Dr. Kent Crickard attended Williams College, Williamstown, MA where he received a BA in Chemistry with Honors. He then completed his medical school training at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. After a one year rotating internship in Medicine/Obstetrics and Gynecology at Grady Memorial Hospital, Atlanta, GA, Dr. Crickard returned to Rochester, NY to complete his residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology, Strong Memorial Hospital, University of Rochester School of Medicine. Following his residency training, he completed two year fellowships in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Iowa and the University of California San Francisco. During his tenure as Associate Professor, Department OB/GYN SUNY at Buffalo, he received NIH/NCI grant support for his research on ovarian cancer. He presently is Associate Professor Emeritus, Dept OB/GYN, SUNY at Buffalo. His interests include general infertility, assisted reproductive technologies, resident education and laparoscopic surgery.

Dr. Michael Sullivan attended Canisius College, Buffalo, NY. where he received a BS in chemistry with honors. He is a graduate of The State University of New York Health Science Center at Syracuse. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA. Following his residency, he completed a one-year post doctoral fellowship in pharmacology at Thomas Jefferson University and a three year fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Magee Womens Hospital, University of Pittsburgh. Presently Dr Sullivan is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics SUNY at Buffalo. His particular interests are in infertility, ovulation induction and the role of luteinizing hormone in follicle development.

Dr. Ralph C. Sperrazza completed his undergraduate education at Canisius College in Buffalo, New York. He received a Bachelor’s Degree with Honors in Biology. He attended the University of Rochester Medical School and graduated with an MD degree in 1972. Dr. Sperrazza completed his rotating internship and one year of residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. Following his internship and residency, Dr. Sperrazza finished a one year fellowship in High risk Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Natal in Durban, South Africa. After two more years of residency at Strong Memorial, he returned to Buffalo, New York to enter private practice.

Since that time, Dr. Sperrazza has been actively involved in the Residency Program at Sisters of Charity Hospital and is the Director of Fertility Services. He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology in the Department of OB/GYN, SUNY at Buffalo.

Besides his interests in general infertility and ovulation induction Dr. Sperrazza has extensive expertise in the management of advanced stages of Endometriosis. Together with a team of specially trained nurses, a urologist and bowel surgeon, severe cases of endometriosis and adhesions can be managed. Myomectomy (the removal of fibroids) has also been one of Dr. Sperrazza’s areas of special interest. Fibroids can cause pain, bleeding, infertility and pregnancy loss. Dr. Sperrazza has extensive experience with tubal reversal surgery with a success rate of approximately 90% based on age and tubal occlusion.

Barbara J. Boehler, Nurse Practitioner, is a graduate of the State University of New York at Buffalo School of Nursing where she received both Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees with Honors. She is a certified Obstetrics & Gynecology Nurse Practitioner. In addition, she has attained certification in both Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Nursing and Menopause treatment. She has had experience working with teenagers through elderly women in the GYN office and hospital settings.

IVF & Andrology Laboratory

IVF Physicians

Dr. Kent Crickard, M.D., REI
Associate Professor
Director, IVF Program

DR. Michael W. Sullivan, M.D., REI
Assitant Professor
Medical Director, IVF Program

Laboratory Director

Dr. Hemlata Bhakoo, PhD, HCDL, EDL completed her graduate and post-graduate training at the University of Illinois at Urbana, Champaign. After her post-doctoral research at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, she received training in embryology at the University of California at San Francisco in 1987. She established the In Vitro fertilization (IVF) Laboratory in the Department of OB/GYN, University at Buffalo, located at Children's Hospital of Buffalo, where she served as Director of the IVF Laboratory from 1992 to 1999. She achieved accreditation for the IVF Laboratory from the College of American Pathologists. She joined Infertility & IVF Medical Associates of WNY in June, 1999.

Dr. Bhakoo's main focus is to provide state-of-the-art laboratory services relating to male factor diagnosis (Andrology) and treatment using refined laboratory techniques for embryo culture, micromanipulation and cryopreservation of sperm and embryos (Embryology)

Embryologists
Peter Vaccaro, B.S., T.S.: Laboratory Supervisor
Amy Velez, M.S., M.T., ASCP: Senior Embryologist

Andrologist
Melissa Morrow, B.S., M.T., ASCP

IVF Nursing Staff

Anne Kilger, RN
Kathy Soroka, RN

IVF Support Staff

Janet Biondolillo - IVF Manager

Business Manager
Barbara Mercier

Infertility Staff
Melissa Morrow, Anne Kilger RN, Dr. Hema Bhakoo, Janet Biondolillo,
Amy Velez, Peter Vaccaro, Kathy Soroka RN

Infertility Nurses
Judy Gibson RN, Judy Lowes RN, Melanie Coates RN

Infertility Nurses
Susan Lauber RN, Jennifer Baran RN, Anne Marie Kern RN, Nancy McCauley RN,
Gail Luchowski RN

Medical Assistants/Phlebotomist
MaryBeth Hauger, Medical Assistant; Diane Boeck, Phlebotomist;
Cindy Baranowski, Medical Assistant/Phlebotomist

Office Staff
Audrey Townsend, Marie Sperrazza, Michelle Costello, Tonia Groves, and
Barbara Bordonaro (Not Pictured: Brenda McKinnon)

Ultrasound Technicians.
 Ilene Canterbury, Paula Carter, Deborah Elmer-Masterman, Emily Robb