Yolanda R. Smith
University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine
Available Lines of Communication
Doctor email
Nurse email
Nurse email
Direct line to doctor
Direct line to nurse
Direct line to nurse
Not available by personal cell phone
Medical SchoolWake Forest
ResidencyU. of Michigan
FellowshipJohns Hopkins
Ann Arbor
475 Market Place
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
734-763-4323
7 assessments
10
10
Age
32 - 34
Treated
2017 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, Unexplained
10
10
She [Dr. Yolanda Smith] always presented the facts, but always takes mine & my husbands input when we discuss the road to treatment. She has never forced us to do a treatment, and is always very patient and willing to answer questions to help us make decisions...She is very frank and blunt with diagnosis, and tells it like it is, but is definitely empathetic and is willing to come up with solutions to each and every case she has, she truly has our best interest, getting us pregnant at the forefront of her practice. She has never withheld information or facts, so every drug or procedure we've tried we've understood 110% exactly what has happening.
The nursing staff [at University of Michigan Center for RM] is amazing - I have seen many of the same nurses when I go in, and they make it a point to remember me, and they are so caring, positive, and upbeat...The clinic itself is great - and the administrative staff are very easy to work with and communicate well. They have a financial team, along with other assistants to help with any non-medical questions that may come up. The financial tam was very helpful when we visited the IUI/IVF options, and helped us figure out our coverage with our insurance company.
Age
32 - 34
Treated
2017 - 2019
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European, Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
2nd of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IUI
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor, Unexplained
10
10
How was your experience with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
She is very frank and blunt with diagnosis, and tells it like it is, but is definitely empathetic and is willing to come up with solutions to each and every case she has, she truly has our best interest, getting us pregnant at the forefront of her practice. She has never withheld information or facts, so every drug or procedure we've tried we've understood 110% exactly what has happening.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
She can be blunt, but she truly does want to help and is ver empathetic when discussing her ideas for treatment. You just have to get past the bluntness. And I've seen other reviews about her, complaining about not seeing her, or having other doctors around. Please remember U of M is a teaching hospital, and Dr. Smith is not only a doctor there, but is also faculty. There will very often be residents and fellows around to assist her, or meet with you before you see Dr. Smith. It is not because she doesn't have time to see you or talk to you, that's what they do at teaching hospitals.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
She always presented the facts, but always takes mine & my husbands input when we discuss the road to treatment. She has never forced us to do a treatment, and is always very patient and willing to answer questions to help us make decisions.
Describe the protocols Yolanda R. Smith used in your cycles at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
I have diminished ovarian reserve, but no concerns on egg quality, and borderline MFI that has improved, so we've been lumped into the "unexplained" category as well.
We tried for cycles of 100 mg clomid, with ovidrel trigger and timed intercourse - the strategy being to "increase targets" because of the borderline male factor. None of those cycles were successful. I responded well to the medications however. We took a break for a little while after that.
We are now attempting IUI, 150 mg clomid, ovidrel trigger and IUI. Again, the thought to help increase targets, and assist with the slight MFI. Dr. Smith feels that is what is holding us back.
We discussed IVF with ICSI, but there were some other concerns my husband & I had about side effects, cost, risks that at this time it is not an option we are comfortable with. And Dr. Smith is OK with that. It is on the table though if we ever want to revisit it.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nursing staff is amazing - I have seen many of the same nurses when I go in, and they make it a point to remember me, and they are so caring, positive, and upbeat. I wish these nurses could come with me to other doctor's offices. They are amazing.
Describe your experience with University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
The clinic itself is great - and the administrative staff are very easy to work with and communicate well. They have a financial team, along with other assistants to help with any non-medical questions that may come up. The financial tam was very helpful when we visited the IUI/IVF options, and helped us figure out our coverage with our insurance company.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
We are lucky to have some infertility coverage on our insurance, and only pay a co-pay for office visits with Dr. Smith. All testing and procedures are covered up to 90% so we do not pay much out of pocket. Without insurance, or clomid cycles, would have been around $400-$500 including clomid, ovidrel, and hospital fees for the monitoring ultrasound. The IUI, when all said and done would have cost about $1,000 out of pocket.
Describe Yolanda R. Smith's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
N/A
- Read less
6
5
Age
34 - 35
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
1 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
6
5
She [Dr. Yolanda Smith] is direct and experienced. We always were provided tons of information which is what we wanted but sometimes (and this may be because of our clinical situation) not a lot of very pointed feedback - such as this is the best course of treatment for you. We liked having all the info and being able to make an informed decision but some people may not have appreciated this approach.
Communication at this clinic [Univ of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine] - among the health care team and then how they communicate to the patient needs to be improved. Miscommunications were frequent and in an educational session, it was readily apparent that even for patients on the same protocols, we all had varying degrees of knowledge about our clinical condition, which is a reflection on the communication abilities of the clinic.
Age
34 - 35
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Professor
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IUI, 1 IVF
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS
6
5
How was your experience with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
She is direct and experienced. We always were provided tons of information which is what we wanted but sometimes (and this may be because of our clinical situation) not a lot of very pointed feedback - such as this is the best course of treatment for you. We liked having all the info and being able to make an informed decision but some people may not have appreciated this approach.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
Be prepared with questions and make sure to request a detailed game plan at the end of each appointment
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
She was direct and tailored her recommendations not only to my clinical situation but also our emotional state
Describe the protocols Yolanda R. Smith used in your cycles at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
I was on an antagonist protocol with Metformin. I starred on a low dose of Gonal-F, then added Menopur and Ganirelix. I've only have one stim so far and if we do another one, she recommended increasing my dose of Gonal f to see if we can get more eggs. Because I have PCOS, there was high risk of OHSS, so I believe they were more cautious in my stimulation which made sense.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
Nursing staff were kind and thorough. At times, inconsiderate to the fact that I had contraindications to OCPs which they repeatedly asked me "oh you're not taking birth contro right?" which I understand was their attempt to tailor but ended up making me feel like there was another thing wrong with me and my body. There was also some conflicting info from some nurses so I repeatedly had double check certain things r/t my protocol.
Describe your experience with University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
Communication at this clinic - among the health care team and then how they communicate to the patient needs to be improved. Miscommunications were frequent and in an educational session, it was readily apparent that even for patients on the same protocols, we all had varying degrees of knowledge about our clinical condition, which is a reflection on the communication abilities of the clinic.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
We have coverage of 80% of fertility treatments up to a lifetime benefit of $20,000. So far, out of pocket, for 1 IUI, mock transfer and 1 stim and egg retrieval, we've paid $3000. PGS is costing us an additional $2000.
Describe Yolanda R. Smith's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
Yes, she strongly recommended SET due to my age and the fact that we were doing PGS.
What specific things went wrong at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
- Failed to order appropriate test
- Provided conflicting information
- Failed to convey critical information
- Read less
0
0
Age
41
Treated
2015
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
1 IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Uterine Fibroids, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
0
0
[Dr. Smith] Did not recognize us from visit to visit--each time she saw us she acted like she'd never met us before. While I believe she has a good understanding of medicine, her bedside manner is nonexistent. (And when we left this clinic I did have big doubts about whether I received good care--it was not until receiving a second opinion that I felt confident in her ability to address my medical issues.)...
[U of Michigan] Pros: Major University hospital with access to cutting-edge research. Experienced and well-credentialed staff members. Cons: Large, impersonal, uncaring atmosphere. Perhaps they go by research too closely--definitely an emphasis on the science of medicine rather than the art--unwillingness to experiment with different protocols or do anything different than what it says to do by the book...
Age
41
Treated
2015
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Writer
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
1 IVF, Donor Eggs
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Uterine Fibroids, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
0
0
How was your experience with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
Very cold and uncaring. Did not recognize us from visit to visit--each time she saw us she acted like she'd never met us before. While I believe she has a good understanding of medicine, her bedside manner is nonexistent. (And when we left this clinic I did have big doubts about whether I received good care--it was not until receiving a second opinion that I felt confident in her ability to address my medical issues.)
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
Don't expect to have a relationship with this doctor. She will treat you like a number and will not involve you in your own healthcare decisions. You should also be aware that at this clinic it is very difficult to get consistent care from any one doctor--they have a huge staff and you will rarely see the same doctor twice.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Smith was involved in guiding my husband and I toward making huge decisions that were very important to us. Yet, every time she saw us she introduced herself as if we'd never met before. After a disappointing egg retrieval a nurse brought her in to speak with us and she was clearly in a rush--her manner was incredibly cold, and she didn't even take off her surgical mask while speaking to us. While I think she knows her medicine, she did not explain things well to us, and simply told us what to do, without really involving us in the decision-making process. Would not recommend!
Describe the protocols Yolanda R. Smith used in your cycles at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
I don't remember the exact drugs. After experiencing repeated (naturally conceived) pregnancy losses I was diagnosed with diminished ovarian reserve. Dr. Smith prescribed very high doses of injectable medicines due to my DOR diagnosis. After our egg retrieval I asked about following a different protocol and was told that high-doses of the IVF meds was the only thing they could do for my condition. Do not see this doctor if you want to follow a protocol that will be tweaked and adjusted from cycle to cycle.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: DeLynn)
While most of the nurses were extremely nice, the large size of the staff made it difficult to really feel a connection with anyone. We rarely saw the same person more than once. DeLynn (sp?) and Lindsey were two nurses who we did meet a few times, and who were very kind and concerned in their dealings with us.
Describe your experience with University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
Pros: Major University hospital with access to cutting-edge research. Experienced and well-credentialed staff members.
Cons: Large, impersonal, uncaring atmosphere. Perhaps they go by research too closely--definitely an emphasis on the science of medicine rather than the art--unwillingness to experiment with different protocols or do anything different than what it says to do by the book.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
I was fortunate to have my cycle covered by insurance (except for a $2,000 deductible). Therefore, the exact costs do not stick out in my mind--though I think a complete IVF cycle would have been about $8,000. (I also did not complete a full cycle because none of my embryos made it to the blastocyst stage.)
What specific things went wrong at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
- Failed to call with results
- Provided conflicting information
- Scheduled the wrong procedure
- Read less
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.
7
8
Age
27
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
7
8
Dr. Smith has a chilly bedside manner. She isn’t rude or unkind, but impersonable. She is obviously very intelligent and very skilled at what she does, so it doesn’t bother me personally...ordered a variety of tests for me including LH progesterone, autoimmune disorders, and ovarian reserve. She also ordered a hysteroscopy and an endometrial biopsy. The blood results showed nothing abnormal, so the OHS and biopsy are the next plan of action as well as beginning progesterone 72 hours post-ovulation.
The clinic [University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine] overall is pretty organized, but almost always delayed. I typically wait 10 min for the nurse to take me back and at least 15 min for the resident or doctor to come to the room. It is fairly hard to get in to see my doctor, but they are as accommodating as they can be...The nurses are very sweet and consistent. It’s nice to see the same faces each time I go. They explain things thoroughly and answer any and all questions.
Age
27
Treated
2018
Success with this Doc
?
Race
European
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
Fertility Medications
Diagnosis
Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
7
8
How was your experience with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Smith has a very chilly bedside manner, but she is straightforward and extremely knowledgeable. I chose to visit Dr. Smith for a second opinion and felt comfortable that she knew her stuff and gave me the best plan of action for my situation.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
Don’t expect a doctor that will hold your hand and be loving. She is knowledgeable and direct, but not emotional.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
Dr. Smith has a chilly bedside manner. She isn’t rude or unkind, but impersonable. She is obviously very intelligent and very skilled at what she does, so it doesn’t bother me personally.
Describe the protocols Yolanda R. Smith used in your cycles at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
Dr. Smith ordered a variety of tests for me including LH progesterone, autoimmune disorders, and ovarian reserve. She also ordered a hysteroscopy and an endometrial biopsy. The blood results showed nothing abnormal, so the OHS and biopsy are the next plan of action as well as beginning progesterone 72 hours post-ovulation.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nurses are very sweet and consistent. It’s nice to see the same faces each time I go. They explain things thoroughly and answer any and all questions.
Describe your experience with University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
The clinic overall is pretty organized, but almost always delayed. I typically wait 10 min for the nurse to take me back and at least 15 min for the resident or doctor to come to the room. It is fairly hard to get in to see my doctor, but they are as accommodating as they can be.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
My insurance covers 50% of infertility services and I pay a $20 copay for visits.
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9
10
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Unexplained
9
10
We didn't see Dr Smith that often, but when we did she was very informative and gracious with her time. She was thorough and respectful with our questions. She was also emotionally responsive when we dealt with negative cycles. ... Also, my wife and I were treated just like any other couple. ... We needed 3 IUIs before we could get IVF for insurance purposes. ... we did not expect these to work (and they did not). Dr. Smith understood this and did not try to get our hope up with each IUI, unlike our previous doctor, which was really nice!
The clinic [University of Michigan Center for Repro Med] was great! They were efficient and organized and kind and caring. The only complaint was that they made us have a counseling session because we were using donor sperm, which we had to pay for out of pocket because our insurance wouldn't cover it. It was fine but unnecessary. ... I felt like the office was timely, and all providers were willing to talk to me for add long as I needed. Also, my wife and I were treated just like any other couple.
Age
32 - 33
Treated
2017 - 2018
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
European
Income
$50K - $99K
Occupation
Teacher
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
3 IUI, 1 IVF, Donor Sperm
Diagnosis
Unexplained
9
10
How was your experience with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
We didn't see Dr Smith that often, but when we did she was very informative and gracious with her time. She was thorough and respectful with our questions. She was also emotionally responsive when we dealt with negative cycles.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
At this clinic you will see nurses and ultrasound technicians more often than your doctor.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
I felt like the office was timely, and all providers were willing to talk to me for add long as I needed. Also, my wife and I were treated just like any other couple.
Describe the protocols Yolanda R. Smith used in your cycles at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
We needed 3 IUIs before we could get IVF for insurance purposes. We had already had 9 IUIs at another office, and we did not expect these to work (and they did not). Dr. Smith understood this and did not try to get our hope up with each IUI, unlike our previous doctor, which was really nice!
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nursing staff was great! Everyone was very helpful, and when I called in when questions I would always get a quick and informative response.
Describe your experience with University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
The clinic was great! They were efficient and organized and kind and caring. The only complaint was that they made us have a counseling session because we were using donor sperm, which we had to pay for out of pocket because our insurance wouldn't cover it. It was fine but unnecessary.
- Read less
4
8
Age
27 - 28
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Treatment
—
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
4
8
Yolanda Smith is very knowledgeable but seemed to be pushing for IVF in our situation. I wish we would have been offered more testing in addition to the few things we were diagnosed with to see if there were any more reasons for recurrent miscarriages.... We used Femara and Ovidrel trigger shots to induce ovulation. Ultrasound monitoring was used mid-cycle before trigger.
I showed up for an appointment [at U of MI-Ann Arbor] once and it didn't seem like the appointment was in their schedule for the day. Another time I left after being told I had miscarried and had to turn around come all the way back in to get a Rhogam injection because they failed to offer it at the time of my appointment. On another occasion I was waiting for lab results and didn't receive a call same day. I had to call in to the L&D triage after hours to get the results.
Age
27 - 28
Treated
2016 - 2017
Success with this Doc
No
Race
European, Native American
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
—
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1st of 2 Docs
Treatment
—
Diagnosis
Male Factor, PCOS, Recurrent Pregnancy Loss
4
8
How was your experience with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
Yolanda Smith is very knowledgeable but seemed to be pushing for IVF in our situation. I wish we would have been offered more testing in addition to the few things we were diagnosed with to see if there were any more reasons for recurrent miscarriages.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
Come prepared with the questions you have, the appointments are usually brief. The clinic is usually running behind (or at least it was while I was a patient.)
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
Appointments were usually very brief and interaction was mainly with MAs or nurses.
Describe the protocols Yolanda R. Smith used in your cycles at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
We used Femara and Ovidrel trigger shots to induce ovulation. Ultrasound monitoring was used mid-cycle before trigger.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff.
The nursing staff was usually very good at returning calls quickly and making sure I got the care that I needed.
Describe your experience with University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
The clinic usually runs behind on appointment timing. This was frustrating as I usually had to get back to my older child who was being cared for by friends during the appointments. The clinic is very accomodating about last minute appointments that are needed, which is appreciated.
What specific things went wrong at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
- Lost appointments
- Failed to call with results
- Provided conflicting information
- Read less
0
5
Age
30
Treated
2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
0
5
Dr. Smith is not warm at the bedside and you definitely feel more like a number. UM practices as a team anyway, so all of the doctors make the decisions. They are pretty strict on following their protocols, not aggressive in treatment and more conservative. Another reviewer put, they practice more medicine than the art of medicine and I fully agree with that statement.
Strength [for University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine]: Academic center connected to large hospital system Weaknesses: See many doctors over course of treatment, might only see your doctor once, very conservative on protocols, very into evidence-based medicine (i.e. not into supplements or immune protocols because little research).... Like with any clinic, the nursing staff is hit or miss. I think Delynn, Kristina, and Robin are some of the better nurses in the clinic.
Age
30
Treated
2014
Success with this Doc
Yes
Race
Other
Income
$100K - $199K
Occupation
Nurse or HC Services
Order & Number of Docs Seen
1 Doc Seen
Treatment
1 IVF
Diagnosis
Diminished Ovarian Reserve, Male Factor
0
5
How was your experience with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
We did get pregnant with Dr. Smith but felt it was more luck than the actual protocol. Dr. Smith is not warm at the bedside and you definitely feel more like a number. UM practices as a team anyway, so all of the doctors make the decisions. They are pretty strict on following their protocols, not aggressive in treatment and more conservative. Another reviewer put, they practice more medicine than the art of medicine and I fully agree with that statement.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
I would not choose Dr. Smith, I think some of the other doctors in the same clinic have a better bedside manner.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
Very cold bedside manner. She was not personable enough for me.
Describe the protocols Yolanda R. Smith used in your cycles at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine and their degree of success.
Standard lupron protocol with birth control.
Describe your experience with your nurse at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine. (Assigned nurse: Delynn)
Like with any clinic, the nursing staff is hit or miss. I think Delynn, Kristina, and Robin are some of the better nurses in the clinic.
Describe your experience with University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
Strength: Academic center connected to large hospital system
Weaknesses: See many doctors over course of treatment, might only see your doctor once, very conservative on protocols, very into evidence-based medicine (i.e. not into supplements or immune protocols because little research).
Describe the costs associated with your care under Yolanda R. Smith at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
10Kish but workup and meds covered
Describe Yolanda R. Smith's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine.
UM is in more in favor of single embryo transfer.
What specific things went wrong at University of Michigan Center for Reproductive Medicine?
- Failed to call with results
- Failed to convey critical information
- Read less
Verified
This patient has provided documentation of treatment at this clinic.