Maggie (Host): Welcome to Time to Talk Fertility Beyond the Lab Coat, a podcast from Fertility Centers of Illinois. I'm your host, Maggie McKay. Join us as we go behind the scenes with Dr. Allison Kay Rogers reproductive endocrinologist to discover what inspires her work, how she connects with patient's, And what drives her passion for helping families grow real stories, real purpose.

Real Care.

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Hi Maggie.

Maggie (Host): Thank you so much for being here. Would you please share your full name and credentials?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Sure. My name is Dr. Allison k Rogers. I'm a reproductive endocrinologist and physician at Fertility Centers of Illinois.

Maggie (Host): Great. So what inspired you to pursue medicine and specifically reproductive endocrinology?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: That's a great question. So I really love problem solving. and there is nothing more important than being a parent. I have my own family. I had to go through fertility treatment to get my family there is nothing more important than being a parent and being able to help people become parents every day is such a joy and really is my passion in terms of why I went into this area of medicine.

Maggie (Host): And what do you find most rewarding about your work?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Like I said, I think there is nothing more important than becoming a parent and really helping people through some of their hardest times to a place of joy and family and fulfillment.

Maggie (Host): Is there a particular moment that reaffirmed why you chose this field that you remember?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: So I have about a baby born every day and. That is such a huge difference. And every year around Halloween, we invite our success stories to come back and get dressed up and come visit us in the office. And every year I. Love seeing my patient's who I've spent so much time with in such a vulnerable and difficult stage of their life, go on into this new era of being parents and seeing their adorable children.

I had one parent patient this last year who drove seven hours round trip to see me for Halloween. And I think it just speaks to the relationship and what we do and how it changes people's lives.

Maggie (Host): wow. How do you hope to make a difference in your patient's lives?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Well, obviously helping them find success is my number one goal and getting them to their dream family. So whatever that looks like, however many children they want, That is really what our goals are And what we're hoping to help, make the difference. I would also say that, you know.

This is their journey, and This is a very difficult thing to go through. So to give them all of the guidance and support that they deserve during that journey to make it as least painful as possible, both physically and emotionally is my goal.

Maggie (Host): I think you pretty much touched on this, but what drives your passion for helping these families on their journey to parenthood?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Well, I actually was a fertility doctor before I needed help with infertility. So some people say, is that why you became a fertility doctor because you needed help? No, I was already a fertility doctor, but feel like I've the best job in the world, to be able to. Help people through such a difficult time to the sweetest success that life can give.

Maggie (Host): How would you describe your approach to patient care? What's the most important thing, to you when you're guiding a patient through treatment?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: I always wanna understand where a patient's coming from, where they wanna go, and one of my guiding principles just in life in general, is the golden rule. treating people the way that we would wanna be treated. So I really try to approach my interactions with compassion and care, and attention to detail and time that I want from my own physician.

Maggie (Host): How do you help patient's feel supported and empowered throughout this journey? Because it's gotta be emotional.

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Oh it is. there's been some studies that fertility treatment is as stressful as an oncology or cancer diagnosis. So, It is one of the most stressful things somebody can go through. I think that I have regular touch bases and check-ins with my patient's. I really try to take care of them in a holistic way, thinking about both their physical and emotional needs and really trying to understand where they are so that we can get them where they need to be.

Maggie (Host): How do you balance science, technology, and empathy in your work?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Oh, I think that's actually super easy. explaining the science to patient's And the, technology and research That is. Sort of very straightforward, but obviously also coming at it with wanting to make sure that they, as a human being, their soul, their emotions are being taken care of as well.

So I actually find that super easy to be able to help support patient's and educate patient's about science and technology and research, and guide them in what I would do, And then have a conversation about what they're comfortable with.

Maggie (Host): Dr. Rogers, what are your special areas of clinical interest And what draws you to them?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: So I do general reproductive endocrinology and infertility. So I mainly take care of infertility patient's, And this includes fertility treatment for couples using donor eggs, donor sperm, or gestational carriers, including LGBTQ plus patient's. I take care of a lot of patient's with polycystic ovary syndrome and hormonal imbalances that are created in them not to have regular cycles and have infertility.

And then I have a special interest in both recurrent pregnancy loss, so people who've had more than one. Miscarriage as well as people with low egg count. Those are some special areas of interest to me, but all of us here at FCI are general reproductive endocrinologists, And we can take care of sort of the whole breadth and depth of the specialty.

Uh.

Maggie (Host): And where did you complete your medical education, your residency and fellowship training?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: So I did my undergraduate and medical school at the University of Michigan. I then went on to the Cleveland Clinic to do my residency, and I did my fellowship at the University of Texas in San Antonio. And then I've been here in Chicago ever since.

Maggie (Host): Nice. Was there something you learned along the way that continues to shape your approach today?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: I think being a fertility patient myself and sort of seeing what patient's have to go through on the other side, I think was super helpful in terms of the care and compassion and really understanding in a very unique way what patient's are going through both physically and emotionally.

Maggie (Host): What excites you most about the future of reproductive medicine?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: There are so many things. Certainly I think genetics are a big one. Artificial intelligence, both in the laboratory setting and predicting models is gonna be a big thing that really helps push our career forward. Obviously reproductive medicine is a very young field, right? The first IVF baby was born in 1978.

so. That was worldwide in the United States. It was only 1981. So, This is a very young part of medicine That is evolving very rapidly and using technology to improve pregnancy rates. that's, the areas of most interest, of course.

Maggie (Host): And what accomplishment in your practice or even your career are you most proud of?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: I love being able to say that I have a baby born every day, so my goal is always to get to at least 365 babies a year. but really, being able to help the most people possible,

Maggie (Host): what do your patient's often say that they appreciate most about working with you?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: one of the things that I really do is there's no cookie cutter approach, Each patient in front of me, I analyze and look at all their test results and come up with a very individualized treatment plan for them, and I try to Set realistic expectations with my patient's. So I think Those are some things that I do that really matter to patient's, that they're not just sort of given the same protocol everybody else does, but like I put together something specific for them and This is the art of the science, being able to put together treatment plans to help people find success.

Maggie (Host): How do you build trust and meaningful connections with your patient's?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Well, I really just try to be honest, like I said, and I think that there's a lot of, bad representation out there in the media of doctors who are maybe doing things not for in the best interest of their patient's. Right? And I always am putting my patient's interest first and let them know that I'm not just doing treatment to do treatment, I'm doing treatment to get them pregnant, even if that means.

having to, take a pause on treatment or do something in it with a different approach. but being very honest, I think it, it takes mutual respect and good communication.

Maggie (Host): So with patient's who are feeling anxious or discouraged, as I'm sure that's a big part of this journey, what advice do you give them?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Well, I think it's really important to have a medical provider and a team that they feel comfortable asking questions to, and I think that having. The next step forward in their journey, being able to understand maybe what's next, but what's three steps ahead. If that doesn't work, is something that can be really helpful.

I also think that, letting patient's know that there is always a pathway to a family. It may not be how you envisioned it, but there is always a pathway to help you build your family.

Maggie (Host): And so for people still hoping to build their family, what message of encouragement would you share

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: yeah, I would just say don't give up. your success is gonna be related to your treatment, so the more treatment you do, the closer you are to your baby. Don't give up.

Maggie (Host): What's one lesson your patient's have taught you?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: So many. I would say that one thing that my patient's have taught me is, the importance of really listening and really, understanding each individual journey because everyone's goals are different and meeting patient's where they are.

Maggie (Host): And outside of medicine, what brings you joy or balance? What do you love to do for fun?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: so my biggest passion is horseback riding. We as a family have three horses and, I ride my horse every day except Mondays they get the day off on Mondays. so That is. my biggest joy, in terms of hobbies and, and interests, I jump over fences, which sounds really dangerous and sometimes can be, but I like the fences pretty low.

so That is my biggest joy. I love hiking, especially with my dogs. I, of course, love spending time with my children. Like I said, there's nothing more important than my husband and my children and my family and being able to help other people. Enjoy their family is the best thing in the world.

Maggie (Host): What's something people might be surprised to

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: I'm left-handed. I don't know if that's something surprising. Um, I think maybe 15% of the population is I'm left-handed. that's probably, probably it.

Maggie (Host): Okay. What three words best describe you?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Enthusiastic. Detailed and compassionate.

Maggie (Host): So I think I know how you're gonna answer this, but if you could instantly be great at any Olympic sport, what would it be?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: For sure horseback riding. Um, yep, for sure. I was able to go to the Paris Olympics, which was amazing, And we were able to see lots of, Olympic sports. There are a lot of very cool sports out there, but certainly horseback riding.

Maggie (Host): What was your first job?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: So my first job was I worked at a PEth store and I started off by cleaning out cages and tanks, which was a dirty, messy job. Um, but I ended up like, you know, getting promoted to be a cashier. And that was, it was good learning how to deal with the public because not everybody's nice to a high school, a high school student, uh, who's at the bed store.

Maggie (Host): Aw. I think people should be extra nice to high schoolers 'cause you know, there's a good chance it's their first job and everybody had to start somewhere. And especially if you have kids, you know how tough it was for them and their first job. I just never understand why people aren't nicer to kids at that job anyway.

so when you were a kid, what did you dream of becoming?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: So I wanted to be a doctor, but I also was thinking about being a marine biologist. So I love animals. I love the ocean. but then I realized I don't like boats very much, and I think you need to spend time on boats if you're a marine biologist. So decided medicine was a safer on the ground career

Maggie (Host): What's your most used emoji?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: for sure. A heart. I love a lot of things.

Maggie (Host): What does National Infertility Awareness Week mean to you?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: So National Infertility Awareness Week is really a week where we can come together as a infertility community, so patient's, providers, people in the industry, and, take a minute to realize how hard This is, how important the work we're doing is, and support each other.

Maggie (Host): Dr. Rogers, why is it so important to talk openly about infertility?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Well, I think there's a lot of shame associated with infertility. When I was going through infertility treatment, I really was so ashamed. I didn't feel comfortable talking to anybody in my life about it. and people certainly in the public didn't know about it and it shouldn't be that way, right?

This is a medical condition just like any other, and obviously it's incredibly personal, but I think the more we talk about it, the more people realize that a lot of people are going through what they're going through. They're not alone.

Maggie (Host): And what are some words of encouragement that you'd share with patient's who are navigating infertility?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: There's so much hope. get the right medical team, get evaluated, get answers, and move forward to find your success.

Maggie (Host): And how can awareness and education help break the stigma that you were talking about around fertility challenges? I.

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Well, I think, having people realize that other people maybe, people they see, you know. like Hollywood stars or their doctor or who, you know, people in their life that might not be sharing it are going through similar experiences. And I think that that hopefully will sort of break some of these challenges and barriers to what people are going through.

Maggie (Host): And what should patient's look for when they're choosing a fertility clinic?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: I think there's a couple things. Certainly the expertise of the clinic, how good their pregnancy rates are. and that's something that you can look up, if you connect well with the doctor. Does the support team, help you? I think Those are all things, certainly a. Practice That is brand new, that hasn't been around very long, doesn't have the track record as a practice like ours that's been around for 40 years.

That was, tried and true, has made thousands upon thousands of families, and very, reliable.

Maggie (Host): Those are all good points. what would you say sets fertility centers of Illinois apart from other fertility clinics?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: experience has never mattered more so we have more years and more doctors than any other clinic in the Midwest. We, have helped. Make more families. And I think that our excellence in the laboratory, our excellence with our, clinical protocols and, our expertise and experience is what really sets us apart.

Maggie (Host): Well, is there anything else you'd like to add in closing?

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: I am so happy to, be able to be with you today. I also do a lot of fertility education on social media on Instagram and TikTok at Dr. Dr. Ellison do Rogers. So you can check me out there.

Maggie (Host): That's great. Thank you so much for being here and sharing your expertise. It's been a pleasure getting to know you.

Allison K. Rodgers, MD: Thank you so much, Maggie.

Maggie (Host): Again, that's Dr. Allison k Rogers. To find Dr. Rogers, please visit fci online.com/doctors. I'm Maggie McKay. Thank you for listening to Time to Talk Fertility Beyond the Lab Coat, a podcast from Fertility Centers of Illinois.