At a glance
Finding the right fertility doctor often comes down to fit. Clinical excellence is important, of course, but so is the way your doctor listens, responds to questions, and helps you weigh your options. The profiles below are designed to help you get to know the people behind the white coats at Illume Fertility.
In this article:
Our physicians are recognized each year with Castle Connolly's Top Doctor awards, and they bring a wide range of specialties, interests, and clinical focus areas to our practice. A few of the unique programs and passions our doctors lead:
Get to know each of our nine fertility doctors below through their bio videos and educational backgrounds. To go deeper, explore our full team page for patient testimonials, recent press, and more. Ready to meet the team? Let's go.
Mark P. Leondires, MD is Founder, Medical Director, and Partner in reproductive endocrinology at Illume Fertility and Gay Parents To Be. He is board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
As a member of the LGBTQ+ community and a parent to two children through egg donation and surrogacy, Dr. Leondires (lovingly referred to by his patients as "Dr. L") combines his personal and professional experience to help a diverse range of patients become parents.
"Whether it's helping someone preserve their fertility, maximize their fertility potential, or guide them through the donor conception process, helping people on their pathway to parenthood is an incredible honor and privilege that energizes me every day."
- Dr. Leondires
Visit Dr. Leondires' full bio page to read patient testimonials and learn more.
Dr. Spencer Richlin
Spencer S. Richlin, MD is a board-certified reproductive endocrinologist with extensive reproductive surgical experience. He has been practicing at Illume Fertility since 2004, where he serves as a Partner and as Surgical Director.
In addition to his role at Illume, Dr. Richlin hosts the podcast Fertility Now, which tackles fertility topics with expert guests to demystify reproductive health. He also educates Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility residents at Stamford Hospital.
"I look at infertility as a puzzle we need to solve. When I help my patients solve this frustrating puzzle and achieve their goals, it's a complete joy."
- Dr. Richlin
Visit Dr. Richlin's full bio page to read patient testimonials and learn more.
Joshua M. Hurwitz, MD is a Partner in Reproductive Endocrinology at Illume Fertility, board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
Dr. Hurwitz joined the practice in 2006 with a passion for patient care and teaching. In addition to his role at Illume, he serves as Director of Fertility Preservation for Nuvance Health Network and Division Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) services in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Danbury Hospital.
"It is an incredible gift and privilege to be part of each patient's journey. I meet them when they are at the toughest point in their lives and then help them get to the best part of their lives."
- Dr. Hurwitz
Visit Dr. Hurwitz's full bio page to read patient testimonials and learn more.
Cynthia M. Murdock, MD is a Partner in Reproductive Endocrinology at Illume Fertility, board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
Dr. Murdock earned her BA in biology at Cornell University and her MD at Creighton University School of Medicine, where she graduated magna cum laude. She completed her residency at Creighton University Medical Center, where she was named Berlex Best Teaching Resident. In 2003, she completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the National Institutes of Health.
She joined the team at Illume Fertility in 2008.
"It's so rewarding when I hear patients say, 'I had such a good experience at Illume Fertility, I felt like family and I felt like I was cared for' - because that's what we all strive for at the end of the day."
- Dr. Murdock
Visit Dr. Murdock's full bio page to read patient testimonials and learn more.
Shaun C. Williams, MD is a Partner in Reproductive Endocrinology at Illume Fertility, board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
Dr. Williams earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Texas at Austin, then studied medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his internship and residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Hospital, one of the busiest maternity wards in the country.
He joined the Illume Fertility team in 2006.
"I view my role as a physician as more than just a source of medical advice and care. Communicating my knowledge in an understandable way to provide confidence in the choices that are made is as important to me as the data used to shape our recommendations."
- Dr. Williams
Visit Dr. Williams' full bio page to read patient testimonials and learn more.
Ilana B. Ressler, MD is a Partner in Reproductive Endocrinology at Illume Fertility, board-certified in both Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.
Dr. Ressler began her education at Duke University, where she earned a BS in Psychology. She received her medical degree at Case Western Reserve University and completed her residency at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In 2013, she completed a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Cincinnati.
She joined the Illume Fertility team in 2017 and frequently sees patients at our Harrison, NY location, where she works alongside Dr. Meyer and Dr. Kucherov.
"My goal when working with patients is that they feel they're being heard, that they have a voice in everything that we're doing. I really value what their feedback is."
- Dr. Ressler
Visit Dr. Ressler's full bio page to read patient testimonials and learn more.
Laura J. Meyer, MD is double board-certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Obstetrics and Gynecology. After graduating from the NYU School of Medicine, she completed both her residency and fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
Prior to joining Illume Fertility in 2020, she was an Assistant Professor at the NYU School of Medicine, and practiced as a reproductive endocrinologist in Westchester and Fairfield counties.
Dr. Meyer frequently sees patients at our Harrison, NY location, where she works alongside Dr. Ressler and Dr. Kucherov.
"I love hearing updates from families when their babies are born and as their children grow. It is an honor to be a part of each family's story."
- Dr. Meyer
Visit Dr. Meyer's full bio page to read patient testimonials and learn more.
Alexander M. Kucherov, MD is double board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. He joined Illume Fertility in 2021 and brings both professional expertise and personal empathy to every patient relationship, having gone through fertility treatment with his wife before becoming parents themselves.
Dr. Kucherov earned a BA in Political Science from the University of Rochester before attending the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, where he graduated with the Distinction in Research honor. He completed his residency and fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center, conducting research on recurrent pregnancy loss, male factor infertility, and improved birth outcomes with preimplantation genetic testing (PGT).
Dr. Kucherov frequently sees patients at our Harrison, NY location, where he works alongside Dr. Ressler and Dr. Meyer.
"When I get to send fertility patients back to their primary OB/GYN providers after they have successfully conceived, it is a truly joyous moment for my patients and brings me tremendous joy as well. It is the culmination of energy, time, effort, and devotion to their goal."
- Dr. Kucherov
Visit Dr. Kucherov's full bio page to read patient testimonials and learn more.
Barry R. Witt, MD is double board-certified in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and Obstetrics and Gynecology. Before joining Illume Fertility in 2023, Dr. Witt practiced reproductive medicine at Greenwich Fertility in both New York and Connecticut, helping individuals and couples reach their family-building goals, with more than 30 years in the field.
Following his fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Tulane University School of Medicine, Dr. Witt held successive academic appointments at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NYU School of Medicine, and Yale School of Medicine.
He directed the Donor Oocyte Program at Montefiore's Institute for Reproductive Medicine & Health (where he also served as Program Director for IVF), and served as Medical Director for Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) at Greenwich Fertility for many years.
Dr. Witt's areas of special interest include egg freezing, in vitro fertilization (IVF), preimplantation genetic testing, and reproductive surgery.
Fun fact: Dr. Witt loves the Beatles and enjoys playing music in his spare time.
Visit Dr. Witt's full bio page to read patient testimonials and learn more.
The bottom line: choose the right fertility doctor for you, one you connect with and trust. Your physician should bring not only medical expertise but also hope and compassion as you work toward your goals together. You deserve exceptional care as you navigate this journey.
We'd love to learn more about your plans and match you with the right physician on our team.
Whenever you're ready, we're here to help you get started.