By Demetrius Dillard
For the past 15 years of his professional career, Dr. Spencer Richlin has worked enthusiastically to “family build”, as he puts it.
Richlin, a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist based in Stamford, is a partner and surgical director with the Reproductive Medicine Associates of Connecticut (RMACT).
RMACT, one of the largest fertility centers in the state, has five locations: Stamford, Trumbull, Norwalk, Danbury and Harrison, N.Y. Of the seven board-certified fertility specialists along with a team of nurses and physicians, Richlin is one of the top-ranking medical practitioners within RMACT — which attracts patients from Connecticut, New York and even internationally.
According to the fertility clinic’s website, “fertility preservation and helping women make informed decisions about their reproductive timeline” is an essential part of Richlin’s efforts.
Richlin and his colleagues provide an array of services for families seeking fertility-related assistance, which could range from fertility preservation for women who may not be ready to have children, to diagnosing and treating problems related to infertility.
Another critically important element of RMACT’s services is establishing and sustaining doctor-patient relationships.
“What we have learned is that our patients want to feel that the physician and them have a good fit and there’s a good relationship,” said Richlin, a native of Los Angeles who got his medical degree from the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.
“We have to have the empathy for our patients and encourage them, and empower them, and teach them the best way to family build. But to have them involved in the conversation is really important.
“The days when the physicians told people what to do is not where it’s at anymore. Patients are very sharp, well-researched and they want a collaborative relationship. That’s what’s so important. ”
After leaving the West Coast, Richlin completed his OBGYN residency at Stamford Hospital/Columbia Program and then went on to complete his infertility fellowship at Emory Medical Center in Atlanta.
The trust, empathy and compassion of a doctor is an integral part of fertility patient care, Richlin highlighted.
“Our patients want to know that we’re with them and we’re really invested in their care, and that we come up with the best plan of action for them to be successful,” he said.
“It’s very important for us to do that, but also what we see patients wanting is the want… everybody in our office to be compassionate and attentive to their needs, so basically they leave successful. So we’re making sure that we give them great scientific information and we’re treating everyone really respectfully.”
The coronavirus pandemic is nearing the one-year mark. According to Richlin, the global health crisis has affected RMACT’s medical services because of local and federal mandates; however, business hasn’t slowed down for the fertility clinic.
Interestingly, RMACT’s fertility patients love conducting telemedicine sessions via Zoom, Richlin added. Zoom is more convenient for a number of reasons, he said.
“We’ve been busier than ever because patients are like under the radar,” Richlin said, adding that “back in the day” people had to tell their job they had a doctor’s appointment or make it known that they were pregnant.
“Our patients are able to get care easier with us because we do Zooms on their schedule and they don’t have to tell anybody. So they’re under the radar, they have to come in less, they don’t have to drive, miss work, so the patients are loving it.”
While the pandemic has reduced in-person interactions between doctors and patients, Richlin said he and fellow physicians have found ways to maintain trust to the same extent as before the coronavirus outbreak.
Richlin concluded by sharing the impact he hopes to continue to make in the communities he serves – ensuring everyone has the equal opportunity to family build.
“I think our biggest impact is to be completely inclusive, and that’s our No. 1 thesis statement of our practice and that’s to include everybody.”
