Introducing the 2024 PRIMED Scholars Cohort
Valerie Lynn Baker, MD, Lutherville Timonium, MD
Valerie Lynn Baker, MD, Lutherville Timonium, MD
Date: April 01, 2024
Author: ASRM
Meet Valerie L. Baker, MD, Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and the Telinde-Wallach Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her areas of clinical expertise include general infertility, assisted reproductive technology (in vitro fertilization) and primary ovarian insufficiency.
Dr. Baker received her medical degree from Harvard Medical School and a master's degree in public policy from the Harvard Kennedy School. She completed residency in obstetrics and gynecology and fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She then served on the faculty at UCSF, University of Washington and Stanford before joining Johns Hopkins.
Dr. Baker is past President of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), the current Vice President of SART Global, and is a representative for the US for the International Committee Monitoring ART. She has held other key national leadership roles, such as President of the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Chair of the SART Research Committee. She has been an Associate Editor for the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology and for Human Reproduction. Dr. Baker has published more than 100 peer-reviewed research articles on topics related to fertility including stimulation protocols in assisted reproductive technology, factors affecting success with fertility treatment, and maternal and infant outcomes following ART.
I am committed to advocating for access to fertility care and for research funding of fertility treatments and conditions that uniquely affect women.
Topic Resources
Trump Calls for IVF Coverage, California Legislature Sends IVF Mandate Bill to Governor
The California General Assembly approved a bill mandating most private health insurance plans to provide coverage for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
View the Press Release
Advocacy in Action: August 2024
A summary of federal and state legislation, and highlighting advocacy and outreach efforts of our members. Read about Advocacy in Action
Get Vot-ER Ready This National Patient Advocacy Day!
Celebrate National Patient Advocacy Day by boosting civic engagement! Order your free Vot-ER badge to help patients register to vote and promote healthy communities.
View the Press Release
National Infertility Awareness Week
April 20-26, 2025, is National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW)!
View the NIAW Toolkit
ASRM marks World IVF Day by doing what we do best – advocating for access to reproductive health care by calling for a House floor vote on the Right to IVF Act
ASRM observed World IVF Day, the day marking the birth of the world’s first IVF baby in 1978, by continuing its advocacy for improvements in IVF policy.
View the Press Release
Advocacy in Action: July 2024
A summary of federal and state legislation, and highlighting advocacy and outreach efforts of our members. Read about Advocacy in Action
Order your FREE Vot-ER badge to encourage patients and colleagues to vote!
ASRM) is pleased to announce our partnership with Vot-ER, a grassroots organization dedicated to driving civic engagement among healthcare professionals.
View the Press Release
ASRM announces support for HOPE with Fertility Services Act
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine is proud to endorse the HOPE with Fertility Services Act (HR 8821).
View the Press Release
Advocacy in Action: June 2024
A summary of federal and state legislation, and highlighting advocacy and outreach efforts of our members. Read about Advocacy in Action
ASRM Responds to Senate Vote on IVF Bill
ASRM is disappointed that a filibuster prevented the passage of the Right to IVF Act.
View the Press Release
ASRM Calls for Passage of Family Building Bill
It would increase access to IVF treatments for all Americans, including active-duty service members, veterans, and federal employees.
View the Press Release
ASRM publishes IVF one-pagers for media use
The documents lay out the clinical IVF process, summarize oversight of IVF in the U.S., and explain how lawmakers can support access to IVF.
View the Press Release
2024 Advocacy Activities Report
View the letters, amicus briefs, and sign-ons that ASRM has submitted to protect reproductive care. View the activities
ASRM Action Alert Challenge
Are you an ASRM member looking to sharpen your advocacy skills? The Office of Public Affairs has an exciting opportunity for you! Join the challenge!
Advocacy in Action: May 2024
A summary of federal and state legislation, and highlighting advocacy and outreach efforts of our members. Read about Advocacy in Action
Advocacy in Action: April 2024
A summary of federal and state legislation, and highlighting advocacy and outreach efforts of our members. Read about Advocacy in Action
Get to Know the Members of the 2024 PRIMED Scholars Cohort
Designed for ASRM members passionate about making a real impact, PRIMED offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to become trailblazers. Learn more about the 2024 PRIMED Scholars Cohort
Leave Your Mark! NIAW April 21-27
National Infertility Awareness Week Action Round-Up Click here to leave your mark during NIAW2024
ASRM Today: ASRM Policy Matters: Post-Alabama IVF decision advocacy roundup with Jessie Losch
Jessie Losch, ASRM Government Affairs Manager, updates ASRM Today on the advocacy efforts underway post the Alabama Supreme Court decision. Listen to the Episode
Aileen Portugal, MD, St. Louis, MO
Meet Aileen Portugal, MD, graduated from the University of California San Diego with a degree in biochemistry and worked as a researcher for several years. Learn more about Aileen Portugal, MD
Nicole Ulrich, MD, New Orleans, LA
Meet Nicole Ulrich, MD, who attended Tulane University and then trained in Obstetrics/Gynecology at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation. Learn more about Nicole Ulrich, MD
INTRODUCING THE 2024 PRIMED SCHOLARS COHORT
Meet Rachel Whynott, MD, FACOG, a double board-certified reproductive endocrinology and infertility subspecialist. Learn more about Rachel Whynott, MD
2023 Advocacy Activities Report
View the letters, amicus briefs, and sign-ons that ASRM has submitted to protect reproductive care. View the activities
What support for IVF looks like
Bipartisan support for IVF, that is responsible for the birth of over 2% of all babies born in the USA each year, will ensure that families continue to grow. View the advocacy resource
It takes more than one
Why IVF patients often need multiple embryos to have a baby View the advocacy resource
Oversight of IVF in the US
In the US, medical care is regulated by a complex and comprehensive network of federal and state regulations and professional oversight. View the advocacy resource
Advocacy Resources
ASRM has prepared resources to help explain and advocate for reproductive rights and the continuation of in vitro fertilization and other fertility treatments. View the advocacy resources
Patient Advocacy Grant
The ASRM Patient Advocacy Grants Program awards funds to patient advocacy organizations to support advocacy efforts and educational programs for patients. View more information about the patient advocacy grantMore Advocacy Resources
See What ASRM Is Doing
ASRM's Office of Public Affairs coordinates advocacy efforts to promote policies that support reproductive health and rights.
The ASRM Center For Policy And Leadership
The ASRM Center for Policy and Leadership (CPL), established in 2020, builds on ASRM’s longstanding role as a leading policy voice on Capitol Hill and in state capitals.
How You Can Take Action
Learn to advocate on the federal state and local level. The importance of your involvement in the lobbying process, especially at the local level, has never been greater.
Latest News
Journal Club Global: SREI Fellows Retreat - Fellows vs Faculty Debate: Luteal Support in Programmed FET Cycles
Fertility and Sterility Journal Club debate on progesterone administration in frozen embryo transfers, featuring faculty vs fellows discussing IM vs vaginal routes.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - Live from ESHRE 2024: Part 1
Discover the impact of embryo expansion post-biopsy and freezing time standardization on live births in this episode from ESHRE 2024.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - Live from ESHRE 2024: Part 2
Explore fresh embryo transfers, progesterone elevation, and day-seven embryo utility from experts at ESHRE 2024. Cutting-edge fertility insights await!
ASRM Today: Equity, Access, and Innovation, Episode Two: Access
Today on the show, part two of our series on equity, access, and innovation, and what that means to reproductive medicine.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - ANZSREI 2024 Journal Club Global: "Should Unexplained infertility Go Straight to IVF?"
Join "Fertility and Sterility On Air" for insights from the ANXSREI conference on unexplained infertility, IVF, and expert debates. Listen now at ASRM.org.
Trump Calls for IVF Coverage, California Legislature Sends IVF Mandate Bill to Governor
The California General Assembly approved a bill mandating most private health insurance plans to provide coverage for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
ASRM Today: Equity, Access, and Innovation, Episode One: Equity
We're joined by renowned experts Dr. Paula Amato and Dr. Jennifer Kawwass to discuss their perspectives on equity and explore the barriers that currently exist.
Advocacy in Action: August 2024
A summary of federal and state legislation, and highlighting advocacy and outreach efforts of our members.
The SREI and SMRU Fellows Symposia: A Look Back
On August 21 - 24, 2024, REI and Andrology Fellows convened in Park City, Utah, to gain valuable insights, learn from leaders in the field, and network with other fellows.
August: What's New from the Fertility and Sterility Family of Journals
ASRM Member Spotlight: Anthony M. Imudia, MD
Meet Anthony N. Imudia, MD, a board certified OB/GYN and REI specialist who earned his undergraduate and medical school degree from Latina University in Panama City, Panama.
Journal Club Global from ANZSREI 2024: Debate Unexplained infertility; Straight to IVF?
ANZSREI 2024 debate: Should unexplained infertility go straight to IVF? Experts discuss pros, cons, and alternative treatments. No clear consensus reached.
Get Vot-ER Ready This National Patient Advocacy Day!
Celebrate National Patient Advocacy Day by boosting civic engagement! Order your free Vot-ER badge to help patients register to vote and promote healthy communities.
AUA Releases Male Infertility Guideline Amendment
The AUA, in collaboration with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), has released the 2024 amendment to the Male Infertility Guideline.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - Unplugged: August 2024
Topics include: a review of studies of menstrual fluid, changing our language regarding progestin protocols, and nanoscale motion tracing of spermatozoa.
Journal Club Global: Falha de implantação: realidade ou ilusão estatística?
Fertility and Sterility Global Journal Club from Brazil
Welcome New ASRM Members!
It is with great pleasure that the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) acknowledges and thanks the following people for their new membership in the Society.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - TOC: July 2024
Articles this month include: predicting ART complications, laser assisted hatching on vitrified blastocysts, predictive models of miscarriage and more.
Evidence-based diagnosis and treatment for uterine septum: a guideline (2024)
To provide evidence-based recommendations regarding the diagnosis and effectiveness of surgical treatment of a uterine septum.
Journal Club Global en Espanol: Actualizacion sobre el síndrome de ovario poliquístico
Fertility & Sterility se enorgullece de traer un Journal Club Global en Español en vivo desde Cancún, Mexico
Event Recap: CFAS/ASRM Business in Medicine 2024: A Leadership and Management Summit
The CFAS/ASRM Business in Medicine: A Leadership and Management Summit took place on July 19-20, 2024, at the picturesque Rimrock Resort Hotel in Banff, Alberta.
Albert B. Janko, MD
Dr. Albert Béla Janko, Life member of ASRM, passed away on July 15, 2024, at the age of 90.
ASRM marks World IVF Day by doing what we do best – advocating for access to reproductive health care by calling for a House floor vote on the Right to IVF Act
ASRM observed World IVF Day, the day marking the birth of the world’s first IVF baby in 1978, by continuing its advocacy for improvements in IVF policy.
ASRM Member Spotlight: Salu Ribeiro, MS, TS(ABB), ALS/ELS(AAB), CLSp(RB)
Meet Salu Ribeiro, MS, TS(ABB), ALS/ELS(AAB), CLSp(RB), Senior Embryologist at the University of California, San Francisco.
ASRM Member Spotlight: Marina Gvakharia, MD, PhD, HCLD/ELD(ABB), CLS(CA), MT(ABOR)
Dr. Gvakharia is passionate about helping young colleagues advance in the field of clinical embryology and andrology.
Advocacy in Action: July 2024
A summary of federal and state legislation, and highlighting advocacy and outreach efforts of our members.
July: What's New from the Fertility and Sterility Family of Journals
Journal Club Global: Oral Progestin For Ovulation Suppression During IVF
Live broadcast from the 2024 Midwest Reproductive Symposium
International in Chicago, IL
Fertility and Sterility On Air - Unplugged: July 2024
Biomarkers for sperm improvement post-varicocele repair, minimal stimulation side effects, GnRH antagonist for heavy menstrual bleeding with fibroids.
Order your FREE Vot-ER badge to encourage patients and colleagues to vote!
ASRM) is pleased to announce our partnership with Vot-ER, a grassroots organization dedicated to driving civic engagement among healthcare professionals.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - Seminal Article: Ernest Ng and Zhi Chen
June issue Seminal Contribution: a randomized controlled trial studying the use of progestins for ovulation supression in predicted high responders.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - TOC: June 2024
Covering articles on embryo transfer, PIEZO-ICSI, pregnancy outcomes, oocyte maturity, estradiol levels, and ovarian carcinoma and more!
ASRM announces support for HOPE with Fertility Services Act
The American Society for Reproductive Medicine is proud to endorse the HOPE with Fertility Services Act (HR 8821).
What's New from the Fertility and Sterility Family of Journals
2024 SRS-SREI Surgical Boot Camp: A Recap
The 2024 SRS-SREI Surgical Boot Camp took place at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, OH, from May 30 to June 1, 2024.
Advocacy in Action: June 2024
A summary of federal and state legislation, and highlighting advocacy and outreach efforts of our members.
ASRM Member Spotlight: Kelly Lynch, MD
An ASRM member since 2000, Dr. Lynch has served as a Chair on the SART Electronic Communications Committee from 2018 to the present.
ASRM Member Spotlight: Sarah C. Vij, MD
An ASRM member for 8 years, Dr. Vij currently serves as program director for Cleveland Clinic’s Male Infertility and Andrology Fellowship.
ASRM Responds to Senate Vote on IVF Bill
ASRM is disappointed that a filibuster prevented the passage of the Right to IVF Act.
ASRM Responds to Supreme Court Ruling on Mifepristone
We are thrilled that a unanimous Supreme Court has rejected the ideologically driven lower court decisions on access to mifepristone
ASRM Calls for Passage of Family Building Bill
It would increase access to IVF treatments for all Americans, including active-duty service members, veterans, and federal employees.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - Unplugged: May 2024
Topics include: counseling on pregnancy complications in PCOS patients, sorting early spermatocytes from testicular biopsies, and more.
ASRM Member Spotlight: Nannan Thirumavalavan, MD
An ASRM member since 2017, Dr. Nannan Thirumavalavan is a fellowship-trained and board certified urologist in Cleveland, Ohio.
Songqing Li, PhD
ASRM mourns the death of Dr. Songqing Li, who passed away on May 22, 2024.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - TOC: May 2024
Topics this month include Iatrogenic and demographic determinants of the national plural birth increase, outcomes between ICSI and IVF with PGT-A.
ASRM publishes IVF one-pagers for media use
The documents lay out the clinical IVF process, summarize oversight of IVF in the U.S., and explain how lawmakers can support access to IVF.
ASRM Member Spotlight: Julia Conant, PsyD
Dr. Julia Conant joined ASRM to access the Mental Health Professional Group and the consultation, training and support offered.
ASRM Member Spotlight: Elizabeth L. Lee, BSc, RN
Elizabeth Lee sees ASRM as the guiding light of high-quality clinical fertility practice as well as a consistent voice advocating for reproductive rights.
ASRM Member Spotlight: Kathryn J. Go, PhD, HCLD (ABB)
Dr. Kathryn Go finds ASRM’s role is to provide a community for professionals, clinical and allied, in the field of reproductive medicine.
ASRM Action Alert Challenge
Are you an ASRM member looking to sharpen your advocacy skills? The Office of Public Affairs has an exciting opportunity for you!
Journal Club Global: Recent clinical trials in Fertility and Sterility from the Asia Pacific region
Join ASPIRE 2024 for a Journal Club Global on PGT-A and IVF. Learn from top experts discussing recent clinical trial data and pregnancy outcomes
Register Now for CFAS/ASRM Business in Medicine: A Leadership and Management Summit
ASRM and CFAS have teamed up to offer much-requested business education for clinicians and REI office staff!
Advocacy in Action: May 2024
A summary of federal and state legislation, and highlighting advocacy and outreach efforts of our members.
What's New from the Fertility and Sterility Family of Journals
ASRM Reacts to Cruz/Britt OPED
We are pleased to see Senators Cruz and Britt express their interest in protecting access to IVF.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - Unplugged: April 2024
Topics include: IVF in film, a rat model of fallopian tube torsion, comparing letrozole regimens for PCOS, and a review of chronic endometritis.
Mental Health Awareness Month: Mental Health Provider Appreciation
In the realm of reproductive medicine, the significance of mental health cannot be overstated.
ASRM Files Amicus Brief in Texas Embryo Case
ASRM has filed an amicus curiae (friend of the court) brief in the case of Antoun v Antoun, which is pending before the Texas Supreme Court.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - TOC: April 2024
Topics this month include the use of ICSI, fertility treatments among reproductive-aged women after cancer, and more.
Advocacy in Action: April 2024
A summary of federal and state legislation, and highlighting advocacy and outreach efforts of our members.
What's New from the Fertility and Sterility Family of Journals
Get to Know the Members of the 2024 PRIMED Scholars Cohort
Designed for ASRM members passionate about making a real impact, PRIMED offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity to become trailblazers.
Meet Alison Bartolucci, PhD
An ASRM member for 12 years, Alison Bartolucci, PhD has served on the SART Executive Council and as the SRBT representative.
ASRM Member Spotlight: Winifred Mak, MD, PhD
An ASRM member for over 13 years, Dr. Mak has a unique perspective on health care, as she has trained as an Ob Gyn resident in both the UK and USA.
Survey shows strong support for increased access to fertility treatments
A new public opinion poll reveals strong support for improved access to In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Infertility Awareness
In honor of National Infertility Awareness Week (NIAW), we have rounded up some of our resources on infertility.
National Infertility Awareness Week 2024: Leave Your Mark
Next week is National Infertility Awareness Week, a federally recognized health observance founded to increase awareness of infertility.
ASRM Today: ASRM Policy Matters: Post-Alabama IVF decision advocacy roundup with Jessie Losch
Jessie Losch, ASRM Government Affairs Manager, updates ASRM Today on the advocacy efforts underway post the Alabama Supreme Court decision.
IVF-assisted pregnancies constitute 2.5% of all births in 2022
In 2022, the number of babies born from IVF increased from 89,208 in 2021 to 91,771 in 2022. This means that 2.5% of births in the US are a result of ART.
Journal Club Global en Español: Avances recientes en el tratamiento del síndrome de ovario poliquístico e Infertilidad
Un panel de expertos discutirá dos artículos recientes de Fertility and Sterility que estudian la infertilidad y el síndrome de ovario poliquístico.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - Unplugged: March 2024
Topics include: melatonin and implantation (4:38), whole-genome screening of embryos, and bioengineering assisted reproductive technology.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - Live from PCRS 2024
Fertility & Sterility on Air brings you the highlights from the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society.
Aileen Portugal, MD, St. Louis, MO
Meet Aileen Portugal, MD, graduated from the University of California San Diego with a degree in biochemistry and worked as a researcher for several years.
Nicole Ulrich, MD, New Orleans, LA
Meet Nicole Ulrich, MD, who attended Tulane University and then trained in Obstetrics/Gynecology at the Ochsner Clinic Foundation.
INTRODUCING THE 2024 PRIMED SCHOLARS COHORT
Meet Rachel Whynott, MD, FACOG, a double board-certified reproductive endocrinology and infertility subspecialist.
Elizabeth Lee, RN, Gilbert, AZ
Meet Elizabeth Lee, RN, an ASRM member since 2016 and Employee #2 at Wellnest Fertility’s Clinical Operations.
Ann Marie Luft, RN, Lake Mary, FL
Meet Ann Marie Luft, a recent rejoining member of ASRM and a fertility nurse and fertility consultant.
Julie Bindeman, Psy-D, Rockville, MD
Meet Julie Bindeman, Psy-D, an ASRM member for eleven years, a graduate of George Washington University, and the co-owner of Integrative Therapy.
Inger Britt Carlsson, PhD, Orange, CA
With over 30 years’ experience, Britt Carlsson, PhD has a strong knowledge of the global fertility markets.
Journal Club Global: Cost effectiveness analyses of PGT-A
Infertility treatments can be financially burdensome, often without insurance coverage, making understanding the cost effectiveness of PGT-A crucial.
Morgan Baker, RN, Pleasant Grove, UT
Morgan Baker, RN, is a registered nurse from Springville Utah, who has a passion for providing high-quality patient care.
Valerie Lynn Baker, MD, Lutherville Timonium, MD
Meet Valerie L. Baker, MD, Director of the Division of REI and the Telinde-Wallach Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics at Johns Hopkins.
Tobacco or marijuana use and infertility: a committee opinion (2023)
In the United States, approximately 21% of adults report some form of tobacco use, although 18% report marijuana use.
Planned oocyte cryopreservation to preserve future reproductive potential: an Ethics Committee opinion (2023)
Planned oocyte cryopreservation is an ethically permissible procedure that may help individuals avoid future infertility.
CREST Scholars Program - Applications Open
CREST is seeking applications for the 2024-2025 class of Scholars.
Advocacy in Action: March 2024
A summary of federal and state legislation, and highlighting advocacy and outreach efforts of our members.
What's New from the Fertility and Sterility Family of Journals
Journal Club Global: The future of REI Fellowship training: debating opportunities and threats
This exciting collaboration discusses the controversy and future directions for the field of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility medicine.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - Seminal Article: Dr. Jeremy Applebaum
Listen to this interview featuring Dr. Jeremy Applebaum, who recently published "Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccination on live birth rates after IVF"
Important Message from ASRM Regarding JARG
ASRM has had a long history of working with Springer Nature to promote and elevate the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (JARG).
ASRM Member Spotlight: Sarah Holley, PhD
Meet Sarah Holley, PhD, Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UCSF and Professor of Psychology at SFSU.
Jan Friberg, MD, PhD
It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Dr. Jan Friberg, MD, PhD.
ASRM provides testimony to Senate Judiciary Committee on threats facing IVF
ASRM shared with the Senate Judiciary Committee the dangers to reproductive medicine nearly two years after the Dobbs decision.
Announcing Six Pilot & Exploratory Grant Cycle Awardees
ASRM is proud to announce six 2024 Pilot & Exploratory Grant Cycle awardees to receive funding through the ASRM Research Institute.
Journal Club Global: Infertility and Subclinical Hypothyroidism
The impact of treating SCH on fertility, obstetric outcomes, and offspring neurocognitive development is debated in the literature.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - TOC: March 2024
Topics this month include the impact of COVID-19 vaccination on live birth rates after IVF, the "freeze-all" strategy in women with adenomyosis, and more.
ASRM Member Spotlight: Zaraq Khan, MBBS, MCR, FACOG
Meet Zaraq Khan, MBBS, MCR, FACOG, a double board certified OBGYN and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility specialist.
Fertility and Sterility On Air - Unplugged: February 2024
Topics this month include: fluoroscopic-guided hysteroscopic tubal cannulation, follicular-fluid phthalates and ovarian reserve, and more.
Romaine B. Bayless, MD
Romaine Belle Bayless, MD, age 78, of Woodbury, MN, passed away following a courageous 4-year battle with pancreatic cancer.
The News from ASRM
Latest News
An indispensable news digest for reproductive scientists, clinicians and allied health professionals. The Latest News posts are available to ASRM members in good standing only.
ASRM Press Releases/Bulletins
ASRM Press Releases and Bulletins are published by ASRM's Office of Public Affairs to inform the press and Society members of important recent developments.
Legally Speaking Column
Legally Speaking is a column highlighting recent court decisions affecting the assisted reproductive technologies and the families they create, written by Susan L. Crockin, J.D. and guest authors who offer unique perspectives and expertise on significant legal topics.