Cheri Margolis, M.D. graduated with honors, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry with a focus in Biochemistry and a minor in Business Administration from the University of Florida Honors program. Her commitment to excellence continued as she earned her medical degree (M.D.) at the University of Florida. During medical school, she fostered a love for the field of reproductive endocrinology and infertility while on a research scholarship at the University of Pennsylvania, evaluating synthetic environmental estrogen mimics.

Following her medical education, Dr. Margolis embarked on a journey to the Northeast to complete her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the prestigious New York Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell in New York City. During her time at Cornell, she not only honed her clinical skills but was also given awards for her excellence in Obstetrics and excellence in medical education. Driven by her dedication to advancing the field of reproductive medicine, she chose to pursue a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Reproductive Medicine Associates in New Jersey, one of the largest and busiest in vitro fertilization programs in the world. This experience also provided her with invaluable training as an embryologist, enriching her understanding of the embryology laboratory.

Dr. Margolis’ commitment to advancing the field of reproductive medicine extends beyond her clinical practice. She has shared her research findings at various national meetings, including ASRM, PCRS, ESHRE, with a staggering 50+ oral and poster presentations to date. Her research interests encompass a diverse range of topics, including fertility preservation, in vitro fertilization outcomes, and preimplantation genetic testing.

Dr. Margolis is dedicated to providing comprehensive, evidence-based care to her patients. She approaches each patient’s unique circumstances with compassion and aims to establish a trusting and respectful relationship. By fostering open communication and shared decision-making, Dr. Margolis empowers her patients to make informed choices throughout their fertility journey.

Leah Roberts, M.D. is a native of South Florida who has brought her passion for reproductive endocrinology and fertility care to Boca Raton. She graduated cum laude from the University of Florida Honors program where she completed her Bachelors of Science in Biology and a minor in English. She received her M.D. from Florida Atlantic University where she served as the Vice President of her class. She then completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology residency in Philadelphia at Temple University.

After graduation, Dr. Roberts continued at Temple as an Assistant Professor of OB-GYN, teaching both residents and medical students, until she left to pursue her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Reproductive Medicine Associates in New Jersey. While at RMANJ she additionally trained as an embryologist, which provided her with invaluable experience in the clinical laboratory.

Dr. Roberts has presented her research at several national meetings including ASRM, PCRS, CREOG/APGO, AUGS/IUGA, and the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, on topics as varied as ovarian aging and patient engagement with care. She has also been an active participant in lobbying for your reproductive rights and infertility coverage on the state and national level with RESOLVE and ACOG. Dr. Roberts specializes in ovarian biology and aging, third party reproduction, and preimplantation genetics and diagnosis.

Dr. Roberts is a distinguished Clinical Affiliate Assistant Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the Department of Women’s and Children’s Health at Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E Schmidt College of Medicine. With a profound commitment to advancing women’s health, Dr. Roberts has garnered recognition as an expert in Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) and healthcare access for women. This expertise has led to numerous media appearances, including interviews on CBS 13 and ABC 10 (including live on This Week in South Florida) , where Dr. Roberts has shared valuable insights on complex medical issues affecting women. Additionally, Dr. Roberts has been quoted in the Los Angeles Times, Sun Sentinel, Orlando Sentinel, and even internationally in the Irish Star, highlighting the global impact of their work in the field of reproductive health and medicine.

Listen as the Boca Fertility doctors share with Ellen and Jenn:

1. How a random college dorm visit and a shared social circle led to a lifelong friendship and professional partnership committed to patient care.
2. Dr. Roberts’ experience with severe pregnancy complications and becoming a fertility patient herself.
3. Experiencing the full emotional and physical rollercoaster.
4. How their personal experiences have improved their care for their patients.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Boca Fertility: bocafertility.com

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Families Out Loud is a national community, event platform, and advocacy organization that supports all people building families—across every family structure, identity, and path to parenthood. Whether LGBTQ+, straight, non-binary, single, partnered, or still exploring options, Families Out Loud exists to ensure that anyone navigating assisted reproduction feels informed, supported, and never alone.

Families Out Loud was founded by Mike Snaric and George Moore, husbands and dads to twin boys conceived through egg donation, surrogacy, and IVF. Their personal journey into parenthood revealed how emotionally complex, financially overwhelming, and ethically unclear the family-building process can be—especially without trusted guidance or community. Families Out Loud was created to change that experience for others.

The organization brings together intended parents, medical professionals, legal experts, surrogacy and egg donor agencies, and advocates through live events in major cities, educational panels, national partnerships, and media. Families Out Loud is known for creating inclusive, culture-forward spaces that balance expert education with real storytelling and joyful celebration, while also addressing the serious ethical, legal, and access issues shaping the future of family building.

At its core, Families Out Loud believes there is no single “right” way to build a family—and that everyone deserves respect, transparency, and protection along the way. The organization is actively expanding its national footprint through advocacy, nonprofit initiatives, and industry collaboration focused on ethical family building, education, and community-driven support.

Listen as Mike and George share with Ellen and Jenn:

1. Their personal winding journey with surrogacy.
2. How lack of information and support shaped their mission.
3. The importance of inclusive fertility education.
4. What makes Families Out Loud events special.
5. What the fertility world gets wrong—and what can be done.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Families Out Loud: www.familiesoutloudevents.com

Follow Families Out Loud on Instagram: @families_out_loud

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Jen and Jaimee are experienced Registered Nurses and founders of Childbirth Allies, a concierge-style education and birth planning service dedicated to supporting intended parents through surrogacy. With backgrounds in maternal–newborn care and years of hands-on experience in complex birth settings, they are passionate about helping families feel informed, empowered, and supported every step of the way. Their approach blends clinical knowledge with compassion, ensuring their clients feel well-prepared for birth and newborn care.

Listen as Jen and Jaimee share with Ellen and Jenn:

1. How Childbirth Allies was born (pun intended).
2. Jen and Jaimee’s extensive labor & delivery experience and 3 am night shift trauma bond.
3. Seeing firsthand intended parents through surrogacy lacking birth resources and education that met their needs.
4. Why traditional classes are a poor fit.
5. Finding Childbirth Allies to support the specific needs of parents through surrogacy.
6. Offering flexible class options.
7. Teaching important skills like how intended parents can advocate for their baby while respecting the gestational carrier’s anatomy.
8. Finding your role in the delivery room.
9. Post-birth best practices.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Childbirth Allies: www.childbirthallies.com

Follow Childbirth Allies on Instagram: @childbirthallies

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/

Junior Velazquez is the founder of A to Z Family, a fertility and family-building consulting company that supports intended parents through journeys in the U.S. and Mexico. He works closely with families, clinics, legal teams, and gestational carriers to help make complicated processes feel more human, clear, and supported.

Together with his husband, Romain Taillandier, Junior focuses on ethical, transparent, and well-coordinated family-building journeys, especially for LGBTQ+ parents and international families. He’s passionate about education, real conversations, and making sure people don’t feel alone while navigating such a life-changing experience.

In this episode, Junior Velazquez from A to Z Family joins the conversation to talk about family building journeys in Mexico and what families really need to know before getting started.

Junior shares practical insight from working directly with intended parents every day, from how cross-border journeys are structured to the emotional side of the process that often doesn’t get talked about enough. The conversation touches on ethics, coordination, common misconceptions, and why the right support makes all the difference.

Listen as Junior shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• His own path from healthcare to surrogacy advocacy.
• Why some intended parents turn abroad.
• The stark difference between reputable programs and the dangerous “all-in-house” models.
• Real-world red flags.
• How Mexico City’s legal framework and the Amparo process work.
• What ethical programs must include (independent counsel, verified compensation, open communication), and why parents should never shortcut birth certificates or legal steps—even if it means staying abroad longer.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about A to Z Family: azfamily.us 

Follow A to Z Family on Instagram: @azfamily.us

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Danielle Winston is the co-founder of Seed Scout, a donor matchmaking agency reimagining how families connect with known sperm donors. A former lawyer who left the legal field after seeing firsthand the ethical challenges in the sperm bank industry, Danielle and her wife built Seed Scout to offer a more transparent, personal, and human-centered approach to donor conception. Since launching, they’ve helped hundreds of LGBTQ+ families, single parents by choice, and couples with male-factor infertility find donors who align with their values.

Listen as Danielle shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Why Seed Scout: Danielle’s own experience of a dehumanizing, “Tinder-style” bank experience lead her to build Seed Scout -- to provide a curated, relationship-based alternative.
• What’s different: Seed Scout has a majority LGBTQ+ donors; age 24+; background checks for donors and intended parents; require yearly child updates; medical-history refreshes.
• Ethics over scale: Hard cap of three families per donor; no re-donation of sperm/embryos; families introduced to each other to avoid hidden half-siblings.
• Transparency beats anonymity: Real names, meetings before matching, and mutual approval replace one-way, anonymous selection.
• System frictions: Legacy FDA rules, quarantine nuances, and clinic pushback—especially where clinic owners are tied to banks.
• Future outlook: More open-ID laws (e.g., Colorado), rising donor-conceived voices, and pressure for sensible U.S. oversight.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Seed Scout: www.theseedscout.com 

Follow Seed Scout on Instagram: @theseedscout.com

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Sarah Jefford OAM is a family creation lawyer in Melbourne, practicing across Australia. Sarah was a parent via IVF, and later become an egg donor, and delivered a baby as a surrogate for two dads in 2018. Sarah practices surrogacy and donor conception law, advising surrogates and intended parents about domestic and international surrogacy. In 2025, Sarah completed a Churchill Fellowship, researching best practice surrogacy to inform law reform in Australia, and her final report is published on her website,

Listen as Sarah shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Her path to surrogacy and advocacy.
• Writing More Than Just a Baby and launching the Australian Surrogacy Podcast (100+ episodes).
• Australia vs. U.S. frameworks: Australia’s patchwork laws, altruistic-only system, low overall volume (about 150 domestic births/yr), and limited infrastructure push many intended parents overseas.
• Compensation does not equal commodification: Sarah argues compensation can honor time, risk, and labor while still centering altruistic motives—pointing out that everyone else in the fertility ecosystem is paid. The real risk isn’t money; it’s lack of robust safeguards.
• Safeguards that matter: Independent legal counsel for all parties, informed consent in a language the surrogate understands, counseling, medical best practices, and regulation that protects surrogates, children, and intended parents.
• Medical-need requirements: Sarah’s evolved view—dropping mandatory “medical or social need” recognizes lived realities (recurrent loss, tokophobia, gender dysphoria, etc.) and avoids intrusive, inequitable gatekeeping.
• Media narratives and “human trafficking” claims: Sensational coverage often ignores nuance, ethical programs, and children’s future privacy. Red flags abroad include language barriers, agency-appointed lawyers, and opaque promises.
• Churchill Fellowship learnings: After meeting stakeholders in South Africa, Ireland, England, Canada, and the U.S., Sarah sees momentum for reform—if lawmakers treat surrogacy as reproductive health and women’s rights.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Sarah Jefford: www.sarahjefford.com 

Follow Sarah on Instagram: www.instagram.com/sarah_surrogacylawyer/ 

Buy Sarah’s book: More Than Just a Baby - Sarah Jefford Surrogacy Lawyer Australia

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Dawn Wickhorst is a two-time surrogate, single mom of five, and founder of Lumière Surrogacy Advisory. She is passionate about helping intended parents tell their stories authentically while inspiring women through her own journey of resilience, motherhood, and entrepreneurship.

Dawn shares her story as a surrogate and mom, blending honesty, humor, and heart. She talks about building her business, finding strength through life’s challenges, and using her experiences to guide and inspire others on their path to parenthood and self-growth.

Listen as Dawn shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Becoming a mom in her teens.
• Working with a birth magazine and as a birth photographer.
• Interviewing a local author on a book about infertility and loss, feeling so grateful for her own children, and realizing she could do something to help. 
• A few of the surrogacy differences in Canada versus the US – no compensation!
• Saying “yes” to HIV-positive Intended Parents, because they were HIV positive!
• Second time around, looking for Intended Parents who would want to share the journey with the world with her. 
• A relationship with Intended Parents was high priority, knowing they would be friends. 
• When the second journey ended, she wanted to help others in another way. 
• Started Lumiere Surrogacy Advisory to help Intended Parents tell their stories.
• What makes an Intended Parent profile stand out for surrogates. 

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Dawn and Lumiere Surrogacy Advisory: https://www.lumieresurrogacyadvisory.com

Check out Dawn on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1JnQYSEt2b/?mibextid=wwXIfr

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Jessie Jaskulsky is the founder of Surrogacy Simplified, a consulting firm and community built to support hopeful parents through the surrogacy journey. A two-time intended parent through surrogacy herself, Jessie combines lived experience with professional guidance to help others feel informed, confident, and supported every step of the way. Through one-on-one consulting and a growing Intended Parent community, she’s helping families turn what feels overwhelming into something they can navigate with clarity and trust.

Listen as Jessie shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• What intended parents should know about wait times, matching, and why embryo numbers matter.
• The real costs of surrogacy (around $150K, excluding clinic fees).
• Coping with the long emotional wait and uncertainty
• Why support groups and counseling can make all the difference

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Surrogacy Simplified: https://surrogacysimplified.com/ 

Follow Surrogacy Simplified on IG: https://www.instagram.com/surrogacysimplified/

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Fertility Docs Uncensored is a weekly podcast launched in March 2020 by three reproductive endocrinologists from across the United States: Dr. Abby Eblen (Nashville Fertility Center), Dr. Carrie Bedient (Fertility Center of Las Vegas), and Dr. Susan Hudson (Texas Fertility Center). The idea was born at a fertility conference just before the COVID-19 pandemic, when the doctors realized Zoom could make podcasting from different locations possible. Since then, the show has evolved into a trusted source of honest and reliable information on fertility and IVF. With a wide range of guests—including reproductive urologists, acupuncturists, embryologists, mental health professionals, and nutritionists—the podcast continues to explore all aspects of reproductive health while supporting listeners on their fertility journeys.

Listen as Abby, Carrie, and Susan share with Ellen and Jenn:

• Paths to Fertility Medicine – The doctors reflect on their diverse training, why they chose REI, and how their own experiences—including being IVF parents—shape their practice.
• Preimplantation Genetic Testing (PGT-A) – A nuanced discussion of benefits, limitations, and ethical questions, especially in surrogacy and mosaic embryo transfers.
• Gatekeeping in Fertility Clinics – Where to draw the line between respecting patient autonomy and ensuring safe, ethical care.
• Policy & Post-Dobbs Landscape – How state laws and restrictions affect daily practice, patient anxiety, and even OBGYN training nationwide.
• Fertility Myths & Media – From pineapple cores and McDonald’s fries to gender-selection tricks, the doctors bust myths while underscoring how misinformation spreads.
• The IVF Blueprint – A look at their new book, designed as a practical handbook to guide patients through every stage of IVF, egg freezing, and embryo transfer.

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Fertility Docs Uncensored: www.fertilitydocsuncensored.com 

Follow the Docs on IG: www.instagram.com/fertilitydocsuncensored/?hl=en

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/ 

Mark Semple is a Canadian citizen who has been involved in international medical and fertility tourism since 2008. Mark founded his first fertility company in 2008 after engaging in IVF with his wife in 4 different countries and seeing a need for cross-border access to fertility care. In that time, Mark has helped create IVF, egg donation, and surrogacy programs with clinics in many countries, founded a US cryobank, assisted Canadian, US, and international fertility clinics with regulatory compliance, and has worked with clients from over 60 countries. He also owns ReproVida, a medical group in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Currently, his interests mainly lie with surrogacy and egg donation programs in Colombia, Mexico, and Argentina. Mark was the pioneer of international surrogacy in Colombia in 2018 after seeing a need and a positive legal framework to assist all family types. He has helped create 2 clinic surrogacy programs in Colombia, is the owner of a foundation that supports surrogate mothers in the country, and has helped create a stable framework for all other agencies to follow. Colombia is now a leading global surrogacy destination, especially for single men and same-sex couples.

In addition, he was one of the pioneers of surrogacy in Mexico in 2012. With a recent Supreme Court decision affirming the validity of surrogacy (after a previous 2016 negative decision), Mexico is once again a global destination for surrogacy.

Mark has been an invited keynote speaker for 3 national conferences in medical tourism (on how to create programs to draw international patients) by the governments of Costa Rica, Taiwan, and China. He has been an article contributor to the Medical Tourism Magazine, and he was part of Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, Canada’s creation of Ethical Guidelines in Medical Tourism.

Listen as Mark shares with Ellen and Jenn:

• Being Canadian and dealing with Canada’s system for infertility treatment.
• Looking internationally for other options, including Costa Rica and Panama. 
• Ultimately conceiving their child with the help of doctors in Cape Town, South Africa.
• After his experiencing, learning more about medical tourism. 
• Joining with a partner to start a vascular surgery program in Costa Rica. 
• Moving to just working in fertility care in a number of countries.
• Finding so many countries – Canada, much of Europe – limited access to care through regulation.
• Doctors being able to do thing in the US (such as sex selection in IVF) that is not permitted in many countries. 
• In 2018, starting a surrogacy program in Colombia supported by a supreme court ruling and friendly environment toward same-sex male couples. 
• Genetic connection required between dad and child, with surrogate on the birth certificate until removed after some period of time. Colombia not an option for single intended mothers or same-sex female couples. 
• Talking costs (significantly less than the US)!
• History of surrogacy in Mexico, including the 2021 supreme court decision.
• Complications in Mexico, but a better fit for certain intended parents.
• History working in Argentina, but recent problems causing him to discontinue work there.
• Other options in Europe; issues with surrogates traveling between countries. 

Want to share your story or ask a question? Call and leave us a message on our hotline: 303-997-1903.

Learn more about Surrogacy Colombia: www.surrogacycolombia.com 

Learn more about our podcast: https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/ 

Learn more about our surrogacy agency: https://www.brightfuturesfamilies.com/ 

Get your IWTPABIY merch here! https://iwanttoputababyinyou.com/merch 

Learn more about Ellen’s law firm: http://trachmanlawcenter.com/