September 2025 Member Spotlight: Michelle Bayefsky

September 2025 Member Spotlight: Michelle Bayefsky

Michelle Bayefsky, MD.

Dr. Michelle Bayefsky, is a second-year fellow in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Mount Sinai School of Medicine/RMA of New York. A summa cum laude graduate of Yale College and a cum laude graduate of Harvard Medical School, she went on to complete her residency at NYU Langone Health, where she was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. She also trained as a pre-doctoral fellow in the Bioethics Department of the National Institutes of Health-a foundation that has shaped her research focus on the ethical dimensions of reproductive medicine and fertility preservation.

Dr. Bayefsky has already made an impact in the field, with more than thirty publications in leading journals including The New England Journal of Medicine, JAMA, and Fertility and Sterility, as well as co-authoring a book on the ethics of preimplantation genetic testing. She currently serves on the ASRM Ethics Committee, where she contributes to discussions that help guide ethically informed clinical practice.

For Dr. Bayefsky, joining ASRM was a natural step in her career. "I was excited to keep up on the latest research, connect with colleagues, and contribute to discussions about the future of our field," she says. Her involvement has proven invaluable, from building collaborations with peers and mentors to engaging deeply in the Ethics Committee's work. "Participating in the Ethics Committee has been intellectually enriching and career-affirming," she reflects.

Looking ahead, Dr. Bayefsky aims to continue blending clinical excellence with scholarship. "As a fellow, I am focused on becoming the best clinical REI I can be," she says. Beyond fellowship, she plans to continue research in fertility preservation and reproductive ethics while staying engaged with ASRM's mission to advance patient care and advocacy.

She is particularly energized by the progress being made toward improving access to fertility care, whether through state insurance mandates or employer initiatives. At the same time, she recognizes the challenges posed by growing mistrust in medicine and ongoing efforts to restrict access to IVF. For her, ASRM plays a vital role in meeting these challenges head-on: "ASRM promotes high-quality, evidence-based care and sends a clear, unified message about what the standard of care truly is and how it has helped so many."

Among her inspirations is Dr. Alan DeCherney, whose clinical skill, vision, and mentorship left a lasting impression. She recalls attending a meeting on mitochondrial donation with him during her time at NIH: "I was amazed by how seamlessly he transitioned from the clinical setting to a meeting with national leaders on an ethically charged topic, and thought to bring along a young learner as well."

Her advice to others in the field is simple. "If there is something that you care about, seek out other people who care about the same thing. Fruitful collaboration is one of the most valuable and rewarding parts of our job."

As she looks forward to the ASRM Annual Meeting in San Antonio, where she will present her own research, Dr. Bayefsky remains energized by the community she has found. "ASRM is a life-long community of peers who are all trying-in different, innovative, and compelling ways-to improve the practice of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility in the United States," she says.

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