Dr. Michael M. Alper
Boston IVF Medical Director & Reproductive Endocrinologist
Dr. Alper co-founded Boston IVF in 1986. Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, he received his medical degree from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. He fullfilled his residency at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston, where he also completed his fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. In addition, he completed two years of post-graduate research at the University of Ottawa in Canada.
Dr. Alper is an Associate Clinical Professor at Harvard Medical School. His interest of in vitro fertilization has led him to be involved in many research studies sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). He has written numerous articles, abstracts, letters and books---and has lectured at many scientific meetings throughout the world.
His focus of research has been to maintain the highest quality of treatment in IVF and in other areas of clinical and scientific research (such as egg freezing and fertility diagnostics).
In his spare time Dr. Alper enjoys aviation, new technologies and most importantly, travelling with his wife and two young boys.
Dr. Alper sees patients at the Waltham and Worcester Centers, Bangor, ME, Scarborough, ME and Nantucket
Dr. Steven R. Bayer
Reproductive Endocrinologis
Dr. Bayer -- who joined Boston IVF in 1998 -- is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology & Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. Bayer received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Ohio State University and completed his residency training at Mt. Carmel Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He then completed his research fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Beth Israel Hospital and the Harvard Medical School in Boston.
Prior to coming to Boston IVF, Dr. Bayer was Director of the In Vitro Fertilization program at New England Medical Center and was an Assistant Clinical Professor at the Tufts Medical School. He then moved on to the Boston Regional Center for Reproductive Medicine in Stoneham, MA where he served as Medical Director.
Dr. Bayer has written numerous published articles, book chapters and is the first author of a book entitled “The Boston IVF Handbook of Infertility”. He is actively involved in clinical research which has focused on the identification of factors that affect IVF success and ovulation induction protocols used for IVF.
Dr. Bayer is a dedicated teacher of medical students, residents and fellows. He has a special interest in ovulatory disorders, reproductive surgery and in vitro fertilization.
He is a member of several professional societies including the Boston Obstetrical Society, New England Fertility Society, American Society of Reproductive Medicine and the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine, among others.
In his spare time Dr. Bayer enjoys woodworking and pizza making.
Dr. Bayer is a Clinical Instructor at the Harvard Medical School and sees patients at the Concord Center, Waltham Center and in Dover, NH.
Dr. Merle J. Berger
Reproductive Endocrinologist
Dr. Merle Berger, one of the founders of Boston IVF, has been in practice for over 35 years. Board Certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Reproductive Endocrinology, he received his medical degree from Western Reserve University, School of Medicine. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Mount Sinai Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio.
Dr. Berger was a research fellow in obstetrics and gynecology at Harvard Medical School and surgery at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital. Formerly Dr. Berger was the Medical Director of Boston IVF and the President of the Boston Fertility Society.
Dr. Berger is currently an Associate Clinical Professor in Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School and has been teaching at Harvard for over 35 years. He is on staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and heads the Medical Advisory Committee for Mass NARAL. He is proud to have been teaching students, residents and fellows, conducting research in the field of reproductive medicine, and caring for infertility patients for his long career.
In his spare time Dr. Berger is an avid tennis player, sailor and chef.
Dr. Berger sees patients at both the Boston and Waltham Centers.
Dr. Alan S. Penzias
Boston IVF Surgical Director & Reproductive Endocrinologist
Dr. Penzias is the Surgical Director of the Surgery Center of Waltham, a division of Boston IVF, joined Boston IVF in 1996.
Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, he received his undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and his medical degree from SUNY – Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital and Harvard Medical School and his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Yale University School of Medicine.
Dr. Penzias is the Director of the fellowship program in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School and Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School.
He has received numerous grants for research in the field of infertility, the most recent being a comparison study of medication in controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for IVF.
He is an active member of almost a dozen infertility and medical societies and is on the Board of Directors of the American Fertility Association and is a member of the Executive Counsel of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies. He is also on the Editorial Board of Reproductive Biomedicine online and serves as an ad hoc editor for Fertility and Sterility, reviewing papers submitted for publication.
Dr. Penzias has served on the Medical Advisory Boards for Organon, Serono Laboratories, and Ferring Pharmaceuticals. He has published more than 75 peer reviewed articles, reviews, chapters, abstracts and books in the field of infertility. His book, “The Boston IVF Handbook of Infertility,” co-authored with Dr. Alper and Dr. Bayer, has been labeled as “the premier resource" in the field.
In his spare time Dr. Penzias, a licensed pilot, enjoys aviation and traveling.
Dr. Penzias sees patients at the Waltham Center, Mt. Auburn Center, Portland, ME and Lewiston, ME.
Dr. Kim L. Thornton
Reproductive Endocrinologist
Dr. Thornton is Clinical Director of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis at Boston IVF. Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, she received her medical degree from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine in Cleveland OH. She completed her residency in Obstetrics/Gynecology at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, MI and her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Yale School of Medicine in Norwalk, CT. Prior to joining Boston IVF in 1998, Dr. Thornton was an associate professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Connecticut Health Center in Farmington, CT.
Dr. Thornton is the Division Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an Assistant Professor in the Department of OB-GYN at Harvard Medical School. She is on staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston, Metrowest Medical Center and Newton-Wellesley Hospital in Newton.
Dr. Thornton is actively involved in American Society of Reproductive Medicine and has served on numerous committees within the society. She is also an active member of the New England Fertility Society and the Obstetrical Society of Boston. She has written numerous chapters, articles and abstracts. She is a reviewer for “Fertility and Sterility” and “Obstetrics and Gynecology” and is a co-investigator in the NIH funded trials of “Conventional Infertility Therapy versus FAST Track to IVF” and “Optimal Infertility Therapy RCT: Women 40 and Older”.
In her spare time Dr. Thornton enjoys cooking, fine dining, traveling and reading.
Dr. Thornton sees patients at the Framingham, Waltham and Worcester Centers.
Dr. Rita Sneeringer
Reproductive Endocrinologist
Dr. Sneeringer received her undergraduate degree from Villanova University and her medical degree from the Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, DC. She completed an internship and residency in OB/GYN at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She then completed her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at BIDMC, Harvard Medical School and Boston IVF.
Dr. Sneeringer is a clinical instructor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School. She is a member of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, American Society of Reproductive Medicine and Society for Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. She is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and is board eligible for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
Dr. Sneeriniger's scientific research focuses on identifying ovarian factors that are associated with optimal fertility outcomes. Her clinical research, which has has been presented and published nationally, involves comparing rates of successful treatment among specific patient groups. She also continues to be involved in research studies at Boston IVF.
Her clinical interests include all areas of reproductive endocrinology including infertility, polycystic ovarian disease, amenorrhea, premature ovarian failure and hyperprolactinemia. Additionally, Dr. Sneeringer is interested in the medical and surgical treatment of fibroids and endometriosis for patients seeking to preserve fertility.
In her spare time Dr. Sneeringer enjoys photography, drawing, watercolors and hiking the mountains of New England.
Dr. Sneeringer sees patients at the Waltham Center.
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