FINDING FAMILY
Driven by the increase in friends facing fertility issues, I dive into what happens if having a family isn’t so easy. A seemingly more common occurrence than most may realize, this story is sure to offer valuable insight for us all — especially as we approach the holiday and family-togetherness season. Captivated and surprised by facts like 1 in 10 men (and counting) will experience fertility issues and 1 in 4 women will have difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term, I got to know local fertility pioneer, Dr. George Koulianos. This has not only been an enjoyable experience, it has opened up my eyes to a whole world I knew nothing about. And while his practice, The Center For Reproductive Medicine, is the oldest, largest, and most successful around, it is the approach and determination of this mighty team that is unique in a world of one-size-fits-all medicine. Here, what matters most.
By Hayley Hill Photos Layla Lambert, Layla@CoastalEventsAndDesign.com
The very mission of Access is to highlight those in the community that contribute. Whether these contributions are grand or on a smaller scale, they are all significant and serve others in countless ways. As the editor, I am always amazed at the range of reactions I am privileged to experience. From those we profile to the readers that are reminded of local historical factors or personal stories not necessarily documented elsewhere, it serves as an important account of who we are, how we’ve supported one another and evolved as a community, and what the future can look like. As publications navigate their staying power and long-form stories are replaced by a sea of one to two line posts, I can’t help wondering how these seemingly simple stories about good people doing good things will be viewed by the future generations occupying the Bay area.
Having spent time getting to know Dr. George Koulianos has been one of those experiences that not only inspires me to learn and contribute more, his journey is one that touches your heart at that deeper human level. And, it’s safe to say anyone who spends time with him will not only realize the value of being curious, they themselves will also want to up their contributions whether it’s to their work, family, or community.
For starters, Dr. Koulianos, originally from Houston, has that charm and charisma that is hard to describe but ensures all locals know his roots are firmly planted in this land and that he’s one of us. This means while he’s clearly intelligent, he’s also disarming, down to earth, quick to laugh, and can just as easily, and happily, discuss a Dew Drop Inn favored menu item as he can the latest medical breakthrough helping women with cancer complications preserve their fertility.
With over 30 years of experience and an impressive 9,000 babies born — and counting — in the Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida Panhandle region, he is the founder and Medical Director of Mobile’s Center For Reproductive Medicine (CRM). Knowing many people that have struggled to conceive and understanding fertility issues are not only on the rise for women, but for men, too, this arena is one most can relate to. And we will hear more about it as roughly 15% of couples in the U.S. have trouble conceiving, and over 40% of the time there is a male infertility issue, and 20% both male and female. In fact, male infertility is so common that nearly 1 in 10 men will experience difficulties.
Able to recall how relieved I was that pregnancy was easy for me, I also remember that my younger self and my girlfriends at that time simply assumed we would be able to get pregnant and never considered the heartbreak that could come from not being able to conceive. Viewed almost as a birthright by many, studies show that In the U.S., about 1 in 5 (19%) women are unable to get pregnant after one year of trying (infertility) and about 1 in 4 (26%) have difficulty carrying a pregnancy to term (impaired fecundity). And, approximately 1 in 8 couples are affected by infertility; that’s about 6.7 million people each year who have trouble conceiving.
Considering the Bay area is family-focused and prides itself on being a great place to raise children paired with the fact that most every grandmother has a crib at the end of her bed ready to help raise the next generation, infertility issues are not just heartbreaking, they’re gut wrenching.
Spending hours at CRM and getting to know the team has been an introduction into a world where mind-blowing science and technology meet unmatched compassion and an intense stop-at-nothing-drive to help others has made a lasting impression. When we imagine what happens in medicine, it is often assumed that everything is measured and defined, but I quickly learned CRM’s above average success rates are due to many factors, and the most important one is their humanity.
On their success, Dr. Koulianos shares, “Our success in fertility speaks for itself. And while our above average success rates and our state-of-the-art technology are of the utmost importance, we are also extremely proud of the relationships we build with our patients and their loved ones — and especially of the babies we bring into the world. Watching these children grow in the communities we serve and assisting multiple generations achieve family goals is truly what it’s all about for us. Both an emotional and physical journey, our relationships are rooted in honesty and compassion and define our purpose and promise to deliver the best fertility science, medicine, and care for every family.”
Quite refreshing in a world where small privately owned practices are being bought by big corporations. Perhaps advantages and disadvantages can be said about both, but in a world driven by positive outcomes, ensuring every advantage no matter how expensive or seemingly small, this is a paramount patient benefit.
“In almost 30 years we’ve become renowned for setting the gold standard in patient care and ensuring CRM is outfitted with every technological and scientific advantage possible. Our lab is a driving force behind our success rates and we want everyone to understand the vital role it plays. Because CRM is independently owned and operated by its caring physicians, having our own on-site lab enables us to outfit it with the absolute best and most advanced technologies regardless of what they cost. We have a special partnership with Mobile Infirmary as it relates to our lab. The Infirmary, the Infirmary Foundation, and the Infirmary Auxiliary have always provided us the infrastructure we need to excel. Also being hospital based gives us a level of security not available in free standing IVF centers. For example, we were able to retrieve eggs the morning hurricanes Ivan, Katrina, and Sally hit. Because of who we are, CRM spares no expense in order to provide every critical advantage and vital edge available to our patients. We never put profits above our patients,” Dr. Koulianos tells us.
This is essential to know as the scientific and technological developments in the IVF field constantly advance and evolve. The CRM lab team and physicians are extremely proud of the lab’s LifeAire filtration system. CRM is the only fertility center in Alabama, Mississippi, and the Florida Panhandle to offer this incomparable medical grade air purity system backed with proven results. Essential to their success, the LifeAire system delivers medical grade air purity to the most sensitive and demanding environments where it’s needed most. It sterilizes air to the 10 to the minus 146th power. Most hospital operating rooms sterilize air to the 10 to the minus 6th power.
Not only is it fascinating, it’s important to know that of all the variables that affect the outcome of an IVF cycle, none is as prevalent as air. And while it is accepted that clean air can help the viability of a fragile human embryo, it took LifeAire two decades of research and testing to prove that fluctuations in IVF success can be attributed to events occurring outside the laboratory. So just Imagine that road resurfacing, construction, car exhaust, insecticides, and even cleaning products can actually slip through traditional air purification systems and be a senseless detriment to the successful formation and development of an embryo. This system is, quite simply, the most powerful defense a laboratory can employ, and the fastest path to a significant improvement in outcomes.
Impressed, I begin to realize that their success is not attributed to one person, treatment, or advantage, but rather the combination of each and every one adds up to a better chance for a positive outcome. Naturally, this leads to the realization that not all fertility clinics are created equal.
Meeting CRM’s Embryologist, Dr. Suzanne Delegos also plays a vital role. As the leader of CRM’s scientific staff, she is not only proud of the LifeAire filtrations system and the other cutting-edge technologies their lab boasts, but she is also an expert Andrologist. A unique advantage for CRM patients, an Andrologist is a medical doctor who specializes in male reproductive issues. With her deep understanding of male fertility and the impact of sperm quality on embryo development, the importance of this expertise cannot be overstated.
Also highly personable, I was surprised by her friendly demeanor and to learn that she drives a pink Mini Cooper. Excited to explain all things science and fertility related, hearing her talk about how they can inject an egg with a single sperm was all-consuming. Not only highly skilled, she’s driven by the relationships she builds with CRM patients and ensuring the healthy development of their embryos. As the link to the lab, Dr. Delegos founded CRM’s exclusive embryology class to ensure patients are educated and able to ask questions about this complex science.
Being able to hire and retain experts is the pride of the practice. An equally enthusiastic CRM partner, George B. Inge, M.D., F.A.C.O.G., is a Diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and quite impressively held the positions of Chief Microsurgeon for Infertility Microsurgery and Chief of OB/GYN Service at the 130th Station Hospital in Heidelberg, Germany. A true family man, he also received training and experience in Advanced Reproductive Technology at the Bourn Hall Clinical Fellowship in Cambridge, England, where many of the modern treatments for infertility were developed.
Additionally, Adelina Emmi, M.D., F.A.C.O.G, is a board-certified Reproductive Endocrinologist with over 30 years of clinical experience focused on both academics and private practice. Committed to higher-learning, Dr. Emmi’s journey has taken her from The University of Naples in Italy, and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in NY, to Rutgers University in NJ, and Tufts University School of Medicine in MA. Proud of her Italian and New York City heritage, she is a welcome force in the field and at CRM.
Getting to the point, it is almost mind-bending to witness the level of talent this area is able to secure. And, Dr. Koulianos is no exception. Proud of his Greek heritage, he was drawn to the vibrant Greek culture and its rich history sewn into the very fabric of this community. As he made the Bay area his home and developed CRM, Dr. Koulianos became a member in various Greek Orthodox organizations. From serving local parishes and being an Archon of the Ecumenical Patriarchate in Constantinople to his participation in the Clergy Family Initiative steering committee where he advocates for the well-being of the clergy, their families, and the unique challenges they face, his deep faith brings him great satisfaction.
Quite selflessly, during the pandemic, Dr. Koulianos served as President of the Medical Society of Mobile County. “I was able to organize task forces on the local level to provide a range of support to hospitals, medical professionals, nursing homes, clergy, and municipalities during that unprecedented time. Creating a unified medical and community response to the crisis was definitely challenging, but it was even more rewarding,” he shares. As the current President of the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, he also serves on the State Board of Medical Examiners.
Just starting to understand the absolute dedication it takes to be a healthcare provider, it’s hard to wrap my head around what it must take to be such a successful specialized doctor — and one that runs the practice, too. Informing me that fertility specialists are desperately needed, I can understand why. For Dr. Koulianos, it was a true calling. “Medicine and helping people fulfill their dreams of parenthood is more than a job to me, it is a calling. I choose it from an early age because I can think of no higher way to serve our community.”
Fueling this point is the story of David Hickman, M.S., T.S. (ABB), MT (ASCP). As the Technical Supervisor of the CRM laboratory, David Hickman considers CRM more than a workplace. For him, it’s family. Introduced as a patient, he and his wife underwent IVF at CRM that not only resulted in a baby, he also found his passion for the field of infertility, too. With the encouragement and support of Dr. Koulianos, Mr. Hickman followed his passion and hasn’t looked back in over 30 years. Today, Mr. Hickman excels in embryo and egg cryopreservation. Committed, he has perfected his vitrification procedure to produce a 94% survival rate on embryos with a 60% pregnancy rate. Mr. Hickman is not only grateful to Dr. Koulianos, he is proud to have found his calling. “While there’s much to be proud of at CRM, I am proudest of our lab. Maintaining consistent high standards is extremely difficult in this industry and this is precisely what we do and why we are so successful.”
I wondered how many people and different jobs it takes to do this work. Clearly clueless, I was shocked to learn that at any given time they have up to 35 employees. From the financial and support counselors and various nurses to the schedulers for their outside offices and the lab techs, it certainly offered a fresh perspective and a new-found respect for the field of fertility.
Upon closer inspection, I realized Dr. Koulianos doesn’t skimp or cut corners. And, his first commitment is to his patients. Described as a “father figure,” I soon learned why. “Bringing the joy of life to thousands of parents while helping them put the disappointment of infertility behind them is our mission. Sharing the difficulties and the joys helps patients. In essence we extend ourselves by not being afraid to share our feelings and emotions, too. Fertility treatment is relatively easy for most, but for those who need In Vitro Fertilization (IVF), it can be more complicated and challenging because it involves using fertility drugs to stimulate egg production, removal and fertilization of the eggs outside of the body, and re-implantation. Careful monitoring, listening, and reassuring each patient is so important. No one part of science, medicine or care is more important than another. The combination is what pays off for fertility patients and is what they should expect from reproductive medicine today,” he explains.
Impressively, Dr. Koulianos is board certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and completed his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Tulane Medical School and right here at home at the University of South Alabama. He did his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Texas Tech Regional Academic Center and graduated from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. Prior to founding CRM in 1993, he served as assistant professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of South Alabama. His accomplishments include winning the ACOG/CIBA (American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists) Fellowship for Endocrinology of the Postreproductive Woman and he has authored several book chapters and articles with original research for peer review and presented original research at numerous national and international meetings.
But it’s perhaps his enthusiasm for living life to its fullest that has me so mesmerized. You see, outside of CRM Dr. Koulianos is an avid farmer who loves nothing more than riding around on his tractor nurturing his various crops. He can quite literally talk about it forever and has me wondering if I too, could grow produce. From seeding and planting to harvesting and cooking for his friends and family, Dr. Koulianos was simply born to nurture. I can’t help but think that he’s not just an incredible and inspiring human being, he’s a gift to this community. And from what the CRM staff tells me, he has generations of local fans that completely agree.
The Center For Reproductive Medicine
Alabama Office:
3 Mobile Infirmary Circle Suite 401 Mobile, AL 36607
Pensacola Office:
1700 W Main St, #700 Pensacola, FL 32502
Mississippi Office:
11505 Cinema Drive, Suite 13 D’Iberville, MS 39540
251.438.4200 | InfertilityAlabama.com
