, and he has helped many HIV-positive people have children through assisted reproduction. Dr. Ringler is on the advisory board of Men Having Babies and lives in Los Angeles with his husband, Mark Rios.

Mousa Shamonki, M.D.Dr. Shamonki is board certified in reproductive endocrinology and obstetrics and gynecology, and serves as Associate Clinical Professor at UCLA. He received his medical degree and OB/GYN residency at the University of Vermont. He completed his reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship at Cornell University, considered by many in the field as the premier fellowship in the country. After fellowship, Dr. Shamonki spent one year perfecting his skills at Reproductive Medicine Associates of New Jersey, where he performed thousands of ultrasounds and procedures, providing him unique and high-volume training thereby giving him experience rivaling any clinician in the country. In 2006 Dr. Shamonki joined his alma mater UCLA and, as Director of In-Vitro Fertilization and Assisted Reproduction, quickly developed the IVF Program at UCLA into a center of excellence. He has published numerous papers and has won several awards, including the Carbee Award for excellence in OB/GYN, the Patients’ Choice Award and America’s Top Doctors Award.

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Nici Shipway After years in the birth community Nici Shipway chose a path of a Birth Doula, supporting women throughout their pregnancy, birth and postpartum. After Leia Swanberg began development of the Sacred Surrogacy Program she selected Nici Shipway to be its curator. Since then the single stream program has developed into a three part company providing support, guidance and programming for Surrogates, Egg Donors and Intended Parents from any agency, anywhere in the world. Sacred Programs for Surrogates, Egg Donors and Intended Parents are meant to be used as tools to honor each participant along each of their journeys. We encourage each participant to create an open relationship with Nici as she will be able to help guide you along your beautiful journey with grace, reverence and thankfulness. For further information on the programs please go to www.sacredsurrogacy.com or contact Nici directly at nici@sacredsurrogacy.com.

Steven H. Snyder, Esq.Steven H. Snyder, Esq., is the founding and principal partner of Steven H. Snyder & Associates in Maple Grove, Minnesota. He is also the Director of the International Assisted Reproduction Center, a U.S. surrogacy and egg donation matching agency. Mr. Snyder is an active leader in numerous professional organizations, including RESOLVE, the American Fertility Association, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, and the American Bar Association Assisted Reproductive Technology Committee. Mr. Snyder is an expert and a frequent national and international speaker on assisted reproductive technology topics.

Leia SwanbergLeia’s passion for alternative family building began at age sixteen, when she was a birth mother to a daughter placed in an open adoption. Since then, she has had four children of her own – ages 20,12, 2 and a new baby. She has been a gestational surrogate twice and an egg donor several times. Leia’s approach to surrogacy is simple – taking a holistic approach to ensure that all parties are supported, encouraged and protected. She has made great industry connections and working partnerships with professionals worldwide to ensure that she can help to develop the fertility plan that best suits your needs. Having owned Canadian Fertility Consulting since 2007, she has had the opportunity to help hundreds of couples become parents. Leia’s previous experience as a small business owner and background in management and small business development has helped her grow CFC into Canada’s foremost surrogacy consulting service. Leia and CFC have been featured many times in Canadian media, including Canada AM and The National Post, helping to depict third-party reproduction as a tangible and approachable subject in the country.

Ellen Trachman, Esq.Ellen is an attorney who left corporate law years ago to make a difference in people’s lives. She founded Trachman Law Center, LLC, specializing in family formation law, and loves representing men and women who are building their families through assisted reproductive technology. The creation of Colorado Surrogacy was the natural next step in the evolution of Ellen’s commitment to growing families through surrogacy. She can’t imagine more rewarding, meaningful and enjoyable work. Ellen is affiliated with several professional associations devoted to family formation and was named Entrepreneurial Woman of the Year in 2015 by the Denver Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. Originally from northern New Mexico, Ellen did her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and earned her law degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Ellen has four children and loves living in colorful Colorado.

Deborah Wald, Esq.Deborah Wald is the founder and managing partner of The Wald Law Group, a full-service family law firm in San Francisco. She focuses her practice on adoption, assisted reproduction, parentage and custody litigation. She has been practicing assisted reproduction law for over a decade, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys as well as the Academy of California Family Formation Lawyers. She also teaches at the University of San Francisco School of Law. Ms. Wald is standing Chair of the National Family Law Advisory Council of the National Center for Lesbian Rights and an active member of the Family Law Institute of the National LGBT Bar Association. She and her partner have raised two sons, both now in college. There is no part of her work she enjoys more than assisting other members of the LGBT community with fulfilling their dreams of becoming parents.

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MHB SPEAKERS:Anthony M. Brown, Esq., Board ChairmanAnthony currently is a senior associate at the law firm of Chianese and Reilly Law, P.C., heading their family and estates law division serving married and unmarried individuals, couples and families. Anthony is the Executive Director of The Wedding Party and has been a Board member since its inception in 1999. Anthony is the founder of TimeForFamilies.com, a web environment dedicated to assisting gay and lesbian couples create their own families. Anthony has worked as a law guardian at The Children’s Law Center, representing the legal needs of children in Brooklyn Family Court. Anthony also worked as a legal intern for Lambda Legal in the summer of 2002. Anthony was appointed as a board member and Secretary of the board of Men Having Babies upon its incorporation in July 2012 and has served as Board Chairman since 2013.

A.J. Edge, Director of Operations & FinanceA.J. began working with Men Having Babies in October 2013 in conjunction with the launch of the Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP). His day-to-day responsibilities include conference production and logistics, managing GPAP including Stage II matching and case management, finance, and budgeting. His past professional experience includes working for an array of not-for-profit organizations including a Children’s Museum, an Opera company, and a Zoo. A.J. graduated summa cum laude from Walden University with a BS in business administration and completed his MBA also from Walden University in August 2016. Originally from Des Moines, Iowa, he now resides in North New Jersey with his husband, Daniel, a veterinarian who works within the animal health industry for a large pharmaceutical company. Together they have two boys through adoption, Jackson and Peyton.

Rachelle Myers-Nelson, Surrogates Advisory committee memberRachelle and her husband have one son who is 7 years old. Rachelle is a surrogate mother who has completed two journeys for two different gay couples from Italy. She delivered a singleton boy in April 2013 and twin boys in March 2015. She loves sharing about her relationship with the intended parents, minimizing the use of injectable medications, the support she received from her husband, friendships lost and gained, and really anything surrogacy related. Rachelle has served as an advocate and public speaker on matters including surrogacy, gay marriage and gay parenting, and in 2016 gave several media interviews to Italian and Belgian media on these subjects.

Ron Poole-Dayan, Board Member / Executive DirectorRon is the executive director and founding board member of Men Having Babies. He has over 20 years of experience in marketing and business strategy development both in the USA and internationally. Ron earned his Masters degree in political economy and comparative politics from Columbia University, and his bachelor’s degree in business administration from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. Ron is married to Greg Poole-Dayan, the Administrator of the Jewish Home Lifecare Nursing Home in the Bronx. The couple met in 1994, and are among of the first same-sex couples in the nation to father children through gestational surrogacy. The twins, born in 2001, were conceived with the use of eggs donated by Greg’s sister, and carried by a gestational carrier. Ron has been the MHB program coordinator since 2005, and was appointed as the Executive Director of Men Having Babies upon its in corporation in July 2012.

Georges Sylvestre, M.D., Board MemberGeorges Sylvestre is an Obstetrician/Gynecologist specialized in High-Risk Pregnancies, currently Chairman of OBGYN at Flushing Hospital Medical Center in Queens. Georges and his husband David Margolis live in Manhattan, and are the proud fathers of Tristan and Noah, born in 2010 and 2013 via gestational surrogacy. Having grown up in France, Canada and Switzerland, the Sylvestre-Margolis boys speak French and English at home, and has traveled extensively across the world, making a point of meeting other LGBT gay couples raising children. Georges’ profession and personal experience give him a unique advantage in understanding the medical, psychological, ethical and financial challenges of the IP/couple –egg donor – Gestational surrogate triad.

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BREAKOUT SESSION SPEAKERS:Said T. Daneshmand, MD, FACOGDr. Said Daneshmand is an internationally recognized fertility specialist with extensive experience in providing third-party reproductive services. Dr. Daneshmand serves on the board of several surrogacy advocacy groups. He has collaborated to develop in vitro fertilization (IVF) protocols to improve pregnancy rates, including PTEC (post-thaw extended culture), which is one of the most successful IVF regimens currently available. These groundbreaking findings were published in the internationally respected medical journal, Fertility and Sterility, where Dr. Daneshmand also served as a reviewer. Dr. Daneshmand completed his fellowship and residency at UCLA. He is specialty board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and sub specialty board certified in Reproductive Endocrinology. Among his achievements, Dr. Daneshmand is the recipient of numerous awards including the Eileen Pike Medical School Valedictorian Award and the PCRS Fellowship and Practicing Physician Research Award. He has served as the President of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society (Iota Chapter) and is a member of the Decherney Society, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology (ESHRE). Dr. Daneshmand speaks French, Spanish and Farsi.

John Chally, J.D. John is one of the Directors and Founders of Northwest Surrogacy Center, LLC. He has over 20 years of experience as a surrogacy attorney, with a focus on securing the legal relationships between intended parents and their children. He also has nearly 40 years of experience practicing in the areas of adoption and adoption litigation. He has a Martindale-Hubbell rating of AV Preeminent, indicating the highest level of professional excellence and ethical standards, and is ranked as a Super Lawyer. He is a member of the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys and the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys. One of the early promoters of open adoption, John is a former member of the State of Oregon Task Force on Adoption Services and the Oregon Law Foundation Adoption Committee. In 1985 he co-founded Open Adoption & Family Services, Inc., one of the largest adoption agencies in the Pacific Northwest. He has published numerous articles and book chapters on adoption and frequently speaks at adoption seminars.

Victoria Ferrara, Esq. Victoria Ferrara is the Founder and Legal Director of Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists, LLC, a successful surrogacy matching agency, through which she has helped many couples and individuals have children. One of her achievements is the landmark decision of Raftopol v. Ramey, 12 A.3d 783 299 Conn. 681 (2011), a Connecticut Supreme Court case that essentially created a new way to establish legal parentage in Connecticut, i.e., by being a party (Intended Parent) to a valid gestational agreement regardless of genetic connection to the child to be born to the gestational surrogate. Attorney Ferrara appears frequently in courts throughout the State of Connecticut for all matters in involving assisted reproduction law, pre-birth orders, and adoptions, including co-parent and step-parent adoption matters. She is a member of the Academy of Assisted Reproductive Law Attorneys, the Family Law Institute, the National Gay and Lesbian Bar Association, the Connecticut Bar Association, and the Greater Bridgeport Bar Association.

Carl Herbert, M.D.Dr. Herbert graduated from the University of Florida as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. He completed both a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology and a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Herbert joined the Vanderbilt teaching faculty upon completion of his fellowship and served as the Director of the Reproductive Endocrinology Division from 1989-90. He is an accomplished clinical researcher and author of numerous articles and chapters for professional medical publications. In 1982 Dr. Herbert was instrumental in the development of one of the first assisted reproductive technology programs in the United States at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He is an internationally recognized fertility specialist who has been performing in-vitro fertilization longer than any other physician in the Bay Area. This experience provides him with a unique perspective as he incorporates the latest developments in reproductive technology into patient care. Dr. Herbert is Board Certified by The American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

Jennifer WhiteJennifer is Co-Director of Colorado Surrogacy. She loves helping people realize their dream of becoming parents and is honored to play a role in this intimate and life-enhancing journey. After earning a bachelor’s degree in Justice and Public Safety from Auburn University Montgomery, Jennifer spent 15 years as a paralegal, most recently in the ART field. She’s also worked in the insurance and medical fields, making her uniquely qualified to help intended parents and their surrogate sort through any bumps in the road. Thanks to a spouse in the Air Force, Jennifer has lived in every region of the country as well as Germany and England—and she’s been to every state in the U.S., with the exception of Alaska. She’s the proud mom of one daughter and two fur-babies. With several half-marathons under her belt, including San Francisco, she’s keen to fulfill a major life goal and run the full 26.2 miles. When you get the chance, ask Jennifer about the playground in Amersham, England, named after her.

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Donna RaidyDonna Raidy is our Vice President of Operations and oversees all operations at Fertility Source Companies. Donna has over 30 years of experience in business management and takes tremendous pride in directing our great team of professional and compassionate staff who all truly understand and appreciate the journey our Intended Parents are on. Donna is a longtime advocate for children’s rights and volunteers as a Court Appointed Special Advocate for children in the dependent care system. Donna’s love for family and children, coupled with her extensive management experience is a unique blend that she brings to Fertility Source Companies and our Intended Parents.

Vicken Sahakian, MDDr. Sahakian is the Medical Director of Pacific Fertility Center-Los Angeles. Founded in 1992, PFCLA was one of the first private IVF clinics in the United States. Dr. Sahakian has established one of the most successive IVF programs in the world using the most advanced technologies available and has performed over 8000 IVF procedures that have resulted in the birth of over 4000 babies all over the world. Dr. Sahakian has special interest in gestational surrogacy and egg donation thus helping the LGBT community to build families. Over the last 25 years, he has performed over 2000 IVF cycles with third party parenting such as egg donation and/or gestational surrogacy. Recent success rate in this subgroup has been so elevated that he has instituted comprehensive financial programs aimed to practically guarantee the birth of a child through IVF. The Unlimited Livebirth financial package allows intended parents to pay a single comprehensive fee to the doctor for unlimited attempts of transfers until a live birth.

Peter Uzelac, MD, FACOGDr. Peter Uzelac is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is a member of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (SREI). He is a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and has established practices in Sonoma County, Napa Valley, San Francisco, and Marin County areas. Graduating first in his medical school class at St. Georges University, he completed a four-year Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Loma Linda University-White Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Uzelac spent the next four years practicing high-risk obstetrics with the University of Southern California Perinatal Group where he developed a concern for how disease states of early pregnancy can have a lasting impact upon offspring. He now brings this one-of-a-kind perspective and unusually holistic approach to caring for his patients in reproductive medicine. Dr. Uzelac was part of one of the first successful IVM (in vito maturation) programs in the United States while completing a three-year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Louisville. He launched his own IVM program at Marin Fertility Center and, in March of 2015, announced the live birth of the first IVM baby born on the West Coast of the United States.

Cora JensonCora Jenson is the founder and President of Modern Family Surrogacy Center, located in San Diego, California. Cora has built a decade old reputation in the Surrogacy and Egg Donation field by first being a successful 4 time Surrogate, delivering a set of twins, three separate singletons, being an Egg Donor, and then ultimately founding Modern Family Surrogacy Center. Cora takes pride in operating an agency that gives personalized service to each and every Surrogate, Egg Donor, and Intended parent. Surrogacy is her passion and having been through the process personally several times she believes that making the best possible match between all parties concerned ultimately makes for the best possible journey for all.

Brad SpencerBrad Spencer is co-owner and co-founder of Same Love Surrogacy, a full service gay owned and operated egg donor and surrogacy agency based in West Hollywood, CA. Brad partnered with close friends Jay Cook and Danny Wong for the inspiration of Same Love Surrogacy – the personal experience of three gay dads who created their families via surrogacy and egg donation. What all this personal experience taught us is that more and more LGBTQ individuals are seeking to become parents via assisted reproductive technology, and we want to assist intending parents through their journey to parenthood will giving back to the LGBTQ community. Brad was born, raised and resides with his husband and two twin boys in Los Angeles, California. He has worked as a successful investment professional for nearly 20 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business and Finance from California State University Northridge (CSUN). Brad’s hobbies include tennis, golf, travel, and spending time with his family. Brad is also an active supporter and volunteer for The Trevor Project, a national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing suicide among LGBTQ youth.

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Amy Stewart KaplanAmy Stewart Kaplan, President/Founder of West Coast Surrogacy, began her career in reproductive medicine in 1990, and has since devoted her life to the field. Amy got her start at a Southern California IVF center. It was there she began to realize her passion for reproductive technology, as well as a desire to assist others in this worthy pursuit. Amy then donated her eggs for two couples, resulting in the births of three children. After giving birth to her second child, Amy chose to leave her management position to be a stay-at-home mom. However, she soon resumed her career as a consultant for a surrogate/egg donor agency, working closely with intended parents, donors and surrogates. Years later Amy realized a longtime desire to become a surrogate mother. Amy calls the experience as a surrogate “life altering” and an event that “had a profound impact on who (she is) today.” Her participation as a gestational surrogate gives her a unique insight into the surrogate mother process that is appreciated by carriers and intended parents alike.

Christina ThursbySome search a lifetime to find their passion. It’s a calling that changes not only their world but ultimately brings joy to others. The result is personal happiness. Christina Thursby, found her calling. She has made dreams come true for five families by becoming a surrogate. With her personal and professional experience, Christina continues to help others from all over the world complete their family as Co-Owner of It’s Time Surrogacy. No matter what you’ve faced, or familial obstacles you’ve attempted to overcome, having a family is one goal Christina wants to help you achieve. Whether you are a parent, a surrogate, or an ITS agency partner, you’ll find Christina to be devoted, sincere, compassionate and knowledgeable.

Carly GonzalezCarly is a wife to Jose and mother of 2 beautiful children. Lily (10) and Jacob (8) are her very world and the joy and love they have brought her and her husband has been amazing! Carly and Jose decided after her son was a year old, that their family was complete. Carly loved being pregnant and decided that she would love to help someone else have their own child, so she looked into becoming a gestational carrier. Carly has been a Gestational Surrogate, blessing 3 different families with their children. She has had 2 sets of twins, and 2 singleton surrogate pregnancies. The families she has blessed are forever grateful and have a wonderful relationship with her. Carly started working in 2012 for other surrogate agencies. Learning how to navigate the ins and outs of the process and developing relationships with other professionals in the industry. Once she felt comfortable to branch off on her own, she opened Baby Bump Journeys, and with the help of the professionals she works with, has been able to match wonderful couples with the best surrogate candidate for them.

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SPONSORS DIRECTORYSAN DIEGO FERTILITY CENTERSan Diego Fertility Center physicians: Dr. Susanna Park, Dr. Michael Kettel, Dr. Sandy Chuan, and Dr. Brooke Friedman, proudly announce the welcome addition of Dr. Said Daneshmand! San Diego Fertility Center is one of the most highly respected and well-established fertility centers worldwide, serving a diverse patient population with compassion, respect and confidentiality. With more than 60 years of collective experience diagnosing and treating infertility, San Diego Fertility Center is proud to offer the LGBT community solutions in achieving parenthood through egg donation, surrogacy, IVF and Intrauterine Inseminations. San Diego Fertility Center consistently maintains some of the highest live birth rates for Egg Donor IVF worldwide! San Diego Fertility Center experiences clinical pregnancy rates of 70% - 80%. Additionally, San Diego Fertility Center partners with national and international surrogate agencies to help Intended Parents successfully build their families. Unlike other egg donor agencies, San Diego Fertility Center’s in-house Egg Donor Program is supervised by nationally recognized fertility specialists. Egg Donor IVF recipients have the option of selecting an in- house candidate or utilizing an agency egg donor. The opportunity for “known donation” and “future contact” is also possible. San Diego Fertility Center has a Success Guarantee financial program which offers hope, confidence and peace of mind that you have chosen the right team to build your family!

www.sdfertility.com

CANADIAN FERTILITY CONSULTING

Canadian Fertility Consultants is Canada’s leading full service fertility consulting firm. We know that fertility challenges go beyond borders, time zones and language; fertility affects us all no matter where we are located. CFC has the knowledge, global reach and capacity to assist you at anytime, anywhere in the world. Our goal is to support and guide clients through the entire process of building a family. We have fostered relationships with leading fertility professionals around the world in order to provide the best team. We work closely with clients to develop a plan that is tailored to their individual needs and one that offers the best chance of success, including access to your embryos from your preferred clinic. CFC utilizes knowledge from our legal team to make certain each plan is carried out respecting the current legal framework both within Canada and abroad. We want to ensure this already difficult journey progresses as smoothly, respectfully and as stress-free as possible.

www.fertilityconsultants.ca

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OREGON REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE

Love is Family. Oregon Reproductive Medicine (ORM) is one of the world’s leading IVF clinics for donor egg surrogacy. For over 25 years we have been helping LGBTQ intended parents from 40 countries build their families. We are recognized globally for personalized care and consistently achieving among the highest live birth success rates – in recent years a more than 90% live birth rate with more than 70% twins in our donor egg surrogacy program. ORM Donors is our in-house egg donor program. Our locally-based donors are fully and rigorously-screened which minimizes time, risk and cost for intended parents. ORM Surrogacy is our program for intended parents working with a surrogate as part of their family building. ORM is one of the most experienced IVF clinics for surrogacy, with a dedicated team for managing these complex processes and longstanding relationships with the most experienced and respected surrogacy agencies. ORM Genomics is our program for integrating the most advanced reproductive genomics care and screening into every journey. Our team of in-house genetics counselors works with every donor and intended parent. Our goal is to give every intended parent the very best chance for success and a healthy baby on their first attempt.

www.oregonreproductivemedicine.com

CALIFORNIA FERTILITY PARTNERS

California Fertility Partners is credited with helping to make some of the world’s first IVF babies. Our babies are now 30. We have been helping gay men to have children through egg donation and surrogacy for the past two decades. The physicians and scientists at California Fertility Partners have dedicated their careers to helping patients build healthy and happy families. Our physicians are board certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, and have established international reputations for their expertise in IVF, egg donation, surrogacy, and reproductive surgery. They attract patients from around the globe for their expertise in reproductive medicine. In addition to excelling in patient care, our team has made significant research contributions which have advanced the field of reproductive medicine. We believe that the best results can be obtained by providing personalized and individualized care to each of our patients. Each new patient is assigned a specially trained nurse to help provide care during the treatment cycle. All exams and procedures are performed by the patient’s personal physician. We believe this close and attentive care can help bring optimal outcomes.

www.californiafertilitypartners.com

NORTHWEST SURROGACY CENTER

Founded in 1994 by attorneys specializing in surrogacy and adoption, Northwest Surrogacy Center, LLC is the leading and most successful surrogacy program on the West Coast. NWSC is dedicated to helping people of all kinds create the families they have dreamed of by matching intended parents with caring, responsible surrogates. We provide unparalleled service throughout the surrogacy process, from the application process to the birth and beyond. NWSC is consistently ranked one of the best surrogacy agencies overall by the Men Having Babies survey, with lower than average costs and wait times, and higher than average success rates. We work with Oregon Reproductive Medicine (ORM), one of the most successful IVF clinics in the world. In addition to its flagship office in Portland, Oregon, NWSC also has an office in the heart of San Francisco, California.

www.nwsurrogacycenter.com

SIMPLE SURROGACYSimple Surrogacy was founded in 2002 to assist couples and individuals in achieving a family through assisted reproduction. We were founded on one simple principle: to provide our clients with the highest standard of care at an affordable price. We are one of the largest surrogacy and egg donation agencies in the U.S., and are highly regarded in the surrogacy community for our expertise, support and professionalism. Simple Surrogacy has worked with many International Clients on their journey to becoming parents, using our personal attention to detail, prompt response and matching times, and affordable prices. Our counselors, coordinators and owners are all experienced in assisted reproduction, as former surrogates, Intended Parents or Egg Donors. It is our pleasure to offer our clients that insider’s expert knowledge at significantly reduced costs that enable many people to become Parents through Surrogacy.

www.simplesurrogacy.com

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GOLD

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WORLDWIDE SURROGACY SPECIALISTS, LLC

Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists LLC was founded by leading reproductive lawyer, Victoria T. Ferrara. The worldwide team guides and informs diverse and hopeful parents through their surrogacy journeys with compassion, professionalism and the highest ethical standards. Worldwide is dedicated to providing premier service including attentive, individualized representation to all of our clients so that Intended Parents can focus on the joys of having children. Victoria has been practicing law in the area of assisted reproductive technology for over 25 years and she lectures to physicians, potential parents, universities, and lawyers around the world. Victoria has proudly fought for the rights of the GLBTQ community and in 2015, she received the Lambda Legal Award in recognition for her commitment to equality. Victoria also won a historic and landmark court decision in the Connecticut Supreme Court, Raftopol v. Ramie, which was a major beneficial change in surrogacy law. Victoria and her partner, Michelle, of 23 years, are the proud parents of two sons, ages 16 and 21. She is a member of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Lawyers as well as the American Bar Association Family Law/Assisted Reproduction Committee, and she is the author of “Gestational Surrogacy, A Primer”.

www.worldwidesurrogacy.org

IARC

IARC has extensive expertise in surrogacy and egg donation programs based on over 1,000 births to intended parents of all types around the globe. We are proud to offer full-service support with all legal, medical, financial, emotional, and educational aspects of this process while always remaining concerned about the well-being of all parties in the process. You may count on us for thorough education, transparency, and personalized attention. This is not a “one size fits all” process, and we help intended parents to make decisions that are best for their needs. This is an emotional step but also one that is filled with excitement. Joining your family on this journey would be our sincere privilege!

www.fertilityhelp.com

CREATIVE FAMILY CONNECTIONS

Founded in 2001 by Diane Hinson, Creative Family Connections LLC, is a full-service surrogate matching agency and law firm. CFC passionately upholds the principle that “everyone can build a family”—Diane began her own family as a single parent. CFC provides its clients – more than half of which are same-sex couples – with premiere concierge-level support from its caring case managers, as well as expert legal services, all in one integrated entity. The surrogate screening process at CFC is highly rigorous, resulting in the acceptance of only 2% of potential candidates who apply. CFC’s surrogates are not only healthy and clinically pre-approved, but they have a deep desire to help build someone’s family. CFC’s mission is to make every surrogacy journey as happy and stress-free as possible, while also legal and ethical. CFC is honored to be ranked as a top surrogacy company in the world by parents who have completed their surrogacy journey, as compiled by Men Having Babies. Diane and her team collaborated with fellow surrogacy attorneys to develop an in-depth 50-state surrogacy law analysis, at www.surrogacymap.com, which is relied on throughout the surrogacy world and is frequently cited in the media, including the New York Times and CNN.

www.creativefamilyconnections.com

PACIFIC FERTILITY CENTER-SAN FRANCISCO

Pacific Fertility Center’s (PFC) devoted team of physicians is recognized nationally and internationally for their extensive clinical experience, outstanding academic credentials and research contributions, as well as for their success in treating the most challenging fertility cases. Each PFC physician is a Certified Subspecialist in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) with the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Their physicians have held faculty positions at leading research universities. Each physician has actively participated in clinical research to advance the safety and success of infertility treatments. As a group, PFC’s physicians have performed IVF procedures longer than any other program in the Bay Area. Additionally, PFC’s clinical laboratory director is internationally recognized for his decades of work in human embryology. He and his team of extensively trained, certified embryologists are devoted to leading this field in research and new technology.

www.pacificfertilitycenter.com

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FERTILITY & SURGICAL ASSOCIATES OF CALIFORNIA

Fertility & Surgical Associates of California (FSAC) is a progressive team of experts providing state of the art and personalized reproductive care, in a compassionate and intimate environment. FSAC believes that everyone deserves to have the family of their dreams and is dedicated to helping gay, lesbian, and transgender individuals or couples on their journey to parenthood through the services we provide. We are fortunate to have experienced tremendous growth since we opened our doors in 1999. We care for our patients today, the same way we cared for the first patient who walked through our doors - with respect, care, and compassion. Patients throughout the United States and abroad choose FSAC because of our excellent live birth and pregnancy success rates and unparalleled level of medical care.

www.fertilityassociates.com

COLORADO SURROGACY

Colorado Surrogacy is a professional, friendly, Colorado-focused agency committed to growing families through gestational surrogacy. They provide assistance to same-sex couples, and single men and women seeking to start a family through assisted reproductive technology. They screen and select qualified, open-hearted surrogates to help make your dreams of a child come true. Their services support and protect the health and family of the surrogate mother—the cornerstone of this extraordinary journey—and empower, grow and protect the family about to be created. Colorado has one of the most surrogacy-friendly judicial systems in the country. Colorado courts routinely grant intended parents pre-birth parentage orders (PBOs) before the baby is delivered. Your name(s) goes on the birth certificate and there’s no lengthy and expensive adoption. Perhaps most importantly, Colorado does not use gender to dictate who can be a parent.

www.coloradosurro.com

FERTILITY SOURCE COMPANIES

Fertility SOURCE Companies’ mission is to provide individuals who are unable to conceive with the assistance they need to become parents, including matching them with an egg donor, surrogate or both. As one of the largest egg donor and surrogacy agencies operating in the United States, Fertility SOURCE Companies is proud to provide our clientele with the most comprehensive third party reproductive care and coordination. Through its divisions, The Donor SOURCE and The Surrogacy SOURCE, the company’s commitment is to provide the highest degree of compassion, support and guidance to recipients, egg donors and surrogates. Fertility SOURCE Companies is proud to serve our LGBT community. As the world of assisted reproduction continues to advance, LGBT families have the distinct opportunity to pave the way for families empowered by choice that refuse to be limited by conception challenges or biological origin.

www.thesurrogacysource.com

PACIFIC FERTILITY CENTER-LOS ANGELES (PFCLA)

We can trace our roots to the introduction of in-vitro fertilization into mainstream medicine. Pacific Fertility Center-Los Angeles (PFCLA) was founded in 1992 by the team that pioneered the nation’s first private in-vitro fertilization center. Since that time, our physicians have introduced several innovations in the treatment of infertility, and we have been at the vanguard in defining standards of care and accountability. We’re proud to note that thousands of children across the world owe their conception to the treatment their parents received with us. Our mission is to help you have a baby, regardless of your marital status, the ticking of your biological clock or your sexual orientation. We are proud to report that we have completed over a thousand gestational surrogacy cycles and helped hundreds of gay men, women and couples achieve their dream of parenthood.

www.pfcla.com

SILVER

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MODERN FAMILIES SURROGACY CENTER

At Modern Family Surrogacy, we specialize in the creation of families through third-party reproduction. We understand that surrogacy is a process in which you are emotionally and financially invested. You are not alone, we are here to take you by the hand and guide you through each and every step of the process. Our ultimate goal is to see you holding your baby in your arms. We are proud to have guided hundreds of families through the Surrogacy process with over 250 babies being born to date. We are proud to allow you to choose a Surrogate, speak with her, and confirm your match PRIOR to retaining our services or paying a fee. We take great pride in the work we do and love helping fulfill others dreams of becoming parents.

www.modernfamilysurrogacy.com

SAME LOVE SURROGACY

A full service gay owned and operated egg donor and surrogacy agency based in West Hollywood, CA. Owners Brad Spencer, Jay Cook and Danny Wong are the inspiration of Same Love Surrogacy – the personal experience of three gay dads who created their families via surrogacy and egg donation. What all this personal experience taught us is that more and more LGBTQ individuals are seeking to become parents via assisted reproductive technology, and we want to assist intending parents through their journey to parenthood will giving back to the LGBTQ community. That’s where Same Love Surrogacy comes in. The three agency owners wanted to create a surrogacy agency tailored to the unique needs of LGBTQ intended parents. We wanted our agency to offer person-to-person guidance to LGBTQ people embarking on the journey to parenthood, informed by our more than 15 years of cumulative experience with surrogacy and donor services as well as our own perspectives as LGBTQ parents and surrogate to LGBTQ parents.

www.samelovesurrogacy.com

NEW ENGLAND FERTILITY

Dr. Gad Lavy founded New England Fertility in 1991, with the goal of providing state-of-the-art fertility treatment to couples and individuals seeking help conceiving. New England Fertility was the first non-hospital-based outpatient in vitro fertilization (IVF) center in the state of Connecticut, as well as the first infertility treatment center in Connecticut to have a baby born from a cryopreserved egg. New England Fertility was also a pioneer in providing innovative fertility therapies such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), pre-implantation genetic diagnosis (PGD), and egg freezing, and is recognized as one of the largest egg donor/gestational surrogacy programs in Fairfield County, Connecticut.

www.nefertility.com

EMD SERONO

EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is a specialized biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing therapies with groundbreaking potential. At EMD Serono, we recognized the potential of specialty pharmaceuticals and patient care long ago, and have been dedicated to delivering on their promise ever since. We have a legacy of both trying to find solutions to hard to treat conditions, as well as developing patient assistance programs that help ensure that those who need our therapies are able to access them. As one of the top five U.S. companies exclusively focused on specialty care, we see our innovation as a matter of balancing science with emotion – integrating our top minds in research and development with the insights from patients and health care practitioners confronting real- world concerns.

www.emdserono.com

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SAN FRANCISCO EGG BANK

Located in San Francisco’s Marina neighborhood, we are a team of reproductive physicians who offer support to all intended parents by way of egg donation, precision IVF, surrogacy services, and more. Our unconventional approach to IVF is a perfect blend of technology, convenience and the human touch. Dr. Uzelac and Dr. Agard, bring a vast compilation of experience as Reproductive Endocrinologists, offering the highest quality of medical care. Over the past decade, fertility treatments have undergone a series of dramatic advances. We embrace all new technology to improve the patient experience, offering an array of treatment approaches suited to each patient. By offering treatments using less medications, needing fewer office visits, available lower cost options, we personalize fertility care to our patients needs. SF Egg Bank rises above the competition, with programs and affordability providing opportunity for patients to stay in treatment to attain their goal of having a healthy baby.

www.sfeggbank.com

EXTRAORDINARY CONCEPTIONS

Extraordinary Conceptions is an International Egg Donor and Surrogacy Agency founded by Intended Parents, which has been in business for over 10 years. The longevity alone stands out among the rest; in addition to our lengthy involvement in the field we also have an in house Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, Insurance Specialist, Notary Republic, Accounting Department, 9 Gestational Carrier Coordinators, experienced egg donors and surrogates on staff for 24/7 support, 8 languages spoken fluently on premises and access to a Reproductive Law Office at all times. Most importantly we have a Stress Free Policy, which means we do not charge any money to view our database, Nor do we collect an Agency fee until contracts are signed. We are proud that we have successfully helped intended parents from all over the world in creating their families with over 2,000 babies born.

www.extraconceptions.com

WEST COAST SURROGACY AND WEST COAST EGG DONATION

West Coast Surrogacy and West Coast Egg Donation uses a team-oriented approach that provides the highest level of integrity, support, and compassion. It is our pledge to guide you through every step of this life-changing process, acting as both a resource for information and an unparalleled support system for intended parents, surrogate mothers and egg donors. WCS offers a program focused on healthy pregnancy for both surrogate and baby.

www.westcoastsurrogacy.com

ALEX MACNAB, MOE HANNAH LLP

Moe Hannah LLP is a boutique Family and Fertility law firm of eight lawyers which has been serving clients for twenty years in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Our firm’s goal is to ensure that clients will make each decision with their eyes wide open with a clear understanding of the possible consequences of those decisions. Our firm strives to work with clients to determine the approach that best suits their needs and that of their family. We help focus clients on the path to resolving issues in a respectful and transparent way through a variety of options. At Moe Hannah LLP, we draw on our decades of experience and resources to work on your behalf.

www.surrogacylawyercanada.com

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DONOR CONCIERGE

Donor Concierge is a hands-on expert service that helps find the right egg donors and surrogates to match with client families. Our trained case managers have a track record of outstanding results helping families find the right donor/surrogate through the best industry connections. This team of compassionate, highly educated case managers tailors each search to find the best egg donor and surrogate matches to help you create your family. We work closely with more than 100 of the best agencies and fertility professionals and bring a unique insight and understanding of the third party fertility industry world. We are your advocate and friend through this most poignant journey – guiding you and helping you make decisions that will enable you to welcome the child you’ve been waiting for.

www.DonorConcierge.com

THE WALD LAW GROUP

The Wald Law Group is an all-purpose family law firm based in San Francisco. It’s founder, Deborah Wald, has been certified as a Family Law Specialist by the State Bar of California and was named a Northern California Super Lawyer for 2015. While her firm handles all aspects of family law, Ms. Wald’s primary practice areas include Parentage Litigation, Custody, Adoption and Assisted Reproduction Law. Ms. Wald serves as an Advisor to the State Bar of California’s Family Law Executive Committee (FlexCom) and is a fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys (AAARTA), the reproductive law committee of the American Bar Association, and the Academies of California Adoption and Family Formation Lawyers. In addition, she is Chair of the National Family Law Advisory Council for the National Center for Lesbian Rights.

www.waldlaw.net

IT’S TIME SURROGACYIt’s Time Surrogacy is a San Diego based surrogacy agency which is owned and operated by two women who have dedicated their lives to the infertility world. Angela Hartshorn, the founder/Co-Owner of It’s Time Surrogacy has been in the field since 1994 and has a plethora of knowledge. Her enriched clinical experience makes her able to help their clients navigate the fertility process smoothly. Christina Thursby, Co-Owner, has served as a gestational surrogate five times over the last decade. Each journey was unique, brought her immeasurable joy and equipped her with the skills to support everyone along the journey. Their services are geared towards a family approach and they pride themselves on offering impeccable services and support throughout the entire process. With these two on your side your journey will be in capable and caring hands.

www.itstimesurrogacy.com

BABY BUMP JOURNEYSBaby Bump Journeys is a compassionately ran Surrogate Agency. Carly Gonzalez and her team provide personal surrogacy experiences and utilize those experiences to help the future surrogates in their journey. We offer a more personalized touch to each intended parent and surrogate through the entire surrogacy journey. From matching Intended Parents with the best surrogate candidate, attending appointments, and being available to both the intended parent and surrogate when they are in need. We pride ourselves in being very hands on, offering complete support and really getting to know each client and surrogate. Due to our

personal and professional experiences in the field of surrogacy, we feel you will be in the best hands with us. We have excellent relationships with many professionals in the field and hope you will give Baby Bump Journeys a chance to help you.

www.babybumpjourneys.com

OHSU FERTILITY CONSULTANTSAt OHSU Fertility Consultants, patients near and far take advantage of our outstanding services. We are committed to providing the most advanced medical treatments. With twenty years of expertise, we are one of the most established egg donation programs on the West Coast. Couples who want to be parents feel confident choosing us because of our experience and success rates. We have helped couples from the Pacific Northwest, California, other parts of the USA, China and Europe. OHSU is committed to ensuring that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender patients are welcomed, respected and given culturally competent care. OHSU earned top marks in meeting non-discrimination and training criteria that demonstrate its commitment to equitable, inclusive care for LGBT patients, and their families, who can face significant challenges in securing the quality health care and respect they deserve.

www.ohsu.edu/xd/health/services/women/services/fertility/index.cfm

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IVF, SURROGACY, EGG DONATION, GAY FAMILY BUILDINGCalifornia Fertility Partners has been helping men and women

of the LGBT Community to have babies and build happy families for over twenty years.

WE HELPED CREATE SOME OF THE WORLD’S FIRST IVF BABIES

GUY RINGLER, MD11818 WILSHIRE BLVD, STE 300 | LOS ANGELES, CA | 310.828.4008 TEL

WWW.CALIFORNIAFERTILITYPARTNERS.COM

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OregonReproductiveMedicine.com +1 503.274.4994

GROW YOUR FAMILYwith the EXPERTS

IVF | EGG DONORS | SURROGACY | REPRODUCTIVE GENOMICS

OUR MISSION

CT Fertility strives to provide all patients every available option for building their family. For the last 25 years we have been a leader in fertility, and have been widely recognized throughout Europe and the U.S. as a preeminent fertility center for advanced reproductive care of infertile couples, singles and same-sex couples. We take great pride in partnering with, guiding and empowering our patients to achieve their unique family building goals.

OUR LOCATIONS

Based in a brand-new facility in beautiful Trumbull, CT, just 90 minutes north of New York City, CT Fertility also has offices in Manhattan. And we are thrilled to announce our expansion into Europe with a new office in Barcelona, Spain. By expanding our capacity and presence, we hope to bring new family building options to patients around the world.

OUR PHYSICIANS

To accommodate our growing patient demand, we are pleased to welcome two leaders in the field of Reproductive Medicine to our team.

HELPING YOU ACHIEVE YOUR FAMILY BUILDING DREAMS

SINCE 1991 WE HAVE HELPED OVER 5,000 FAMILIES

DR. MELVIN THORNTON IIACTING MEDICAL DIRECTOR

& DIRECTOR OF THE EGG DONOR PROGRAM

Dr. Thornton’s expertise in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility combined with his warm nature ensures that each of his patients feels cared for and supported throughout their experience. He places an emphasis on individualized care and focuses on helping each patient determine the path that is right for them as they go through the journey of creating their family.

Dr. Thornton’s experience includes 15 years as the Medical Director of the Columbia University IVF program and nine years as Director of their donor egg program. He is passionate about helping patients realize their dreams of family through egg donation and his personalized approach enables him to provide the best care possible for his patients.

DR. JOAO DE PINHOLEAD PHYSICIAN

Dr. De Pinho was born in Portuguese and speaks Spanish, Portuguese, French and English, as well as some German and Italian. After graduating from Baylor College of Medicine, he went on to complete an advanced fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Columbia University in New York City where he participated in multiple research projects and authored numerous publications in Obstetrics, Oncologic Gynecology, Urogynecology and Reproductive Medicine. Additionally, he authored original works in the areas of infertility, ethics of egg donor programs, HIV and reproduction and the development of new egg freezing techniques.

CT Fertility - Connecticut100 Technology Drive, Suite 210Trumbull, CT 06611+1 203-373-1200 (Telephone)+1 203-365-6516 (Fax)www.ctfertility.com

CT Fertility - Manhattan110 East 55th Street, 9th FloorNew York, NY 10022+1 212-754-1200 (Telephone)+1 212-754-1200 (Fax)www.ctfertility.com

CT Fertility - EuropeRonda de la Universitat, 9 - 6 08007 Barcelona, Spain+34 931-591-113www.ctfertility.com

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2017

EVENTSTEL AVIV, ISRAEL

March 2-3, 2017—Beautiful Israel / Yarkon Park

CHICAGOApril 8-9, 2017—Center on Halsted

DALLASJune 10-11, 2017—

Wyndham Dallas Suites Park Central

BrusselsSeptember 23-24, 2017—Hilton Brussels Grand Place

New YorkNovember 12, 2017—JCC Manhattan, not final

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FROM THE SURROGACY ADVISOR PEER RATINGS DIRECTORYfrom www.menhavingbabies.org/ratings as of 12/24/16

Overall Score

# of Reviews

Average Journey Cost

Average Journey Length

(months)

Web Site

USA SURROGACY AGENCIES WITH 10+ REVIEWSGolden Surrogacy 9.91 11 $126,000 17 www.goldensurrogacy.comCreative Family Connections 9.63 48 $134,000 19 www.creativefamilyconnections.comAll Families Surrogacy 9.6 10 $138,000 16 www.allfamiliessurrogacy.comNW Surrogacy 9.24 46 $115,000 18 www.nwsurrogacycenter.comIARC 9.17 29 $108,000 23 www.fertilityhelp.com/Worldwide Surrogacy Specialists 9.08 40 $125,000 18 www.assistedreproductionlaw.comFertility Miracles 8.91 22 $125,000 17 www.fertilitymiracles.comARTParenting 8.91 23 $97,000 20 www.artparenting.comThe Surrogacy Source 8.8 10 $113,000 15 www.thesurrogacysource.comSimple Surrogacy 8.71 52 $96,000 18 www.simplesurrogacy.comSurrogate Alternatives (SAI) 8.65 20 $125,000 23 www.surrogatealternatives.comCircle Surrogacy 8.14 121 $131,000 19 www.circlesurrogacy.comFamily Source Consultants 8.03 31 $96,000 20 www.familysourcesurrogacy.comGrowing Generations 7.58 19 $166,000 21 www.growinggenerations.comExtraordinary Conceptions 7.55 20 $138,000 18 www.extraconceptions.comReproductive Possibilities 7.15 26 $126,000 21 www.reproductivepossibilities.comCenter for Surrogate Parenting (CSP) 6.45 11 $129,000 20 www.creatingfamilies.com

USA SURROGACY AGENCIES WITH LESS THAN 10 REVIEWSSurro Connections 9.60 5 $116,000 14 www.surroconnections.comSame Love Surrogacy 9.33 3 $127,000 16 www.samelovesurrogacy.comCanadian Surrogacy Options 9.00 5 $84,000 22 www.canadiansurrogacyoptions.comLotus Blossom Consulting 9.00 5 $128,000 23 www.LotusBlossomConsulting.comConceiveAbilities 8.67 6 $110,000 18 www.conceiveabilities.com

SURROGACY OUTSIDE THE USATammuz 9.31 35 $73,000 16 www.tammuz.comLotus Surrogacy 9.30 27 $68,000 14 www.lotussurrogacy.comViva Family 9.25 8 $71,000 20 www.viva-family.com

IVF CLINICS Overall Score

# of Reviews First cycle success Web Site

CLINICS WITH 10+ REVIEWSVirginia Center for Reproductive Medicine 9.8 33 74% www.vcrmed.comCalifornia Fertility Partners 9.7 13 77% www.californiafertilitypartners.comCT Fertility 9.3 161 76% www.ctfertility.comFertility center of Las Vegas 9.3 33 84% www.fertilitycenterlv.comFertility & Surgical Associates of CA 9.3 11 82% www.fertilityassociates.comFort Worth Fertility 9.2 22 65% www.fwivf.comLa Jolla IVF 9.2 23 83% www.lajollaivf.comShady Grove Fertility Center 9.2 18 65% www.shadygrovefertility.comOregon Reproductive Medicine 9 60 88% www.oregonreproductivemedicine.comFertility Center of IL (FCI) 9 31 73% fcionline.comRMA NJ 8.8 16 67% www.rmanj.comHRC Fertilty 8.5 17 75% www.havingbabies.comPacific Fertility Center (PFCLA) 8.2 29 54% www.pfcla.com.New England Fertility (NEF) 7.2 14 50% www.nefertility.com

CLINICS WITH LESS THAN 10 REVIEWSaParent IVF 10 6 100% www.aparentivf.comReproMed 9.6 5 60% www.repromed.caSan Diego Fertility Center (SDFC) 9.6 7 100% www.sdfertility.comFertility Specialists of Texas 9.4 7 100% www.fertilitytexas.comReproductive Medicine Associates of CT (RMACT) 9.4 7 71% www.rmact.comOregon Health & Science U. (OHSU) 9.2 5 75% www.ohsu.eduCenter for Assisted Reproduction (CARE Fertility) 9.1 7 86% www.embryo.netCardone Reproductive 7.3 4 25% www.cardonerepromed.comMarkham (Canada) 5.9 7 43% www.markhamfertility.com

ABOUT MEN HAVING BABIESWith over 4,500 future and current gay parents worldwide, the international nonprofit Men Having Babies (MHB) is dedicated to providing its members with educational and financial support. Each year over a thousand attendees benefit from unbiased guidance and access to a wide range of relevant service providers at its monthly workshops in NYC and conferences in NYC, Chicago, Brussels, San Francisco, Dallas and Tel Aviv. The organization’s Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP) provides dozens of couples annually with over a million dollars worth of cash grants, discounts and free services from over fifty leading service providers. Collaborating with an advisory board made up of surrogates, MHB developed a Framework for Ethical Surrogacy, which has received endorsements from leading LGBT parenting organizations worldwide. In addition, MHB offers extensive online resources, a directory with ratings and reviews of agencies and clinics, a Surrogacy Speakers Bureau, and a vibrant online community forum.

SURROGACY WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES

MHB offers monthly workshops in NYC, as well as annual conferences in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Dallas, Tel Aviv and Brussels. These conferences, which are organized with the help of prominent LGBT parenting organizations, provide unparalleled opportunities to get unbiased information, access a wide range of relevant service providers, and connect with others going through the surrogacy process. Special interest panels for parents, prospects and professionals include topics such as parenting for HIV+ men, speaking to your children about surrogacy and gay parenting, testimonies from teenagers born via surrogacy, and ethical considerations in surrogacy.

THE GAY PARENTING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (GPAP)

The Gay Parenting Assistance Program (GPAP) was created as part of our mission to make surrogacy services more affordable for gay men. GPAP annually provides dozens of couples with access to substantial discounts and about $750,000 in cash grants and free services from about fifty leading service providers. Funds for this program come from event sponsorship fees and direct donations. Applications for discounts (Stage I) are accepted on a rolling basis, and candidates for grants (Stage II) are evaluated annually.

THE SURROGACY ADVISOR DIRECTORY

In an effort to promote transparency and affordability, MHB conducts extensive surveys of hundreds of surrogacy clients. Using the data we receive, we compile exclusive rating tables with satisfaction levels for various agencies and clinics, as well as success rates, and real cost figures. This information has already helped many prospective parents save thousands of dollars by identifying affordable, effective providers. The directory includes a comprehensive listing of over 100 providers from the USA and beyond with contact information, descriptions of services, video introductions, and reviews. A universal consultation request form allows our members to contact dozens of providers in one step.

ADVOCACY AND RESEARCH

Together with our Surrogates Advisory Committee and community partners worldwide, MHB works to promote a Framework for Ethical Surrogacy that benefit all parties involved. We also work to raise awareness about surrogacy by assisting academic studies, maintaining the MHB Surrogacy Forum on Facebook for dads and surrogates, and setting up the first ever Surrogacy Speakers Bureau.