About Westchester Reproductive Medicine
In 2006, Westchester Reproductive Medicine opened its doors with a vision of being a different kind of fertility center – an intimate, state-of-the-art practice that's emotionally supportive and extremely attentive to patient needs. We are proud to say we've had great success in helping women and couples achieve their family planning goals in this nurturing environment.
As a full service reproductive endocrinology and infertility office, Westchester Reproductive Medicine offers a wide range of treatments to meet your needs (see Our Services at left).
Led by Dr. Rachel A. Bennett, our office attracts couples from all over Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Sullivan Counties in New York, as well as Albany, New Jersey and Connecticut.
Meet the WRM team
Rachel A. Bennett, MD, FACOG
When facing fertility challenges, it's important to have a highly knowledgeable and trusted partner to see you through the ups and downs of this sometimes unpredictable journey. At WRM, you will benefit greatly from Dr. Bennett's experience and guidance.
After many years of clinical practice and teaching, Dr. Bennett opened this facility to devote herself entirely to treating women who are having trouble conceiving or experiencing reproductive endocrine disorders. She is dedicated to providing excellent medical care and state-of-the-art reproductive technology to her patients, and to alleviating the confusion that often accompanies infertility testing and treatment.
Dr. Bennett is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist trained at Cornell's New York Hospital and Harvard's Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. Bennett's areas of expertise include
anovulatory infertility,
polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS),
hysteroscopic surgery and
in vitro fertilization. She has taught and lectured on these and other topics, both regionally and nationally.
As a mom herself, Dr. Bennett has a keen understanding of the emotions her patients are experiencing and finds it extremely gratifying to help them through the process of creating a life. When not working, she enjoys spending time with her husband Alan Jacobs, their children, and their beloved yellow lab, Tucker. Dr. Bennett and Dr. Jacobs met while both were medical residents. After their personal lives merged, their careers moved in parallel as they pursued fellowships in Boston – hers in reproductive endocrinology and his in neuroendocrinology.
Dr. Bennett likes to play piano and do anything outdoors, from tennis to hiking to biking. While born in Minneapolis, Dr. Bennett grew up in Queens and attended high school in Manhattan. Though she enjoys living in Westchester and being close to her family here, she is still drawn to the vitality and energy of New York City and makes day trips when she can.
EDUCATION
- B.S., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
- M.D., Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY – inducted into Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Honor Medical Society
TRAINING
- Residency, Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY
- Fellowship, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Harvard University's Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA
TEACHING
- Assistant Clinical Professor, Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Assistant Clinical Professor, Columbia University
- Assistant Clinical Professor, New York Medical College
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
- AAGL - American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
- American Fertility Association (AFA)
- American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)
- Endometriosis Society
- InterNational Council on Infertility Information Dissemination (INCIID)
- Resolve: The National Infertility Association
- Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART)
- Society for Reprod Endocrinology and Infertility
- Westchester Obstetrics and Gynecology Society
BOARD CERTIFICATION
- Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology/Infertility, by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology,
since 1998
HOSPITAL PRIVLEGES
- Hudson Valley Hospital Center
- Lawrence Hospital
- Northern Westchester Hospital Center
- Phelps Memorial Hospital Center
- Putnam Hospital Center
- St. John's Riverside Hospital – Dobbs Ferry Pavilion
Read more | Dr. Bennett's Credentials
Kristen Buehl, Office Manager
Kristen is not only our office manager, but a WRM success story. While seeing Dr. Bennett as a patient in 2007, Kristen was so interested in learning about everything she was going through – and had such a positive attitude – that Dr. Bennett promptly hired her.
Because Kristen was once the patient, she has firsthand knowledge and understanding of everything you may be going through, and is always there for support. In addition, she will work closely with you and your insurance company to determine exactly what your financial responsibility will be. In 2009, Kristen became a certified phlebomy technician and is also certified in basic life support/CPR.
Read more | Kristen's success story
Mercedes Marcos, Medical Assistant
Mercedes is extremely sensitive to the needs of patients – something they appreciate very much, especially when she's drawing blood. Everyone always remarks about how gentle and relaxed Mercedes is, and how comfortable she makes them feel.
Mercedes has worked for Dr. Bennett since finishing her internship from Sanford Brown in December of 2008. She is a Certified Medical Assistant and also holds a certificate for Basic Life Support and CPR. In addition to drawing all necessary labs requested by Dr. Bennett, Mercedes assists on most procedures. Mercedes is also fluent in Spanishents.
Read more
Ann Crane, Ph.D., Psychologist
Dr. Ann Crane has worked closely with Dr. Bennett for over 10 years, helping men and women face and transcend the emotional challenges involved in pursuing infertility treatment. Her own experience with infertility gives her a unique ability to understand the emotional impact of this life crisis on a woman's identity and marriage.
Dr. Crane is in full-time private practice in White Plains, where she specializes in women's reproductive health, including infertility, pregnancy loss, postpartum depression and the transition to menopause. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified psychoanalyst with a doctorate from Yeshiva University/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Crane coordinates and leads Westchester area support groups and has organized numerous seminars in the area.
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Anna Kowalska, Wellness and Nutrition Coach
Anna's passion for helping women with infertility and PCOS began after she was diagnosed with PCOS at age 27. After experiencing depression, sudden weight gain, inconsistent cycles and other symptoms, Anna set out on a journey to learn how to live life to the fullest with PCOS.
Today, Anna is a Certified Health Coach accredited by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners. At Westchester Reproductive Medicine, she offers health and wellness coaching as well as seminars on PCOS. By helping women make gradual, lifelong changes in nutrition, stress control and self-awareness, Anna creates an optimal environment for healing, making it easier to achieve hormonal balance and healthy fertility.
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Heather Hur, Ph.D.
Embryology Laboratory Director
Dr. Heather Hur is the IVF Laboratory Director with twenty four years of experience. Dr. Hur worked for eleven years as an Embryology laboratory director at Maria Fertility Hospital which is the largest IVF program in Korea.
She also spent six year as the IVF Laboratory Director at Diamond Institute for Infertility in New Jersey. She received her Ph.D. from Seoul National University in Korea, where her research focused on Blastocyst Transfer and In Vitro Maturation (IVM).
She has published several journal articles and presented data at international journal and conference.
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Scott Lee
Senior Embryologyist
Scott (Seokyoon) Lee received his Master of Science degree from Chungnam National University in Korea. He began his embryology career in 1995 at Maria Fertility Hospital in Korea.
He brings more than 15 years of embryology experience to the practice. His extensive experiences include IVF, IVM, Natural IVF/M, ICSI, assisted hatching, embryo biopsy, PGD and cryopreservation of oocytes, sperm and embryos.
