Our Team - Reproductive Medicine and Fertility Center
Voted 2017 "Best Doctor" in the Bay Area - San Francisco Magazine
Collin Smikle, MD, FACOG
Medical Director
Dr. Collin Smikle is the founder and Medical Director of Laurel Fertility Care. Board certified in obstetrics and gynecology as well as reproductive endocrinology and infertility, he has extensive experience in IVF, all assisted reproductive technologies and advanced laparoscopic surgery. He is a highly respected physician, researcher, teacher and medical author.
Dr. Smikle graduated Yale Medical School (1985) and completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital at Harvard Medical School (1989). He received specialty training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of California San Francisco where he did extensive research in oocyte and follicular development and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS).
Dr. Smikle has authored over 25 medical publications, book chapters, and abstracts. He is a member of American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the Bay Area Reproductive Endocrinologists Society, and the San Francisco Obstetrical and Gynecological Society.
Geraldine Ekpo, MD, FACOG
Physician, Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Specialist
Dr. Geraldine Ekpo graduated summa cum laude from Georgia Tech with a B.Sc. in Biomedical Engineering and obtained her medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical School. She completed her residency in obstetrics & gynecology at Northwestern University in Chicago and a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) where she did extensive research on uterine fibroids and metabolic syndrome. She is board certified in obstetrics & gynecology as well as reproductive endocrinology and infertility.
Dr. Ekpo’s expertise includes, IVF, egg freezing and other forms of fertility preservation, low complexity options for ovarian stimulation and all other aspects of assisted reproductive technologies. She is also well versed in managing fertility and endocrine issues associated with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Dr. Ekpo is passionate about increasing access to fertility care worldwide. While interning at the World Health Organization (WHO) in Geneva, she co-authored a publication on the global estimates of infertility, access, and regulations, and has been an invited speaker at global conferences on access to care.
Dr. Ekpo is an inducted member of the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society. She is also a member of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the San Francisco Gynecological Society. She has authored medical publications and book chapters and presented her research at annual ASRM scientific meetings. She understands the importance of training the next generation of women’s health physicians and is a Clinical Instructor at San Francisco General Hospital where she teaches UCSF OB/GYN residents and medical students.
Dr. Ekpo feels very privileged to be able to assist patients in their family building endeavors, and is very committed to providing exceptional individualized care.
Francesca Perrone, MSN, RN, NP-BC
Clinical Manager
Although a California native, Francesca earned her Bachelor's in Nursing and her Masters in Nursing as a Nurse Practitioner at Columbia University in New York. In addition to the Masters degree, she obtained a subspecialty in Clinical Genetics with an emphasis in Prenatal Genetics.
Francesca worked in Family Medicine in New York before following her passion for genetics and maternal-child health through the field of fertility. She joined the practice in April 2015. As a Clinical Nurse Manager and In Vitro Fertilization Coordinator at Laurel Fertility Care, she works with patients and staff to ensure the highest standards of quality and service are maintained. She helps coordinate patient treatment cycles, donor and gestational carrier treatments, and performs ultrasound evaluations, mock embryo transfers, and intrauterine inseminations.
Donna Damo, RN, BSN
Clinical Coordinator
Donna has been in the healthcare field for 6 years. Prior to obtaining her bachelor’s degree from West Coast University and becoming a registered nurse in 2014, Donna was an LVN, providing long term care for geriatric and hospice patients. A love of promoting quality of life and an interest in women’s health prompted her to return to school to advance her degree.
Donna first joined the LFC nursing staff in 2014, where she has gained significant experience in caring for IVF patients. She also has experience working with recipients, egg donors and gestational carriers.
Donna continues to enjoy her role and finds deep gratification in helping couples build their families.
Embryology
Marlane Angle, PhD, HCLD
Laboratory Director
Dr. Angle received her PhD in 1983 from Auburn University in Reproductive Physiology. She completed two NIH (National Institute of Health)-sponsored postdoctoral fellowships at universities in Texas and then moved to San Francisco for her IVF training at the University of California, San Francisco.
She has been licensed as a High Complexity Laboratory Director through the American Association of Bioanalysts since 1994. She serves as a laboratory inspector for the College of American Pathologists, participates in several committees and task forces for ASRM, and is co-owner of International Reproductive Information and Services, L.L.C. (IRIS).
Dr. Angle became the Laboratory Director at Laurel Fertility Care in 2008 and played a critical role in bringing new technologies to the laboratory. Although she step down from daily activities in the lab in March 2015, she remains the Off-Site Laboratory Director and manages the Embryology Staff.
Dr. Angle has published more than 50 scientific articles, book chapters and abstracts and is an ad hoc reviewer for Fertility and Sterility.
Devin Monahan, BS, MS
Embryologist
Devin Monahan has received a BS degree in Biology from St. Bonaventure University and a MS degree in Embryology from Eastern Virginia Medical School. He is currently a PhD candidate at the University of Kent.
Prior to joining the laboratory at Laurel Fertility Care in 2013, Devin worked as an embryologist at the Weill Cornell Medical College, Center for Reproductive Medicine. He has contributed to numerous research papers, review papers, and book chapters, and has presented research at several international IVF conferences. Devin can also run really fast.
Joonho Cho, PhD
Embryologist
Dr. Cho earned his PhD in Reproductive biology from Yamagata University in Japan (2007).
He finished his post-doctoral training at Washington University in St. Louis, Stanford University, and George Washington University.
Dr. Cho’s research was focused on the role of gene expression in cell differentiation and oocyte growth. He is particularly interested in in vitro oocyte maturation and early embryo development and study of genetic markers for increasing of pregnancy rate. Dr. Cho joined the staff in 2014. Dr. Cho has published more than 10 scientific articles and abstracts and is an active doctoral member of American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
Natalie LaRosa, RN
Clinical Coordinator
Natalie graduated as a Registered Nurse in 2015 from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Shadyside School of Nursing after an influential clinical rotation on a High Risk Antepartum Unit. Prompted by her experience, Natalie moved to San Francisco in 2016 where she joined the team at Laurel Fertility Care as a Clinical Coordinator. Natalie enjoys the individualized, one-on-one interaction that she gets to have with her patients and takes pride in continuously expanding her knowledge to provide the best care.