Meet Dr Susanna J. Park

Dr Park is a renowned fertility doctor at San Diego Fertility Center. She is passionate about helping people achieve their dreams of parenthood. At Wish for a Baby Brussels, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Dr Park and talk to her about your fertility journey. She will also be speaking on Day 1 (Saturday 21 June) about Surrogacy in the USA and South America.
 

What is your role at San Diego Fertility Center?

I have been an infertility doctor for 21 years. I’ve been at San Diego Fertility Center since 2012. Since I was young, I wanted to be someone who would “make a difference” in the world. Becoming a doctor, who specializes in helping people realize their dream of having a family, is a dream come true for them, as well as a dream come true for me. It makes me feel that I am making a difference in the world.
 

Can you tell us about your approach to care?

My approach to care begins with listening. Some intended parents present to me with complicated histories of infertility, while others are at the start of their journey to parenthood and feel a mix of excitement with apprehension. I listen to their shattered dreams, and to their visions of hope. After I listen, I educate. If one understands the basics, then one can understand the options presented. The knowledge gained through education empowers intended parents to make the right decision for them.
 

What's one thing you wish more people understood about egg donation and surrogacy?

At present, many countries do not support egg donation or surrogacy due to fears and misconceptions. As people become educated, I truly hope the world will realize that, if conducted with appropriate safeguards in place, egg donation and surrogacy can be a “win-win” relationship between the egg donor/surrogate and the intended parents. Many times, these beautiful new relationships develop into lifelong connections.
 

Egg donation: In the United States, the power to choose the egg donor is in the hands of the intended parents, not the clinic. The intended parents are provided with abundant information about the egg donors (photos, videos, family history, past donation outcomes) so that they can choose the most suitable donor. Many intended parents are positively surprised by the amount of information they are given about the egg donor. The opportunity for contact with the egg donor, if desired, is often available. Donors are compensated for their time and inconvenience.
 

Surrogacy: Many countries ban surrogacy out of a misassumption/fear of exploitation of women. Though this ban is well-intended, the consequence of this ban is significant because it severely limits the ability of intended parents to realize their dream of a family. In the United States, the intended parents and the surrogate choose one another, and engage in a balanced partnership of mutual respect.
 

What countries do you work with and how can people reach you?

I work with intended parents from countries throughout the world. The initial consultation is usually conducted online. The next step would be to have their sperm at our center. Through our multiple partnerships with labs in various countries, the intended parent can provide sperm at the lab closest to their city/country, then the sperm would be frozen and transported to our center without negative impact on the quality of the sperm. Therefore, intended parents do not need to come to the USA at all to provide sperm. Of course, we would welcome the intended parent at our center if they chose to come to the USA for a holiday.
 

Due to our fluency in various languages, we care for intended parents throughout the world. I (spark@sdfertility.com) can speak in Korean and Spanish. Michael Serwa (mserwa@sdfertility.com) is our patient liaison and business developer for intended parents in Europe. He is fluent in English, Spanish, Catalan, and French. Michael has 3 children via egg donor/surrogacy, so he is both personally and professionally well-versed in the egg donor and surrogacy process.
 

What are you looking forward to at Wish for a Baby Brussels?

We know, for some, the dream of having a family can be a difficult dream to achieve due to negative stigma associated with infertility, negative judgment by others, lack of knowledge about the treatment options, lack of available treatments, and cost. I am a firm believer of education because it is only through education that one can be empowered. I would like intended parents – same sex, different sex, single – to know they are all welcome at Wish for a Baby Brussels because it is a place of education for all. I hope the information they receive will inspire and excite them. I often meet intended parents who are confused and overwhelmed. My hope is to simplify and organize the information for the intended parents so that they are empowered to make informed decisions.