GLMA 2009 Conference
September 23, 2009 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
Understanding the Healthcare Needs of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Individuals
A growing number of medical societies, health plans, academic institutions, public health officials and others have recognized the need for healthcare providers to receive special training on how to meet the unique healthcare needs of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. This fall, the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) is hosting the 27th Annual Conference of the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association to address this need.
I am honored to be one of the featured speakers at this event discussing how gay and lesbian families can navigate the alternative family building journey through surrogacy.
The conference will be held on September 30 – October 3, 2009 at the Westin Washington, DC, City Center. It is the world’s largest scientific meeting focusing on LGBT health, healthcare delivery, workplace discrimination, and healthcare education and offers up to 18 hours of continuing education for healthcare professionals. In addition to rich educational offerings, the conference provides ample opportunities to meet and socialize with other healthcare professionals, students and GLMA members.
More information about the Annual Conference, including a preliminary program of educational offerings, is available at www.glma.org/annualconference.
Jude Andrew Adams Fund
June 11, 2009 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
I am proud to announce that Lotus Blossom Consulting has officially established the Jude Andrew Adams Charitable Fund to bring new life to families who are struggling to conceive. motivation and intention in creating this grant is to offer a free fertility treatment for those who could not otherwise afford it. To learn more about this fund and how it came to fruition, please click here.
Applications for a free treatment cycle are now being accepted. The board of directors will select from applicants who meet the following criteria:
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Have a history of infertility, and provide a physician documented medical indication for exploring IVF treatment along with the application
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Demonstrate a financial need; defined as a gross combined annual income less than $80,000. A copy of the last two years’ IRS tax returns and two of the most recent pay stubs is required.
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No insurance coverage for infertility treatments.
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Do not currently have any children.
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Be under age 40.
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Be current legal citizens of the United States and living in the United States at the time of the award and subsequent treatment.
Thank you all for your help and support for this great cause.
When the Path to Parenthood is Not Linear
March 26, 2009 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
We understand that sometimes the pathway to parenthood is not linear. As frustrating as this is, reality requires us to make difficult choices and explore paths that we never imagined. Coming to terms with using a third party candidate can be a complicated and overwhelming process. In my experience, when clients can reach a comfort zone in selecting a candidate who meets close to their ideal criteria, the process becomes much more palatable.
So where does one begin the search? Some clinics provide in house egg donor recruiting programs. These programs tend to be small and often consist of only local donors. Due to their size, supply does not often meet demand and wait lists to select a candidate tend to be long. The agency route is another avenue. Agencies often have larger pools of available candidates, but weeding through profiles to identify ideal candidates can be time consuming and overwhelming.
Explore your resources. As an Infertility Consultant my focus is to advocate for the intended parents. Through carefully established strategic alliances with agencies nationwide, the consultants at Lotus Blossom Consulting have access to vast pools of qualified and available surrogate and egg donor candidates. Our match time is typically less than two weeks. We deliver to your email box targeted profiles to specifically meet your ideal criteria. There is no limit to the number of profiles you will have to choose from. The goal is to identify a candidate that appropriately suits your needs. But in addition, Lotus Blossom Consulting closely screens the agencies. We drive business only to agencies that are willing to include special clauses in their contracts for our client, which ensures that your financial risk factors will be mitigated in the event that a candidate does not pass your physician’s medical screening. This is one of our commitments to you in working as your advocate.
With our help, the complicated process becomes less overwhelming. Our very personalized touch and direct guidance in what to seek in an ideal candidate enables clients to focus their energies and emotions on other aspects of the cycle. Having the confidence to move through third party reproduction comes with knowing that you selected the right candidate, within a timeframe that is consistent with your course of treatment, and a budget that suits your financial reserves.
The journey through infertility need not be a fearful or overwhelming adventure. Identifying support, resources and guidance can save valuable time, preserve emotional well being and help to optimize the resources for your treatment cycle while minimizing the overall financial expenditure for the end family building goal. Being proactive in building the foundation for multiple cycles is simply acting prudent.
Building the Foundation for Infertility Treatment
October 22, 2007 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
Download a registration form or call (312) 582-6035 to register.
Lotus Blossom Consulting, LLC, is a concierge service for people undergoing fertility treatment. Join the company’s founders, MINDY BERKSON and TONI SIRAGUSA, for this seminar that will discuss a range of issues confronting people with infertility: maximizing insurance benefits, choosing a fertility center, holistic opportunities, and financing treatment. Berskon has worked in the industry for over 10 years in a variety of capacities both at donor agencies and at fertility centers. Siragusa is a financial planner and insurance agent who has worked specifically with couples undergoing infertility to properly plan for and finance treatment. Check out their Web site at www.lotusblossomconsulting.com.
Location: Latin Upper School, 59 W. North Blvd.
Instructor: Mindy Berkson & Toni Siragusa Course Fee: $40
Date: Thu, 25-Oct 1 Class Time: 6:30-8:30 pm
ASRM Urges Caution, Strong Counseling for Women Seeking Egg Freezing
October 22, 2007 by Mindy Berkson · Leave a Comment
The report emphasizes that the currently available data are too limited to allow egg freezing to be considered an established medical treatment. However, many women understandably have an interest in this emerging technology as an elective fertility preservation strategy. (Source: IVF News)
Ok, you may be thinking what does freezing your eggs have to do with counseling. The bottom line is that people are thinking this is going to be a great way to deter the inevitable aging of eggs. Thus, you can use your own 23 year old eggs when you’re looking to have a child at 43.
On the surface, not a bad idea. Younger eggs are always a better bet…but freezing? What worries me most is that the women considering freezing only see the potential upside. The potential downsides are kind of swept under the rug.
Have you ever put chocolate in the freezer? When you take it out, it’s discolored from the cocoa doing some chemical dance from the temperature drop. It’s still fine to consume, but…do you think that something as delicate as a human egg is going to still be right as rain if it separates like the chocolate? What about freezer burn?
No matter how advanced the technology, no matter how careful the scientist or doctor…you’re still putting a living thing into a freezer. A very, very cold freezer. And then you’re hoping for the best.
I can understand why counseling is strongly recommended. It should be. Because this is not one of the better ideas I’ve heard for having a child later in life.
Jude Andrew Adams Charitable Fund
August 31, 2007 by Mindy Berkson · 3 Comments
Lotus Blossom Consulting has established the Jude Andrew Adams Charitable Fund to bring hope and new life to those in need. Through this grant, we are offering a free fertility treatment cycle for financially needy individuals.
