Patient Testimonial
After our first appointment with Dr. Kallen we knew that he would be the right doctor for us based off of the knowledge, honesty and compassion he showed. We will be forever grateful to Dr. Kallen and his team!

I have been to 5 fertility clinics and seen 6 fertility doctors. Dr. Bressler and Shady Grove was hands down my best experience…by a landslide. Dr. B made me feel like an important individual. I can’t say enough good things about this practice and about Dr B.

At no point in time did I feel hopeless and was always comforted by next steps and kind words. But Dr. Mitchell truly is extra. I felt like her only patient. I can’t speak enough to her kindness. It is my firm belief that she 100000X capable of leading someone to pregnancy success.

I had a wonderful experience with IVF at Shady Grove. The staff were incredibly friendly and supportive throughout the entire process. I am especially grateful for Dr. Sally Vitez, whose positivity and expertise made a significant difference. I couldn’t be more thankful for her and the entire team!

Dr. Davis is the sweetest doctor and Dee is so wonderful I couldn’t imagine going through this journey with any other clinic. Thank you guys so much for everything. If you thinking about doing IVF this clinic is beyond everything you need for your fertility journey.

Dr. Lersten is so kind and explains procedures calmly, which helps relieve anxiety while going through the difficult process of fertility treatments. I am thankful to SGF for helping me build the family I’ve always wanted. I highly recommend SGF to anyone going through infertility.

Biography

Jessica A. Marinaro, M.D., is a urologist with sub-specialty expertise in male infertility and microsurgery. Dr. Marinaro graduated with distinction from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, Virginia, and earned her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Virginia. She completed her urologic surgery residency training at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, D.C.,and then pursued additional fellowship training in male infertility and microsurgery at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.  

Dr. Marinaro’s research interests include microsurgical management of male infertility, sperm DNA fragmentation, and optimizing outcomes for men with severe infertility, among others. She is a member of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), the American Urological Association (AUA), the Society for Male Reproduction and Urology (SMRU), and the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR).  

As part of SGF’s Center for Male Fertility physician team, Dr. Marinaro works with patients to confront challenging situations to achieve their family-building goals. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling and taking advantage of any opportunity to try new things. 

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Education

  • Residency: Urology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, D.C. 
  • Fellowship: Male Reproductive Medicine & Microsurgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York 
  • Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR) Fellow Health Diverse Leadership Scholar Award (2022) 
  • Society for Male Reproduction and Urology (SMRU) Traveling Scholar Award (2019) 
  • Resident Prize Podium Presentation, Mid-Atlantic Session of the American Urological Association (MAAUA) (2019) 
  • Resident Travel Award, Society of Women in Urology (SWIU) (2018) 
  • American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) 
  • American Urological Association (AUA) 
  • Society for Male Reproduction and Urology (SMRU) 
  • Society for the Study of Male Reproduction (SSMR) 
  • Marinaro JA. Sperm DNA Fragmentation & Its Interaction with Female Factors. Fertil Steril. 2023;S S0015- 0282(23)00590-3. doi: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.06.001. 
  • Brant A, Basourakos SP, Lewicki P, Kang C, Marinaro J, Punjani N, Kashanian J. Real-world practice in Peyronie’s disease management: Results from a national survey of urologists. Andrology. 2023;10.1111/andr.13414. doi:10.1111/andr.13414 
  • Marinaro JA, Goldstein M. Unilateral Scrotal Swelling: Diagnosis and Management. Urology. 2023;S0090- 4295(23)00069-9. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2023.01.022 
  • Marinaro JA, Schlegel PN. Sperm DNA Damage and Its Relevance in Fertility Treatment: A Review of Recent Literature and Current Practice Guidelines. Int J Mol Sci. 2023;24(2):1446. doi:10.3390/ijms24021446. 
  • Brant A, Lewicki P, Punjani N, Kang C, Marinaro J, Callegari M, Prunty M, Thirumavalavan N, Halpern JA, Shoag JE, Kashanian JA. Trends in Antimicrobial Prophylaxis for Inflatable Penile Prosthesis Surgery from a Large National Cohort. Urology. 2022;S0090-4295(22)00985-2. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2022.11.010 
  • Marinaro JA. Optimizing Outcomes for Men with Severe Infertility. Curr Opin Urol. 2022;10.1097. doi:10.1097/MOU.0000000000001046 
  • Marinaro J, Goldstein M. Microsurgical Management of Male Infertility: Compelling Evidence That Collaboration with Qualified Male Reproductive Urologists Enhances Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Outcomes. J Clin Med. 2022;11(15):4593. doi:10.3390/jcm11154593 
  • Marinaro J, Dudley V, Goldstein M. Microsurgical Excision of a Supernumerary Testis: A Novel Technique to Avoid Iatrogenic Injury to the Adjacent Testis. Urology. 2022;S0090-4295(22)00542-8. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2022.06.028 
  • Marinaro J, Zeymo A, Egan J, Carvalho F, Krasnow R, Stamatakis L, Lynch J, Hwang J, Williams S, Kowalczyk K. Sex and Racial Disparities in the Treatment and Outcomes of Muscle-invasive Bladder Cancer. Urology. 2021;151:154-162. doi:10.1016/j.urology.2020.06.087. 
  • Marinaro J, Hayden RP, Shin P, Tanrikut C. The Utility of Sperm Cryopreservation at the Time of Vasectomy Reversal. J Urol. 2021;205(1):236-240. doi:10.1097/JU.0000000000001319 
  • Carpinello OJ, Marinaro J, Hill MJ, Decherney AH, Devine K, Chason R. Karyotypic abnormalities and Y chromosome microdeletions: How do these impact in vitro fertilization outcomes, and how common are they in the modern in vitro fertilization practice? F S Rep. 2021;2(3):300-307. doi:10.1016/j.xfre.2021.06.001 
  • Colhoun A, Marinaro J, Sulek J, McDowell Z, Bednarz C, et al. Fosfomycin for Antibiotic Prophylaxis Prior to Transrectal Ultrasound-Guided Prostate Biopsy. Arch Urol. 2018; 1: 004. 

Q&A

After volunteering with a therapeutic horseback riding program for individuals with a variety of medical conditions in high school, I knew that I wanted to continue caring for patients throughout my career. In medical school, I was drawn to urology specifically due to the variety of surgical procedures and inspiring mentors that I encountered during my training.

My first exposure to reproductive urology was as a third-year resident physician. During the rotation, I was quickly drawn to the challenging microsurgical procedures as well as the collaborative nature of reproductive medicine. Working as part of an interdisciplinary team to help couples achieve their family-building goals was incredibly influential and I knew at that point I would pursue subspecialty training in male reproductive medicine and surgery.

The unique, collaborative atmosphere between male and female reproductive specialists. While other practices may not emphasize the evaluation of the male partner, here at SGF, we strive to provide outstanding care to both members of the couple. Through these efforts, we aim to achieve the best reproductive outcomes possible.

I find all of my patients inspiring! In reproductive urology, the challenges that patients face are often unexpected and can be difficult to talk about. I am constantly impressed by my patients’ openness and willingness to confront challenging situations to achieve their family-building goals. I am amazed by how much I learn on a daily basis from my interactions with patients. 

I listen carefully to their concerns and try to clearly understand their goals and priorities. With that foundation, I thoroughly explain all treatment options, offer guidance, and support their choices. Regardless of the challenges, patients can be reassured that I will put their interests first and be there to support them throughout their family-building journey. 

I am inspired by the many mentors that I have had throughout my medical training. Each one has taught me something extremely valuable and made me the surgeon that I am today. 

I approach things in a calm, pragmatic way, with kindness and empathy. With patients, I try to keep that approach and stay humble, as every person I see is unique and often will need an individualized treatment plan.  

I’d love to see the Northern Lights! 

I love traveling and taking advantage of any opportunity to try new activities, places, and foods. I also enjoy playing golf for the mental challenge and the opportunity to spend time outdoors with family and friends. I am looking forward to getting back into horseback riding, which I enjoyed before my medical career began. 

My husband and I just adopted a new puppy, so he is taking up most of my spare time at the moment! Aside from that, I enjoy running, trying new restaurants, visiting local wineries and breweries, barbecuing, going to concerts of all genres, cheering on the Philadelphia Eagles, and spending time with my husband, family, and friends.