Laura X. Zalles, M.D. 

Board Certified Board Certified

  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Medical Genetics and Genomics Eligible
Rockville Location Rockville, MD
Patient Testimonial
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. Kim is an amazing doctor and person. Since our first encounter with him, we just knew we were in the right hands. He is so very detailed, thorough, and kind hearted. He makes you feel comfortable from the moment you meet him.

Dr. Barnard is absolutely lovely and answered all my questions. She is very personable and kept us updated throughout the whole fertility process.

Dr. Barnard was extremely nice and helpful throughout the whole process. My wife is now pregnant and we couldn’t be happier!

Dr Barnard is the kindest doctor that I have ever met. She shares your joy and pain. She clearly has her patients best interest and takes the time to explain things in easy understandable terms. She enjoys working through ideas to find solutions.

SGF has helped us achieve our dream of creating a family. Thanks to Dr. Barnard and all of the SGF staff that helped us along the way. She really loves what she does and always looks out for what is best for her patients.

Biography

Laura X. Zalles, M.D., is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) and board eligible in medical genetics and genomics. Dr. Zalles earned her medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia. From there, she completed her residency training in OB/GYN at Cooper University Health Care in Camden, New Jersey. Dr. Zalles then continued her training at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, New York to complete her fellowship in medical genetics and genomics.  

Recognized for her excellence in research, Dr. Zalles has contributed to numerous publications and presentations exploring topics such as donor eggs, genetic disorders, and fertility care for Black and Hispanic women.  

Dr. Zalles monitors SGF patients at the Rockville, Maryland, and K-Street, Washington, D.C., locations. She is also a part of the SGF research team. Inspired by her parents’ selfless and limitless love, she works with her patients to make parenthood possible.  

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Education

  • Residency: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Cooper University Health Care, Camden, New Jersey   
  • Fellowship: Medical Genetics and Genomics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York 
  • Academic Chief Resident 
  • Prize Abstract of Maternal Fetal Medicine Society of New JerseyCooper Obstetrics & Gynecology Department Resident Research Award 
  • Dr. Fred Mecklenburg Award in Obstetrics & Gynecology 
  • American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics 
  • American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 
  • American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)  
  • National Hispanic Medical Association 
  • Zalles L, Le K, Check JH, et al. The Impact of State Mandated Financial Coverage for Donor Egg In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) Cycles on Choosing Fresh Eggs from Infertile Donor vs. Paid Donors vs. Frozen Egg Banks. Gynecol Reprod Health. 2022; 6(4): 1-5 
  • Zalles LX, Ryan LN, Fischer RL. Preterm prelabor rupture of membranes prior to 33 0/7 weeks: when should rescue corticosteroids be given?   J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2022;1-5. Published 2022 Jan 11. doi:10.1080/14767058.2022.2026917 
  • Reiss S, Zalles L, Gbekie C, Lozano R. Identity and Reproductive Aspects in Females with Fragile X Syndrome. Womens Health Rep (New Rochelle). 2021;2(1):500-506. Published 2021 Nov 2. doi:10.1089/whr.2021.0059 
  • Manipalviratn, S., Trivax, B., Huang, A., Rosen, A. M., & Zalles, L. (2019). Genetic Disorders & Sex Chromosome Abnormalities. In A. H. DeCherney, L. Nathan, N. Laufer, & A. S. Roman, Current Diagnosis and Treatment Obstetrics and Gynecology, (12th ed., LANGE CURRENT Series). McGraw-Hill Education. 

Q&A

I saw becoming a doctor as the perfect opportunity to merge my academic curiosity with my passion for learning people’s stories and making a positive impact on their lives. I am also the first doctor in my family and am committed to mentoring students with similar interests, as I was very fortunate to benefit from multiple giving mentors.

Towards the end of my medical school training, I spent two weeks in a Reproductive Endocrinology office. I witnessed firsthand how closely REI physicians work with their patients as a team, and how gratifying it is to help achieve the ultimate goal of building a family. After completing a fellowship in medical genetics, I appreciated how reproductive endocrinology intertwines with genetics by incorporating scientific advancements, while also promoting patient advocacy in day-to-day practice. 

I am very fortunate to be joining a team that makes a conscious effort to prioritize each patient and their individual journey. Every member of our team plays a significant role that is centered around providing the patient with the best possible experience. With this core value in mind, SGF also applies evidence based practices and contributes to growing medical knowledge to continue advancing the field.

I believe that to help a patient who is struggling, I first must stop and truly listen. I also feel that it is important to educate patients so that they feel empowered to ask questions and advocate for themselves. In doing so, we can formulate a plan as a team.

My parents left everyone and everything they knew in South America as young adults in the hope of providing more opportunities for their future children. They worked day and night to provide for me and my siblings. Parental love is selfless, limitless, and completely inspiring to me. 

I have been cliff diving in Greece and bungee jumping in Canada. I would love to go skydiving one day! 

While I won’t claim to be very good, I enjoy the feeling of accomplishment after a run or workout session. I was previously on a competitive Latin dance team and still enjoy dancing socially. As much as I love to explore new countries and hiking trails, I also appreciate a night in with my family, including our French Bulldog. 

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