Shady Grove Fertility (SGF) is proud to welcome Nicole P. Doyle, M.D., Ph.D., FACOG, to the Northern Virginia Medical Team. Dr. Doyle will begin seeing patients in SGF’s Fairfax, VA location in February 2020 and will provide a full range of state-of-the-art, in-house diagnostic and treatment options for female and male infertility, elective egg freezing, LGBTQ family building, and fertility preservation prior to cancer treatment.
Dr. Doyle earned her medical degree and doctorate in philosophy from the Medical School of the Technical University of Munich and completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Doyle went on to complete her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the National Institutes of Health.
Dr. Doyle has published several peer-reviewed scientific manuscripts, book chapters, and review articles in many leading scientific journals in the fields of reproductive endocrinology and infertility. Her specific research interest is examining the timing for embryo transfer and she continues this work as a member of the research team at SGF. She is a fellow of the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a member of numerous medical organizations.
Dr. Doyle’s clinical interests include any aspect of female and male infertility, in particular optimizing outcomes in patients with diminished ovarian reserve or premature ovarian insufficiency; making advances in in vitro fertilization, oocyte donation, recurrent pregnancy loss, fertility preservation, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
More about Dr. Nicole Doyle
Why did you become a doctor/reproductive endocrinologist?
Dr. Doyle: I remember my anatomy professor in medical school asking my class of 400 students this question on my very first day of lectures. He handed out a shred of paper and had us write down the reason we were starting on this long journey of training asking us to keep this little note throughout our careers. On mine is written “fascination human being.” It sits in a little box on my desk, but I never had to take it out as a reminder since that first day in medical school. The human body has never failed to amaze and fascinate me. Fascination for something I do the majority of my week provides a good foundation to find fulfillment and joy in my work. I do not dread a Monday morning.
Where did your interest in reproductive endocrinology come from?
Dr. Doyle: The goal of all efforts in reproductive endocrinology is to help someone have a healthy baby and, to me, being a small part at the very beginning of a new family is a very meaningful experience. I also enjoy being a part of a relatively young, but fast evolving field in medicine that constantly finds new scientific discoveries.
What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?
Dr. Doyle: As a physician and mother of small children, my first thought to this question was, “what is spare time?” But reflecting more on this, I do realize I still enjoy a variety of activities. I am an avid skier and love the combination of physical exhaustion and fresh air. One day, I hope to make it through the first series of Ashtanga yoga, though I may break a limb on the way. I enjoy a fresh crusty loaf of homemade bread and even keep my own sourdough. I also cherish long weekend hikes with my family, cut off from the rest of the world. These hikes do spark the best conversations between my husband and me.
Who inspires you?
Dr. Doyle: People from all walks of life inspire me. Great minds with humble attitudes inspire me. During my postdoctoral fellowship, residency, and my fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, I was fortunate to meet some of the highest regarded scientists in the world. Their heartfelt passion and curiosity is contagious and lights a spark in others to push the frontiers in science. My patients inspire me, as they go through a difficult time in their lives, they push for what is important for them with endless perseverance, optimism, and strength, and I consider it a privilege and honor to be by their side every step of the way. My children inspire me with their thirst to discover the world.
What about SGF makes you the most proud?
Dr. Doyle: I completed my OB/GYN residency training at Georgetown Medical University Hospital and fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at the National Institutes of Health. Both institutes send their students to SGF to be trained and so I feel that over the last several years, I have had a unique opportunity to obtain an inside perspective of the philosophy and mechanics that drive the accomplishments of SGF. I firmly believe that the essence of practicing good medicine lies in genuine desire and devotion to delivering the highest quality of medical care through knowledge, strong clinical judgment, compassion, and dedicated support of the patient. This is the fundamental base that allows us to excel at what we do every day. Early on in my training, it was obvious to me that SGF stands for these qualities and that the achievements of the practice were the result of dedication and hard work by many. I wanted to be a part of their team ever since.
What’s on your bucket list?
Dr. Doyle: As much as I enjoy the anticipation of the many bullet points on my bucket list, I try to put equal emphasis on living in the moment and reflect on the things I was already fortunate enough to cross off my list of goals. In our fast paced lives, it seems sometimes more challenging to reflect on our many blessings than to add more to our wish lists. That being said, I do hope that I will get to write a children’s book one day, travel all seven continents with my family, and go back to the hotel my husband and I spent the last day of our honeymoon.
What is your approach to helping patients who are struggling?
Dr. Doyle: Honesty, thorough counseling, transparence, empathy, and attentive listening have always worked for my patients and me. There is no one approach for a struggling patient, but rather a personalized strategy for each patient at each step of the way. For some a gentle push is needed, for others stopping or a break from treatment might be indicated. A solid physician-patient rapport is the basis to finding the right solution for every patient.
To learn more or to schedule an appointment with an SGF physician, please contact our New Patient Center at 1-888-761-1967 or submit this brief online form.
