Dr. Shahin Ghadir is a compassionate and caring physician who dedicates his career to helping people overcome their reproductive challenges and infertility issues to achieve their goals of having the family of their dreams, for both traditional families and the LGBTQ community. He is currently positioned as a top physician for egg freezing, with one of the highest success rates in the USA, sought out by women all over the world for his skill set in this highly coveted procedure.
As a founding partner of Southern California Reproductive Center, Dr. Ghadir is double board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He is currently an assistant clinical professor in the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and at The Keck School of Medicine at USC.
A native Angeleno, Dr. Ghadir is continuously voted as one of the “Top Doctors” in the USA by Los Angeles Magazine’s national poll and Super Doctors of Southern California. He remains one of the most popular, approachable, and well-liked fertility specialists in our country with amazing reviews all over the internet.
Dr. Ghadir received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from UCLA, graduating cum laude. He earned his medical degree from the Central University School of Medicine, where he graduated summa cum laude and ranked first in his class. He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center, followed by a three-year subspecialty fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the combined UCLA and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center program. Dr. Ghadir supports and has served on both the board of directors for the Path2Parenthood, formerly known as the American Fertility Association (AFA), as well as the Neuromuscular Disease Foundation (NDF). He has received numerous academic awards and honors over the years, including a Distinguished Teaching Award during his residency and a Community Service Recognition Award in the state of California.
Dr. Ghadir, can you start by telling us what inspired you to become a physician specializing in reproductive and infertility issues for women and men?
Being a part of one of the most important aspects of people’s lives is what inspired me to understand and learn every aspect of the science of fertility, and to dedicate myself to helping every individual and any relationship achieve their goal of having a family.
You are a founding member of the Southern California Reproductive Center. Tell us about the center and the work it does to help women and men become parents.
SCRC (Southern California Reproductive Center) is one of the largest fertility clinics on the West Coast of the United States and has been dedicated to helping individuals preserve their fertility and start beautiful families. SCRC has also incorporated one of the most advanced IVF labs in the world, to help our patients achieve their goals.
What is the biggest issue women and men experience when trying to conceive?
For women, the largest obstacle they face when trying to conceive is starting their family at a younger age. Today’s societal norms of “career coming first” has led to major difficulties for women around the Western World. For men, the largest obstacles they face when trying to conceive is the starting point to assess their fertility, which includes being proactive and making sure to test their fertility.
Are there environmental issues or societal issues that prevent people from conceiving today? Are these issues different from 30 to 50 years ago?
Societal norms on who can and who can’t have their own family have changed drastically over the last 50 years. I have done my best to use my platform as a fertility specialist to promote families for anyone who desires to have a family.
Sadly, our environment continues to be an unknown gray area that hinders the fertility of our population and limited research is being done to understand the effects of all negative environmental findings on the potential to reproduce.
What advice would you give to someone trying to build a family but unable to get pregnant?
Advice I would give to someone trying to build a family but unable to get pregnant is that it is always best to consult with a fertility specialist sooner than later. Knowledge is always power, and age is never on your side.
Southern California Reproductive Center has one of the highest pregnancy rates in the field of infertility. How does the medical center achieve its high pregnancy rate?
SCRC has achieved one of the highest rates of pregnancy in the field of infertility by utilizing our renowned IVF lab, which has some of the most advanced technologies and procedures available in the world.
Tell us about your career in medicine and the journey to your current role at Southern California Reproductive Center.
While completing my OB GYN residency, I realized that I wanted to be a part of advancing science in the area of fertility treatments, and to dedicate my career to helping people achieve their goals of having a family. As a founding partner of the SCRC, I have been there for 19 years.
What has been the biggest challenge you have experienced during your medical career?
Sadly, the treatment for fertility patients is a costly area of medicine. Not being able to treat someone due to financial limitations has been one of the most devastating areas of my speciality. Additionally, giving someone bad news about not being pregnant is always one of the biggest hardships that I carry as a fertility specialist.
What is your life like away from medicine? How do you balance work and life?
I try my best to balance my work life and my life away from medicine. Away from medicine, my largest priority are my four kids, and also trying to stay active as I get older. I try to balance work and family life by remembering to enjoy life through this journey.
You host a podcast for the Southern California Reproductive Center. Tell us about the podcast and some of the other work you do outside of medicine.
I host the fertile life podcast which has been one of the most rewarding experiences in my career. I have learned so much about people’s journeys through their own fertility paths and also, have enriched discussions about some of the most interesting people that have joined my podcast.
Ghadir, how is a day in your life?
A day in my life usually starts out with a jog or brisk walk in my neighborhood, and then dropping kids at school, and then arriving at the clinic where I start by calling people with updates about their embryos. Throughout the day, I see patients that are trying to be pregnant, are already pregnant, and also do procedures to help people get to the end point.
What is something most people don’t know about you?
One thing most people don’t know about me is that I’ve picked up playing golf in the last six months, and I am obsessed. I’m still working on my technique though.
Choose two of your favorite quotes and write them here
Just do it – Nike
Knowledge is power
If you had the power to change just one thing in the world, what would it be?
World peace
World renowned fertility expert, Dr. Shahin Ghadir, has helped thousands of people start a family. In The Fertile Life, he interviews guests about their paths to parenthood and dives into discussions around how the road to becoming a parent differs for all. He discusses balancing a family with life’s responsibilities, and what challenges one encounters along the way. Through insightful conversation, he hopes to create a guide for listeners in all stages of life, as well as break stigmas often associated with fertility. Past guests include Molly Sims, Virgina Thorton, Serena Poon, Rachel Zeilic, Scheana Shay, and Caroline Stanbury. Follow along, as he takes you on the journeys towards The Fertile Life.
The Fertile Life with Dr. Shahin Ghadir on Dear Media Network Podcast
https://www.scrcivf.com/doctors/shahin-ghadir
Follow on social @DrShahinGhadir
