About Us
Island Fertility is a full-service fertility practice in collaboration with Stony Brook Medicine, directed by James Stelling, MD. It has been a long-time dream of Dr. Stelling along with his partner, Bradley Trivax, MD, to build a community practice that can provide all types of fertility treatment in a warm, compassionate atmosphere, encompassing state-of-the-art andrology and embryology laboratories ready to provide the highest quality and most advanced technology available for our patients. Our physicians are board-certified reproductive endocrinologists and are the most qualified doctors to diagnose and treat fertility preservation and infertility problems. Our team consists of Dr. Richard Bronson, Dr. Avner Hershlag, Dr. James Stelling, Dr. Bradley Trivax, Dr. Lauren Zakarin Safier and Dr. Chantae Sullivan-Pyke.
Our Facilities
Our primary location is a full-service fertility practice. We have the capabilities to diagnose any type of infertility, for the most part, on-site, with minimal need to refer you out for further testing. We provide on-site cycle monitoring, ovulation induction, intrauterine insemination (IUI), fertility preservation, sperm cryopreservation, oocyte cryopreservation, in vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo cryopreservation and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) of embryos. Our endocrinology lab is running state-of-the-art reproductive hormone analysis on the Roche Cobas e411.
We find that most patients experiencing infertility only need minimal treatment and regulation of cycles. For patients who need more advanced treatment, our brand new IVF lab is ready to provide this service. We have assembled the most advanced technology available, including Nikon and Olympus microscopes, Eppendorf micromanipulators, a Hamilton Thorne LYKOS and Saturn 5 laser system allowing our embryologists to choose the method that best suits your embryos' needs. We have built our laboratory to conform to the highest air quality standards to ensure optimal growth and development. Our tissue bank is protected with the maximum security possible, including 24-hour temperature monitoring, to ensure that your frozen specimens are stored safely away until you are ready to utilize them.
Our Team
Physicians
Dr. Hershlag is dual board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology. He is a Visiting Professor at the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University. Dr. Hershlag is also Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Modern Fertility. Dr. Hershlag served as the chief of Northwell Health Fertility between 2011-2018. He was also the program director of the fellowship program in reproductive endocrinology, which he had established.
Dr. Hershlag completed his undergraduate and graduate education training in his native country, Israel, and graduated from the Hadassah Medical School in Jerusalem. Following three years of a general surgery residency at Hadassah, Dr. Hershlag moved to the United States in 1984. In the United States, he completed his obstetrics and gynecology residency at the George Washington University Medical Center and a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Yale School of Medicine. His research has recently focused on the impact of genetics on infertility and the fertility preservation and prevention of cancer through genetic screening and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). He is also invested in access to fertility care and the ethics of reproductive technologies.
Dr. Hershlag has cared for patients for more than 30 years and established successful programs at Northwell Health, including preimplantation genetic testing (PGT), egg freezing, fertility preservation for cancer patients and donor eggs (third party reproduction). Dr. Hershlag frequently participates in international conferences. Most recently, he has organized and co-chaired the International Summit on Assisted Reproduction and Genetics (SARG) meeting in Tel Aviv, Israel (virtual in 2020) and chaired a course in preimplantation genetic testing (PGT) at the CoGen meeting in Paris, France (virtual in 2020.)
He is a past member of the board of directors of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association. Dr. Hershlag is the author of over 75 peer-reviewed papers, over 30 book chapters, and a novel entitled Misconception. He is the recipient of several awards, including Castle Connolly’s Top Doctors over the past several years and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 2019 Star Award.
James Stelling, MD, FACOG, HCLD
Dr. Stelling is dual board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility and has a quarter-century of experience helping people build families. He has graduated with distinction from Cornell University as a biology major and then at Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, where he was awarded the UpJohn Award for Clinical Excellence. Dr. Stelling stayed at Stony Brook University Hospital for his Ob/Gyn residency, where he was administrative chief of residency and won the award of Resident of the Year as well as the AAGL Excellence in Laparoscopy Award. Dr. Stelling was fellowship-trained in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center at Harvard Medical School and completed his fertility training at Boston IVF. Dr. Stelling is a board-certified high complexity laboratory director (HCLD) and is often working in the laboratory with his embryology team. He is an Assistant Clinical Instructor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility at Stony Brook University Hospital as well as a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Also, Dr. Stelling is a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, The Society of Reproductive Endocrinologists, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Endocrine Society, the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists, The Suffolk Ob/Gyn Society, where he serves on the board as secretary and the American Medical Association. He is also currently the Division Director of Gynecologic Endocrinology at Good Samaritan Medical Center, the same hospital that he was born. Dr. Stelling is licensed to practice in the state of New York.
Dr. Stelling was born and raised on Long Island and has devoted his career to helping Long Island families conceive healthy pregnancies. He is dedicated to applying cutting edge technology in a comfortable and affordable atmosphere for patients. His research interests include uterine anomalies and preimplantation genetic testing. He is the director of the tissue bank and donor egg program. He has devoted much of his career to helping patients preserve their fertility for the future, for both men and women facing either therapies or disorders that may render them infertile. He is well versed in both semen cryopreservation and oocyte vitrification.
Dr. Trivax is dual board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. An honors graduate of the University of Michigan, Dr. Trivax earned his medical doctorate at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit and completed his residency training in obstetrics and gynecology at Winthrop University Hospital. Dr. Trivax completed his subspecialty fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at UCLA Medical Center and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, where he was the recipient of the Outstanding Laparoendoscopic Award. Dr. Trivax excels in minimally invasive surgical treatments for the management of fibroids, endometriosis and uterine abnormalities.
Dr. Trivax is a clinical instructor at both Stony Brook University Hospital and Winthrop University Hospital. He is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, the Nassau County Obstetrics and Gynecology Society, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists. He serves on the board of the patient advocacy group, Path2Parenthood.
Dr. Trivax is a huge advocate for the LGBTQ (Lesbian/Gay/Bi/Transgender/Questioning) community and offers sensitive fertility treatment plans to address their various needs. He is a supporter of the Family Equality Council and has helped hundreds of LGBTQ couples and individuals start their families.
A scientist at heart, Dr. Trivax has conducted considerable original research on women's health issues such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), the treatments of fibroids infertility, adhesion therapies as well as research in the area of sexual health. Additionally, he frequently lectures both nationally and internationally on all aspects of fertility treatments.
Born in the Midwest, Dr. Trivax fell in love with Long Island during his residency and settled here with his wife to raise their six children. He works with his staff to streamline the complex world of infertility for his patients, so they are more comfortable with their options and with their treatment. He is fluent in English, Spanish and Hebrew.
Dr. Safier is dual board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. She graduated from Cornell University and then returned home to South Florida, where she attended medical school at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Safier completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at Weill Cornell-New York-Presbyterian Hospital in Manhattan, and then went on to complete subspecialty training in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Columbia-New York-Presbyterian Hospital. During her training, Dr. Safier was awarded the Special Resident in Minimally Invasive Gynecology Award (by American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists), has presented her research at national meetings and has published on topics including polycystic ovary syndrome, fertility options in HIV discordant couples, in vitro fertilization, ovarian reserve testing, fertility preservation and oocyte donation. She completed her thesis work on gene editing using CRISPR/Cas9 in haploid human pluripotent stem cells.
She is a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine as well as the Suffolk County Ob/Gyn Society. Dr. Safier currently holds an appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine at Stony Brook University.
Born and raised in Florida, Dr. Safier settled in Eastern Long Island with her husband and two children. Her special interests include infertility, fertility preservation, genetic testing, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Chantae Sullivan-Pyke, MD, MSTR, FACOG
Dr. Sullivan-Pyke is double board certified in obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI). She completed her medical degree at the Yale School of Medicine, followed by her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia University-New York Presbyterian Hospital. She completed a subspecialty fellowship training in REI at the University of Pennsylvania. Her longstanding interest in the investigation of clinical questions in the laboratory and bringing answers back to the bedside for clinical practice inspired her to complete a Master of Science degree in Translational Research during her REI fellowship.
Dr. Sullivan-Pyke has received various teaching and research awards and presented her research at national meetings. She has published work on numerous topics, including early pregnancy and placentation, polycystic ovary syndrome, fertility options in HIV serodiscordant couples, in vitro fertilization, fertility preservation, and preimplantation genetic testing. Dr. Sullivan-Pyke published her Master's thesis on the timing of exposure to gonadotropins having differential effects on the conceptus in a mouse model.
Dr. Sullivan-Pyke holds an appointment as a clinical instructor in the Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine at Stony Brook University. She is a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (SREI), Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), Society of Reproductive Surgeons (SRS), and the Endocrine Society. Additionally, she is a fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG).
Before joining Island Fertility, Dr. Sullivan-Pyke cared for patients in a private group setting in New York City, where she was the director of fertility preservation. Dr. Sullivan-Pyke is skilled in all aspects of fertility care and has special interests in infertility, fertility preservation, oncofertility, endometriosis, and polycystic ovary syndrome.
Nurse Practitioners
Elissa Kravis received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from SUNY University at Buffalo and a Masters of Science from the Adult-Gerontological Nurse Practitioner program at SUNY Stony Brook University. As a student, her clinical training was focused on the diagnosis and treatment of a variety of conditions across the adult health spectrum. During her time as a registered professional nurse, she served as a vital component of the care team at St. Francis Hospital’s Heart Center for over five years. As a nurse practitioner, she worked in a comprehensive neurologic care facility for three years prior to making the change to women’s health. Ms. Kravis is dedicated to being a compassionate and knowledgeable resource for the patients at Island Fertility.
Management Team
Danielle Cully, Practice Administrator
Danielle Cully has been working in women's health for 22 years. Her career began in a growing Ob/Gyn practice as a billing manager. She then moved over to a fertility practice as a receptionist/biller as she completed her bachelor's degree in mathematics at Stony Brook University. She stayed with the same fertility practice for almost two decades and held several different titles between the front desk and finance departments. She had her own journey with infertility and understands firsthand the emotional stress that our patients experience. She is dedicated to training her staff on being compassionate advocates for our patients.
Melissa Zappasoddi, RN, Clinical Services Manager
Melissa has more than 20 years of experience in the medical field and more than 10 years of experience as a nurse in bedside critical care and operating and recovery rooms. While at Island Fertility, she has held several different titles before her current management role as Clinical Services Manager. She is continually looking to expand her education and will be pursuing a Master of Science in Nursing. Having experienced her own infertility journey that resulted in the joyous birth of her identical twins, Melissa can relate in a very personal and comforting way to our patients.