Our Staff

Fairfax Cryobank staff consists of laboratory, customer service, and medical personnel working together to bring you the highest quality of care.

The Cryobank Director is Stephen H. Pool, Ph.D. Dr. Pool holds a Doctorate degree in Reproductive Biology from Louisiana State University and has more than 30 years of clinical laboratory and research experience in human and animal fertility including over 23 years experience in human sperm banking. Dr. Pool is a member of several professional organizations including the American Association of Tissue Banks (AATB) where he served on the Board of Governors from 2008-2012, the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the American Association of Bioanalysts (AAB) and the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS). Dr. Pool consults daily with physicians and laboratory personnel of many of our clients.

The Laboratory Director and Director of Operations is Michelle Ottey. Michelle received her BA in Biology from Rosemont College and a PhD in Genetics from Thomas Jefferson University. She is responsible for managing the labs of the Cryobank which includes staff and donor management, working with Client Depositors and Directed Donors, and the storage program for semen, embryos and reproductive tissues.

The Director of Client Development for Fairfax Cryobank is Michael Buuck. Mr. Buuck received a Bachelor's degree in Animal Science from The University of Southwestern Louisiana and a Master's degree in Reproductive Physiology from The University of Tennessee. Mr. Buuck started working in the Fairfax, VA laboratory and moved to the Austin location in 2003. He is responsible for developing client relations for the Cryobank and oversees the operation of the Austin laboratory location. Mr. Buuck is also the contact person for embryo storage in Austin.

The Medical Director of Fairfax Cryobank is Harvey J. Stern, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Stern joined the Genetics & IVF Institute in 1995 and became the Medical Director of Fairfax Cryobank in 1999. He is also the Medical Director of the Institute's Fetal Diagnostic Center and Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) program. He is certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Medical Genetics with subspecialty certification in clinical, biochemical and molecular genetics. Dr. Stern received his undergraduate degree in Molecular Biology from Columbia University and went on to complete a Ph.D. in Human Genetics from the Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. He attended medical school at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. After a medical residency in pediatrics at Children's National Medical Center, he completed fellowship training in medical genetics at UCLA. Dr. Stern personally reviews the application, medical and family histories as well as the laboratory testing for each donor.

Fairfax Cryobank has established a Medical Advisory Committee composed of experts in the fields of infertility, infectious disease, microbiology, and genetics. The committee regularly advises the Medical Director in relevant operating standards that will assure product efficacy and safety. Meetings are held on a regular basis to discuss medical criteria for donor participation and quality standards for semen analysis.

Fairfax Cryobank's Medical Advisory Committee

Our laboratory support staff is comprised of Bachelor's degree graduates and most supervisors hold a Masters degree as well. Our laboratory personnel are trained in biology and general health care. The skilled laboratory staff has broad experience in screening donor candidates and optimizing specimen quality. All Fairfax Cryobank lab staff members must complete a rigorous training and proficiency program prior to donor specimen processing and distribution. The staff works daily to maintain Fairfax Cryobank's long-standing record of excellence in providing anonymous donor sperm, and dedication to delivering the highest quality of care to its patients and clients alike.

Our Client Services Staff is comprised of individuals with extensive customer service experience and most are Bachelor's degree graduates. Our customer service staff, known for their skill and sensitivity in addressing your personalized needs, is available to help you through the donor selection process. Our customer service personnel are trained in all aspects of the donor sperm selection process. We believe you deserve personal attention during your experience with us and an actual person answers every call. Our customer service hours are Monday-Friday 7:00 am to 6:00 pm and Saturday 11:30 to 3:30 pm ET and our phone number is 800-338-8407.