A Letter from Our President
On behalf of all of us at NAFG, I want to welcome you to our site.
I know that you have found us for a very important reason – because you hope to expand a family or give of yourself to help others realize their dream of having a child. These are highly sensitive – often private – pursuits and they deserve the attention of experienced professionals.
I started NAFG because I felt that a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to surrogacy and egg donation would be a great benefit to carriers, donors, and intended parents alike. The practitioners with whom we are affiliated are all well-established leaders in their respective fields, and represent the very best of the scientific, medical, legal and mental health communities. In addition to an impressive base of knowledge, all have a warm and confident manner and are very approachable.
To function at a high level, a fair amount of selectivity is necessary. We screen our gestational carrier and egg donor candidates extremely carefully and apply stringent protocols to the evaluation process so that only the most qualified, most likely to succeed carriers and donors are accepted into our program. We also spend a considerable amount of time with prospective intended parent(s) – educating them on the process and addressing their concerns, in order for them to have a full measure of understanding before they decide to start with us. Once a part of the NAFG program – either as carrier, donor, or intended parent – you can expect conscientious and personal attention from everyone here. My role as president is to ensure that we always provide the best possible experience for you.
I wish you well.
Sanford M. Benardo, Esq.
Co-Founder and President
Mission Statement & Policies
NAFG is committed to creating happy and loving families through gestational surrogacy and egg donation. We are devoted to making these complex processes successful through our multi-faceted, personalized approach featuring extensive carrier and donor outreach and screening. By navigating the surrogacy and egg donation journeys with the highest degree of expertise, integrity, and sensitivity, NAFG’s goal is for our clients to have the babies they always wanted.
Couples or singles interested in having a child through surrogacy and/or donor egg, or prospective carriers and donors, will find much useful general information on this site. For additional information or to discuss your specific concerns, please phone us at 1-800-710-1677, where you can speak to one of our staff directly, or e-mail us at inquiry@assistedfertility.com.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND OFFICE POLICY
All communications between the Northeast Assisted Fertility Group and our clients are held in the strictest confidence. Responsiveness to our client’s needs is a hallmark of this office, and we take pride in our adherence to the highest ethical standards. There is someone to answer your call 24 hours per day, 7 days a week.
We maintain a strict non-discrimination policy. We do not view age, ethnicity, race, religion, or sexual orientation as a barrier to alternate methods of reproduction. Prospective parents must, however, be emotionally, psychologically, and financially prepared to create or expand a family.
TERMS OF USE
Please know that the information on this site or the transmission of e-mail does not, in and of itself, establish a contractual relationship with the Northeast Assisted Fertility Group. Embarking on a gestational surrogacy or egg donation arrangement is an important decision which should only be made after considering all relevant information, including information that may not be on this Web site.
DISCLAIMER
The material on this Web site is for informational purposes only. This information does not constitute legal or medical advice. The law changes constantly, and the information may not be correct on the date you read it, and it may not apply to your particular situation. Each matter has its own unique set of facts, and the law is different in each state and country. Because of this, you should not rely on any information on this Web site without first obtaining advice from a licensed, competent attorney or physician about your particular situation.
Meet Our Team
Sanford M. Benardo, Esq.
Co-Founder and President
Sanford M. Benardo has achieved global recognition within the legal and medical communities as an innovator in the fields of surrogate parenting and third party family building. For more than twenty five years, he has been a featured commentator when major news outlets cover stories related to assisted reproduction and adoption, and he is quoted often in domestic and international print and electronic media. He has represented intended parents, gestational carriers, traditional carriers, egg donors, donor egg recipients, donor egg facilities, hospitals, adoption agencies, adoptive parents, and birth/expectant parents as part of his broad-based fertility law practice.
Mr. Benardo sits on the American Bar Association’s Subcommittees on Reproductive and Genetic Technologies, Adoption, and Ethics, Professionalism and Grievance. He is a founding member of the American College of Assisted Reproduction and Adoption Lawyers (ACARAL) and a past member of the Bioethical Issues Committee and the Children and the Law Committee of the New York City Bar Association. Additionally, he is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and its Legal Professionals Group, the New England Fertility Society, and the Hastings Center for Bioethical Research. Mr. Benardo is also a board member and advisor to several philanthropic and research organizations dedicated to expanding reproductive rights and reproductive choice. He is a graduate of New York University and the Fordham University School of Law, where he was a member of the Fordham International Law Journal. He is admitted to the Bars of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the State of New York, and the United States District Court for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York and the Unied States Supreme Court.
Katherine Benardo
Co-Founder and Egg Donor Coordinator
Kathy has been leading the egg donor program at NAFG since its inception and directs all donor recruiting, pre-screening, matching and cycle coordination. She is sought after for her insights on egg donation by journalists and news programs and has been interviewed extensively by media representatives from around the world. Kathy also maintains the NAFG blog, where she shares her thoughts and invites discussion. Kathy received her BA from Smith College and an MA from New York University.
Ellen Argall, RN
Surrogacy Coordinator
Ellen is a registered nurse and has been practicing exclusively in Women’s Health since graduating from Mercy Hospital School of Nursing. She has extensive experience in the infertility field and has been helping people with their journeys for the past twenty-five years. She has been associated with renowned fertility centers on the East and West Coasts, both in clinical and managerial roles. As an active member of ASRM, she has been involved with the Nurses’ Professional Group and has received accolades for her writing. She was instrumental in founding infertility support groups for infertility nurses and has participated in steering committees and advisory boards for patients and for nurses. Ellen has a special interest in and is dedicated to health and patient education.
Allison Rosen, PhD
Psychological Consultant
Dr. Rosen is a clinical psychologist in private practice for more than thirty years, specializing in general infertility counseling, third-party reproduction, pregnancy loss, and adoption. She sees individuals, couples and groups to help with reproductive issues, depression, anxiety and other psychological problems. She received her B.A. from the University of California, her Ph.D. from Michigan State University and her Certificate in Psychoanalysis from the William Alanson White Institute.
Dr. Rosen has been at the forefront of research and development related to fertility preservation for cancer patients. She co-founded the Fertility Preservation Special Interest Group in the American Society of Reproductive Medicine and is on the Advisory Boards of Fertile Hope and Sharsheret – organizations that are dedicated to helping cancer survivors. She is former executive director of RESOLVE of New York City where she created educational programs and support systems for infertile patients. Dr. Rosen is the Past President of the William Alanson White Psychoanalytic Society and a faculty member and supervisor at the William Alanson White Institute. She has served as a psychological consultant to many reproductive programs in the tri-state area.
Dr. Rosen edited “Frozen Dreams,” a book written to help therapists better understand their emotional reactions to patients suffering infertility. Dr. Rosen has spoken on television and radio and is a frequent lecturer on reproductive issues.
Fiona Kelman-Brown
Egg Donor Program Assistant
Fiona is a freelance photographer and she specializes in lifestyle family portraits. She has been meeting with NAFG egg donors since 2013 and has been in the Boston area with her family since 1997, after growing up in London. Photography is her passion and she enjoys the opportunity to meet and photograph different interesting people. Fiona earned a certificate from CDIA for Professional Photography in 2012.
Rebecca Snow, RN, CCRN
Surrogacy Consultant
Rebecca is a registered nurse specializing in neurosurgery and critical care. She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati and is currently pursuing further studies through Ohio University. Rebecca has been involved with NAFG since 2013. She served as a gestational carrier and now consults with prospective surrogates to offer support, answer questions, and share her experiences.