Ratings of 1 indicate that a clinic was poorly operated.
Ratings of 10 indicate that a clinic operated very well.
Scheduling
9.5
9.5
Scheduling
Ratings of 1 mean it was difficult to schedule appointments with this clinic.
Ratings of 10 mean it was easy to schedule appointments.
Billing Department
8.3
8.3
Billing Department
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory billing department.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent billing department.
Nursing Team
9.4
9.4
Nursing Team
Ratings of 1 indicate an unsatisfactory nursing team.
Ratings of 10 indicate an excellent nursing team.
Attention to Detail
8.9
8.9
Attention to Detail
Attention to detail is on a 1 - 10 scale, and is scored based on the rate, and severity, of errors committed by the clinic according to the patients.
For example, a severe error might be failing to inform a patient of critical information, while a small error might be failing to call a patient with results.
CDC Success Rates
This is the most recent data from the CDC. The CDC cautions that it should not be used to compare doctors and clinics. This data represents the outcomes of IVF cycles when using a person's own eggs.
For more information please see our FAQs.
Where you see a “?” on the chart, a clinic has done fewer than 20 cycles in this category and age range, so the CDC says showing percentages from this small data set would be misleading and unreliable.
Dr Kim is extremely compassionate, patient, and smart...taking the time to explain the fertility cycle and process to me in a way that was easy to understand & made me feel comfortable...taking the time to explain the fertility cycle and process to me in a way that was easy to understand & made me feel comfortable
[RMA of Southern California is] Extremely efficient: I was in & out of AM monitoring in under 15 minutes every day. Great staff: everyone was very kind, patient, and empathic. Very clean & organized...answering questions, jumping on a face time with me when I forgot how to use the follitism pen (and staying on with me for all my shots!)
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr Kim is extremely compassionate, patient, and smart -- proactively taking the time to explain the fertility cycle and process to me in a way that was easy to understand & made me feel comfortable. He always remembered details about my history & checked in on how I was doing -- making the process feel seamless. In addition, I had to push my cycle back 2x because of travel schedules -- and he was always empathic and flexible, stating that I was in control of when we do this. He and his staff are also incredibly efficient -- I was in & out in under 15 minutes for my morning monitoring.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
RMA will move quickly once you go in -- so feel free to share when an ideal time is for you to do the cycle :)
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr Kim is incredibly kind, patient, and empathic -- proactively taking the time to explain the process, fertility cycle, and desired outcome. He laid it all out very clearly (even without me asking!) and checked in on how I was doing when I saw him. In addition, he always remembered details about my fertility history and process -- so I felt like an individual, rather than a number. He made the whole process comfortable, seamless, and efficient -- I'd recommend him (and his amazing nurse team!) to anyone going through this
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
Dr Kim's meds were much easier than most of my friends (because I didn't have to mix them myself) & they resulted in less side effects and 43 eggs. He was also careful to monitor my progress & adjust dosage accordingly.
Follitism & 1 other drug - I loved it because I didn't have to mix anything (most of my friends had to mix their own meds, which sounds harder/more time consuming), so I just popped the needles into the meds & it was quick/easy. Dr Kim adjusted my dosage 2x throughout the process, given my high # of follicles -- to ensure I'd have less side effects, while still helping my ovaries grow to produce a substantial amount of eggs. I then used Lupron & hCG for my trigger shots - Dr Kim gave me the hCG b/c of a condition I have, but he adjusted the dosage down significantly once he saw how high my estrogen levels were to reduce my potential side effects.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Qiana Shuton)
They were extremely compassionate, patient and communicative -- answering questions, jumping on a face time with me when I forgot how to use the follitism pen (and staying on with me for all my shots!), and walking me through how to use the different tools.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
Extremely efficient: I was in & out of AM monitoring in under 15 minutes every day. Great staff: everyone was very kind, patient, and empathic. Very clean & organized. I'd recommend RMA to anyone going through this - I will definitely use them again if I ever need fertility care
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
It was about ~$11K in total for the procedures, medicine, and 1st year of storage
I feel comfortable being treated by Dr. Landay...caring and explains things when I ask questions, she always seems willing to provide information...good doctor and very personable, but I do think she can make promises that she can't necessarily keep or follow up on...treated a lot of patients and my fertility may be compared to what she's seen in her patients or what the medical studies say about someone in my age range
I think the front desk staff [at RMA of Southern California], particularly during the early part of my clinic visits, were oftentimes dismissive. It was very frustrating because it seemed as though they weren't the friendliest or sometimes they just provided inaccurate information. I think the phlebotomist was very cordial and always had a positive demeanor. She was very friendly and pleasant to be around.
How was your experience with Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
I feel comfortable being treated by Dr. Landay as opposed to being treated by her partner physician (when she's away). Dr. Landay seems to be caring and explains things when I ask questions, she always seems willing to provide information when asked.
Dr. Landay has corrected herself/reconsidered an approach due to the change in my follicle count. When I first started seeing her, she said I'm not a candidate for IVF given my follicle count, so I asked if we can move forward with IUI which we did. After multiple visits/cycles, my follicle count increased to her surprise and she said if I want to do IVF, I can do so (although the results aren't guaranteed, which I understand). I appreciated that Dr. Landay reconsidered the fertility treatment approach that I could pursue.
Dr. Landay is a good doctor and very personable, but I do think she can make promises that she can't necessarily keep or follow up on. After having an experience of ovulating "too early," and my LH levels weren't being closely tracked when I had blood work, she said she will see what she could do to waive the cost for a couple of my future monitoring visits. There was never any follow through on that and I didn't want to ask about it since I didn't want to appear as though I was struggling or needed the financial assistance, but I actually really could have benefitted from having my costs waived for a few visits since I am a self-paying patient.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
I would tell a prospective patient to ask a lot of questions and follow up on anything that isn't clear or they have doubts about.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
I'm in the middle with my rating because it seems like at times I feel like I'm treated as both depending on what results during my monitoring cycle. For example, at times I've felt like a number because Dr. Landay has treated a lot of patients and my fertility may be compared to what she's seen in her patients or what the medical studies say about someone in my age range (in other words, what is considered "common"). Sometimes I feel like I'm treated as a human when certain things occur (i.e., had one experience when I ovulated early, also had an experience when my follicle count increased over time). As a result, Dr. Landay was surprised because the unexpected happened. When that occurs, then I'm seen more as a human and one who doesn't fit the usual medical expectations of what should happen.
Describe the protocols Melanie Landay used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
Dr. Landay made sure that I used the ovulation test kits during my cycle while I was also having my LH levels checked as part of my bloodwork. The purpose of me using the home ovulation test kits was to monitor if/when I had an LH surge. This was very important and she implemented this after I had an incident when I ovulated early. I think it was obvious that I was very bothered by the fact that it didn't seem as though she was monitoring me close enough (or frequently enough).
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Quiana Shuton)
Dr. Landay has a good nursing team. I started working with one nurse early on who was very good, but her assignment changed so she was no longer Dr. Landay's nurse. Dr. Landay's second nurse, Quiana, is also very good. She's patient and takes time address my questions and provide explanations as necessary.
The only incident I had with the nurse that led to me being upset was regarding the signing of consent paperwork for an IUI cycle. My partner and I were asked to sign it one day before my first IUI procedure and it could only be accepted as an e-signature. I didn't understand why the office didn't ensure the required paperwork was completed earlier in advance rather than one day before my procedure.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
I think the front desk staff, particularly during the early part of my clinic visits, were oftentimes dismissive. It was very frustrating because it seemed as though they weren't the friendliest or sometimes they just provided inaccurate information.
I think the phlebotomist was very cordial and always had a positive demeanor. She was very friendly and pleasant to be around.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California.
Costs included consultation, monitoring costs, bloodwork, saline sonogram, genetic testing (bloodwork for me and my partner), sperm freezing, IUI cycles, and required medications. Medications were purchased through associated pharmacy (MDR). I've spent anywhere between $4,000-$5,000.
Describe Melanie Landay's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
N/A
What specific things went wrong at RMA of Southern California?
Provided conflicting information
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of Southern California.
I asked the front desk staff if there was paperwork that my partner and I needed to sign that would allow me to be given access to any of his medical results when necessary. I was told everything was signed an there was nothing needed, but in fact this type of consent was never completed. This posed an issue when I wanted to have access to my partner's medical information and I was told there was no consent on file and I would need something signed by him to have access.
Another issue occurred when I was told after my partner and I signed medical consent forms in wet ink and submitted the forms that Dr. Landay doesn't accept those signatures, she only accepts e-signatures completed through docusign. This was never provided upfront to us, it seemed like the policy was either changed for us or the nursing staff was just unaware of Dr. Landay's requirements from the beginning.
Dr. Kim seemed to genuinely care about my experience during the entire process and the outcome. He prescribed things to make the process as easy and cost effective as possible. He called with results himself, every time, including follow ups to see how I was doing...His approach and philosophy also resulted in less time wasted, less pain, less expense, and more ease in general throughout the process. We got pregnant on the first embryo transfer with him and cannot recommend Dr. Kim enough...
Shelli [nurse at RMA of Southern California] was incredible. She was on hand to answer any questions whenever we had any...She showed tremendous compassion and I really felt like she cared about our journey and outcome. She was also super knowledgeable about available research. The front desk was also a delight. They remembered me every time I was there and were always so friendly and warm...
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
We had an unbelievable experience with Dr. Kim. We moved to RMA after a terrible experience elsewhere so we have another clinic for comparison. Everything he did felt in our best interest from the get-go and I felt much more like a human being and patient than a lab rat as a result. He seemed to genuinely care -- not just about outcome but about experience. His approach and philosophy also resulted in less time wasted, less pain, less expense, and more ease in general throughout the process. We got pregnant on the first embryo transfer with him and cannot recommend Dr. Kim enough.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Trust him. He's brilliant.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
We came from another clinic where I felt totally like a lab rat. This was the complete opposite experience. Dr. Kim seemed to genuinely care about my experience during the entire process and the outcome. He prescribed things to make the process as easy and cost effective as possible. He called with results himself, every time, including follow ups to see how I was doing. He was warm and playful, and he made the cycle we did with him an absolute pleasure.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
Based on the IVF medication Dr. Kim prescribed and the success we had with it, I can safely say my previous doctor was overmedicating me. I had fewer shots needed. He also thinks mock ERA cycles were not needed in my case, which cost a lot of time and money at our previous clinic. He also recommended against intrallipid infusions the day of the transfer, and it turns out that wasn't needed either (even though our last doctor upsold us on it). Our previous experience was that anything and everything that COULD work, our last doctor threw at us. Dr. Kim follows the science. He's extremely knowledge and will only ask a woman to undergo certain medication or treatment if and when it's absolutely necessary to achieve the desired outcome. For that I'm super appreciative.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Shelli Carter)
Shelli was incredible. She was on hand to answer any questions whenever we had any (even after I was already pregnant and in the care of an OBGYN). She showed tremendous compassion and I really felt like she cared about our journey and outcome. She was also super knowledgeable about available research. The front desk was also a delight. They remembered me every time I was there and were always so friendly and warm. I felt like they really cared too and were a part of what made the experience so pleasurable.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
Everyone there is super friendly and supportive and I could ramble on for hours about how each and every person on staff made the experience so much easier for us. The only weakness (if I'm pressed to name one) is that I have small veins and would have liked someone available there who was great at drawing my blood every visit (and sometimes it was hit or miss -- but to be fair, that has been my experience everywhere).
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
Dr. Kim did eSET for us because he said statistically that results in better success. I can only speak from experience, but it worked for us and now we have multiple embyos left over for the next pregnancy attempt.
Dr Kim is not in favor of dual embryo transfers...He's a true scientist at heart, he really enjoys the process, and the lab work that the embryologist is doing. He wants you to understand the science the same way he does, so he's happy to show images and explain ultrasounds all in real time. He's never too busy for a teaching moment...
RMA Southern CA doesn't do very many cycles per year - less than 500...Despite being a satellite office for a large national clinic, RMA in Southern CA feels more "boutique" than it does national. All the nursing staff knows my name and everyone is up to speed on my specific information...Shared Risk program cost $32,000 for up to 6 egg retrievals and unlimited number of embryo transfers. If unsuccessful, a portion or all of the amount paid is refunded.
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
I was reluctant to choose a male doctor - but decided to choose a clinic based on the lab instead of the doctor. I got very lucky with Dr. Kim! He's a true scientist at heart, he really enjoys the process, and the lab work that the embryologist is doing. He wants you to understand the science the same way he does, so he's happy to show images and explain ultrasounds all in real time. He's never too busy for a teaching moment.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
He enjoys answering questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
RMA's headquarters are in NJ and they do some huge number of cycles annually (I think it's over 7,000 - you can check on Fertility IQ). But the Southern California branch is small - they do fewer than 500 per year. This provides the expertise of a national lab, but also the intimacy of a boutique clinic. Everyone always new my name.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
I don't know if my protocols had specific names.
For the first 2 IUIs we used Chlomid. For the third IUI we used the Follistim pen injection. None of the IUIs were successful.
For the Egg Retrieval we used a combination of Flotsam, Estrace (orally), and Ganirelix, Lupron, and Novarel.
For the FET we used Estrace (orally), and progesterone in oil injections.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Shelli)
The Head nurse at RMA Southern CA is Shelli. She is incredibly capable and intelligent and organized - all important for her job. But beyond the basic functions of her position, she is one of those people who is so well suited for what she does. She has the personality and the demeanor to be encouraging but also to stick to the facts.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
RMA Southern CA doesn't do very many cycles per year - less than 500. So they do not have any data on Fertility IQ. I strongly suggest you look at their parent headquarter office RMA in New Jersey to see the quality of work their lab is doing. If you are interested in selecting a clinic based on labs or statistics, then RMA is a clinic you want to keep on your short list. Feel free to ask their staff direct questions about success rates.
Despite being a satellite office for a large national clinic, RMA in Southern CA feels more "boutique" than it does national. All the nursing staff knows my name and everyone is up to speed on my specific information. It feels like concierge medicine.
We qualified for the Shared Risk program with RMA which did require us to pay before starting treatment. I know shared risk is not for everyone, but for us it was a huge relief and allowed us to focus on the treatment.
Meter parking is always available on the side street. And the adjoining office building has courtyard with a cafe, so your partner has a nice outdoor area to wait since covid protocols are still in place.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
RMA does offer a pay-as-you-go option, but we selected the Shared Risk program, which is slightly more expensive upfront, but it caps your costs so they don't spiral out of control if you need multiple retrievals or embryo transfers.
Each IUI cost approx. $1300 (about $240/visit + medications) This amount can fluctuate depending on how you're responding to meds.
Shared Risk program cost $32,000 for up to 6 egg retrievals and unlimited number of embryo transfers. If unsuccessful, a portion or all of the amount paid is refunded.
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
Dr. Kim is very even keel and realistic, knowledgeable and transparent. He described my treatment plans, provided expectations that made sense for me based on my situation (not just someone my age), and was very communicative. He is very genuine and you can tell that he cares about getting a successful outcome...He is a great communicator - happy to share information whenever asked, or explain things in more detail, but also doesn't bombard you with so much data that you can go down the rabbit hole. I appreciate his calm demeanor and his knowledge. He saw me at all monitoring visits and procedures, and seems to be very skilled. I had few side effects from retrievals, and with two rounds of egg retrievals for IVF I had very similar (and positive) results. He c
Shelli [nurse at RMA of Southern California] is great about following up with test results, checking in at the start of the retrieval cycle and on trigger day to make sure you know everything, and going over all protocols...This clinic is very comfortable - it's super clean and you feel comfortable and welcomed, but it also has the look & feel of a medical practice. I first started coming here during the pandemic, so have only seen the clinic operate using COVID protocols. This includes a health screening when they confirm your appointment, taking your temperature and another verbal health screening at check-in, chairs are socially distanced (although I was never waiting with anyone else), everyone wears masks, and partners can't come to appointments. The only time you won't have a mask on is during the retrieval itself. The location is well accessible - close to the 10/405 split. There is parking, but I th
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim is fantastic. I had done an initial consult at another clinic, where the doctor was overly enthusiastic, quick to jump to treatment, and used a lot of euphemisms. This made my husband and I really uncomfortable, as we wanted to understand the science of ART, what we could realistically expect, and what the process would be. Dr. Kim is a perfect fit for us - he wants you to be successful and treats you as a person, but also is great at explaining where you are in your fertility and setting realistic expectations (i.e. if my AMH is low and my AFC on day 3 is 8, a successful retrieval may be 7 eggs, not 30). He is a great communicator - happy to share information whenever asked, or explain things in more detail, but also doesn't bombard you with so much data that you can go down the rabbit hole. I appreciate his calm demeanor and his knowledge.
He saw me at all monitoring visits and procedures, and seems to be very skilled. I had few side effects from retrievals, and with two rounds of egg retrievals for IVF I had very similar (and positive) results. He checked in before and after, and is very patient with any questions. We are so grateful that we found this practice.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Stay calm and don't rush. I think that Dr. Kim is very methodical because he wants to get the best outcome for you (and the outcome is a healthy pregnancy). This may mean things take a little longer - you're not going to start the retrieval process the day of your consult, and since FET is their standard of care, it's going to be another month or more before you transfer. I think it's worth it - I'd rather not rush it. I appreciate that we waited a bit between my two retrieval cycles for my ovaries to calm down and have a better AFC, and he hasn't rushed me on the transfer, either, instead providing guidance on the best timing.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim is very even keel and realistic, knowledgeable and transparent. He described my treatment plans, provided expectations that made sense for me based on my situation (not just someone my age), and was very communicative. He is very genuine and you can tell that he cares about getting a successful outcome.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
IVF - We had the antagonist protocol (Follistim + low-dose HCG, Ganirelix, Leuprolide, Trigger Shot). In one round I was on BCP for a couple of weeks, in the other I wasn't but just had some estrace priming. In one cycle things went a little slower, so I was on Follistim a little longer than the first one, but all was good. I haven't yet started the transfer protocol.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Shelli)
Shelli is amazing! You'll wind up speaking/emailing with her the most, as she is the main point of contact when you call or e-mail. She is a fantastic communicator, understands the science, is compassionate while also being transparent, and has fantastic bedside manner during the retrieval. If there's an outstanding question, she follows up. She, too, really cares about a successful outcome. I can't imagine having as positive an experience as I have had if she were not at this practice.
Shelli is great about following up with test results, checking in at the start of the retrieval cycle and on trigger day to make sure you know everything, and going over all protocols. She was also great with helping me navigate the pharmacy side of things, as my insurance covered some items but not everything was available.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
Strengths - This is a smaller clinic that's part of a larger clinical network. To me, this means the best of both worlds: you get the insights from their cutting-edge technology and research, but you also have continuity of seeing the same doctors and nurses and staff when you come in. All of the staff here are so pleasant and skilled. The phlebotomists draw blood (and there's a lot of it) without any discomfort! They are responsive, it's easy enough to get appointments, and they are quick - I don't think I ever waited for more than 5 minutes. The surgical center (for retrievals/transfers) is on site, as is the embryology lab. The only thing not performed on site is the PGT-A testing; they send the biopsies to the east coast.
Another critical thing for me was insurance coverage. I am fortunate enough to have fertility treatments covered by my employer-based insurance, but many "in-network" fertility specialists that I reached out to (including both that my OB-GYN had initially recommended) did not do all of the treatment, and elements of the treatment would be out of network. Because of RMA-So Cal's set-up, the monitoring, retrievals, and fertilization/culturing were all in-house and therefore in-network. The only items out of network are anesthesiology during egg retrieval and the chromosomal testing.
I've seen some clinics that look like a "spa" experience (i.e. chandeliers) or instagram-worthy. That makes me feel a bit uncomfortable - at the end of the day, it's a medical clinic. This clinic is very comfortable - it's super clean and you feel comfortable and welcomed, but it also has the look & feel of a medical practice.
I first started coming here during the pandemic, so have only seen the clinic operate using COVID protocols. This includes a health screening when they confirm your appointment, taking your temperature and another verbal health screening at check-in, chairs are socially distanced (although I was never waiting with anyone else), everyone wears masks, and partners can't come to appointments. The only time you won't have a mask on is during the retrieval itself.
The location is well accessible - close to the 10/405 split. There is parking, but I think it's pricey - there are a lot of much cheaper meters (which are free before 8), and you'll always be in and out within 15-30 mins. There is also bike parking in the garage.
Not a weakness, per se, but when you're a new patient scheduling an appointment, it goes to a call center in NJ (where their largest practice or HQ is). It took a few days to hear back, which worried me at first. Have no fear! Once you become a patient, it's so easy to reach this clinic directly and get appointments quickly.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
My treatments were largely covered by insurance, so I don't have a great sense of out-of-pocket fees. Anesthesia for retrieval was ~$450. PGT-A testing is $300/embryo - I think this is great as many clinics charge a lump sum per batch which is far more expensive (thousands of dollars). I think you'd need to have double-digit embryos for the cost to even get close to what others charge for PGT-A testing.
They work with MDR pharmacy for the stim cycle drugs, unless if your insurance requires another provider. Mine was a hybrid of sorts. The Follistim was ~$250 per vial (1 vial/day) and the low-dose HCG was around $200. MDR is far less expensive than the pharmacy my insurance works with; I think they mentioned that the cash price for a stim cycle would run around $2,500-3,000 had I purchased everything from MDR.
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
I think eSET is the standard of care here, but have not yet done a transfer. We are planning to do SET.
[Dr. Thomas Kim] is just a great person - always taking time to answer my questions or check in on me even if I was just there for bloodwork. I felt so cared about as a human...truly took the time to get to know us as people. He is candid without being callous and hopeful without overpromising. He was always available to answer questions and explain where we were headed. One example that comes to mind is that after every ultrasound, he would offer me his hand and help me into a sitting position so we could have a conversation. Something about that made me feel like a human and not just a number or a patient. He is so respectful. Just a gentle, kind man.
I cannot say enough good things about the team at RMA. Every single one of them was kind, compassionate, and knew who I was when I walked in...Retrieval Cycle - $13,600 (includes all visits, ultrasounds, bloodwork, the retrieval itself) $450 for anesthesia (outside party) PGS testing recommended...appreciate how research focused they are. It makes you confident in the approaches they are taking. So thankful for my experience here.
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Doctor Kim truly took the time to get to know us as people. He is candid without being callous and hopeful without overpromising. He was always available to answer questions and explain where we were headed. One example that comes to mind is that after every ultrasound, he would offer me his hand and help me into a sitting position so we could have a conversation. Something about that made me feel like a human and not just a number or a patient. He is so respectful. Just a gentle, kind man.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Doctor Kim is efficient and sometimes can explain things quickly. If you need clarification, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
From the moment I called RMA SoCal, I felt peace. Everyone I interacted with was kind, compassionate, and respectful. Doctor Kim is just a great person - always taking time to answer my questions or check in on me even if I was just there for bloodwork. I felt so cared about as a human.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
Doctor Kim put me on an antagonist protocol. Despite my low ovarian reserve, he felt good about my antral follicle count. I was on Gonal F (400iu) and low dose hCG (20iu). For the last 4 days we added in cetrotide. Trigger shot and retrieval 36 hours later. 9 eggs were retrieved - which was better than what was expected. Unfortunately, only 4 were mature. All 4 fertilized. 1 made it to day 5/6.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Shelli Carter)
I cannot say enough good things about the team at RMA. Every single one of them was kind, compassionate, and knew who I was when I walked in. Azalea and Brittany were always there with a smile and a kind word. Our nurse, Shelli, is wonderful. She was always prompt in replying to emails and making sure I had the information that I needed. She helped out when I wanted to order my meds overseas and answered my many questions. Every person I came into contact with in that office created a comforting environment. Is it strange to almost look forward to your appointment because you enjoy the people you’ll see when you get there? That’s RMA.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
I would recommend RMA to friends and strangers alike. That’s why I’m here! My first clinic made me feel like a number. RMA is the complete opposite. You are a cared about human here. They are great communicators, we always had an easy time getting appointments when we needed them, they worked around our schedule. I also appreciate how research focused they are. It makes you confident in the approaches they are taking. So thankful for my experience here.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
Retrieval Cycle - $13,600 (includes all visits, ultrasounds, bloodwork, the retrieval itself)
$450 for anesthesia (outside party)
PGS testing recommended - $250/embryo
I have not made it to transfer, but I know that’s about $4,500
They also do your check ups until 7 weeks which I believe run somewhere around $150/visit.
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
Doctor Kim is pretty firmly behind a SET. They are very confident in the embryos they grow at RMA and feel single embryo is the safest choice.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of Southern California?
Failed to inform you of changes in protocol
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of Southern California.
The only thing that was a challenge during our retrieval cycle happened because I needed to take my medication midday. They were changing up my protocol in the day or two leading up to retrieval, but I didn’t get that information until after already taking my medication for the day. That caused a bit of stress, but all ended up being fine.
Dr. Kim is a fantastic communicator...made it very clear to me what parts of the process had to be based on my results...aware of how they were modifying things as they went along....very good at giving a sort of "primer" to my partner who hadn't done as much research...has a lovely sense of humor
RMA was clearly the most organized and clear, which I found very reassuring...have a 24h nurse on call for any over-the-phone help that's needed...facilities are clean and calm, and the receptionists are lovely and helpful. Parking is very easy as well...only complaint with the staff is that one of the nurses in the phlebology lab was very careless and rough
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim is a fantastic communicator, and made it very clear to me what parts of the process had to be based on my results, so i was very aware of how they were modifying things as they went along. Dr. Kim was also very good at giving a sort of "primer" to my partner who hadn't done as much research, which was useful for bringing him into the process and not being intimidated it.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
My only piece of advice is to let patients know in advance that the routine bloodwork and ultrasounds can ONLY be scheduled early in the morning, and there's no option to come in later in the day. This created havoc for me because I live on the other side of the city and had to deal with rush hour traffic both ways, which was terribly inefficient for so many short and frequent visits. It would have been useful to know about their scheduling limitations before committing to working with RMA.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim presents information in a very easily-understandable way, but also happily cut to the chase when it became clear i'd done a lot of research prior. He is conservative in his estimations of the result as to not disappoint, which I appreciated. He has a lovely sense of humor and shared his opinion with me and my partner throughout the process, as to how the treatment should progress.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Jessica)
Jessica was my assigned nurse, and she was a very clear and organized communicator, very friendly, and present at almost all of my routine exams.
My only complaint with the staff is that one of the nurses in the phlebology lab was very careless and rough with drawing my blood and injured the vein in my left arm, leaving it tender with a blue and green bruise that's taken two weeks to heal. After leaving a complaint with my primary nurse, I was assigned different lab nurses who drew my blood from that point on were very skilled, careful and gentle.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
Of all the clinics i set up consultations with, RMA was clearly the most organized and clear, which I found very reassuring. They have a 24h nurse on call for any over-the-phone help that's needed (which I had to use once, and found it very comforting and helpful). The facilities are clean and calm, and the receptionists are lovely and helpful. Parking is very easy as well.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
My treatment was about 13k all together, incliding consultation, anaesthesia, medication, and labs, which are not included in the clinic price.
Dr. Kim was everything I was looking for our IVF journey...so honest without being rude...set proper expectations...ability to answer all 1,000 of my questions....welcomed my interest in wanting to know every detail...so calm, so knowledgeable and confident...only does things when the conditions are perfect and not mediocre
[RMA of Southern California] is clean, quiet and beautiful! Everyone is knowledgeable and friendly...moves fast and effectively to help you meet your family goals...Emily was amazing to us...provided packets and tons of information...always set clear direction during my egg retrieval and transfers
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim was everything I was looking for our IVF journey. I am an absolute information junky so when it came time to do research on doctors I visited a few and when I met Dr. Kim I immediately knew he was the one. He was so honest without being rude, he set proper expectations with me and I very much appreciated his ability to answer all 1,000 of my questions. I did so much research for years knowing this is where I would end up and I believe he could see that and welcomed my interest in wanting to know every detail. Dr. Kim is amazing at what he does and so confident. His bedside manner matched what I was looking for. He's so calm, so knowledgeable and confident in his work. He only does things when the conditions are perfect and not mediocre! That's why he stood out to me. He understands if we do something, we do it right or not at all!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
I would advise to do your research. Dr. Kim might not be for everyone and that is ok! But when you go expect honesty, perfection and no less. He is not a Doctor to cut corners or brush you off. He is there to help you meet your goals at the end of the day!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr.Kim and the entire staff at RMA were so welcoming to my husband and I. Everyone down to my phlebotomist, our nurse Emily, and Dr.Kim were so caring. We appreciated their understanding and commitment to making our experience an amazing one. They understood we drove over 2 hours to get to their office everyday and were so accommodating. We felt like a family by the end of our journey. Everyone in the office always seemed so happy to see us and we were so excited to see them. Even when we were going through the loss of one of our transfers they were all so apologetic and essentially held our hand through the grief. Our experience was truly unmatched and amazing.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Emily Wright )
Emily was amazing to us! She would always speak to both my husband and I! My husband attended EVERY SINGLE appointment and she saw how invested he and I were. She answered all my questions, she provided packets and tons of information (she's knows I'm an information junkie!), and always set clear direction during my egg retrieval and transfers
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
Clinic is clean, quiet and beautiful! Everyone is knowledgeable and friendly . I don't see very much wrong with the clinic. Everyone is on the same page and attentive. I would say the clinic moves fast and effectively to help you meet your family goals
Describe your experience with your monitoring appointments at RMA of Southern California.
I loved monitoring appointments! The machines are so new and clear. The only downside is the appointments are down bright and early! And like I said we were driving over 2 hours for every appointment. But aside from that they are very thorough in their finds and monitoring
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
Under my employer we were offered IVF help through Progyny. Our costs lucky were very low and all payments were collected through Progyny and not through the clinic itself
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
Dr. Kim only does single transfers which was fine with us. He understands the risk of doing multiples and I appreciate that he does it this way
Dr. Landay is an exceptional reproductive endocrinologist...Her thorough examination, gentle procedures, and approachable demeanor made me feel instantly at ease during a challenging time...She took the time to listen to my concerns and history, and as we progressed together, she paid close attention to my body's specific needs. Importantly, she believed in my observations and never made me feel like I had to justify or prove them. This personalized approach was a refreshing change from the standard "trial and error" process of IVF. Dr. Landay treated me with the utmost respect, acknowledging my understanding of my own body and actively involving me in my care.
The [RMA of Southern California] clinic has two doctors. Both highly experienced. The clinic is great, but fairly sterile. No bells and whistles. But I think they invest in what matters most, really good equipment. The nurses are great, but since it is a new clinic there is a lot of new staff. It has yet to feel personalized in the nurse department...Dr. Landay's compassionate and respectful approach is what every woman undergoing fertility treatments deserves. She truly embodies what it means to be a woman's doctor, and I wholeheartedly recommend her without hesitation.
How was your experience with Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Landay is an exceptional reproductive endocrinologist. I crossed paths with her unexpectedly while conducting outside monitoring for another RMA clinic, and from the start, I knew she was someone I could trust. Her thorough examination, gentle procedures, and approachable demeanor made me feel instantly at ease during a challenging time. Switching to Dr. Landay after unsuccessful experiences with other doctors proved to be a turning point. She took the time to listen to my concerns and history, and as we progressed together, she paid close attention to my body's specific needs. Importantly, she believed in my observations and never made me feel like I had to justify or prove them. This personalized approach was a refreshing change from the standard "trial and error" process of IVF. Dr. Landay treated me with the utmost respect, acknowledging my understanding of my own body and actively involving me in my care. This level of respect and involvement is rare in IVF care and made me eagerly anticipate my appointments with her. Thanks to her support, I was able to navigate the IVF journey with greater ease and ultimately achieve success. Reflecting on my experience, I've gained a profound understanding of the challenges women face in fertility treatments, from IUI to IVF, and everything in between. Dr. Landay's compassionate and respectful approach is what every woman undergoing fertility treatments deserves. She truly embodies what it means to be a woman's doctor, and I wholeheartedly recommend her without hesitation.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Landay is energetic!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Landay treated me with respect.
Describe the protocols Melanie Landay used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
Dr. Landay did a natural modified transfer using limited amount of hormones as to not overwhelm my body.
Describe your experience with the nursing staff at RMA of Southern California.
The nursing staff at RMA is wonderful. Although I sometimes feel like they are overworked a bit when they are really busy and wish for them to have extra help. The clinic is still growing.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
The clinic has two doctors. Both highly experienced. The clinic is great, but fairly sterile. No bells and whistles. But I think they invest in what matters most, really good equipment. The nurses are great, but since it is a new clinic there is a lot of new staff. It has yet to feel personalized in the nurse department.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California.
I had insurance which covered a lot of services so I was very very very lucky!
[Dr. Kim] first analyzed, my ovarian reserve, and my husband sperm. Once he had that information, we decided three egg retrieval’s. Per his suggestion, we did them all before our first embryo transfer his suggestion to do a natural cycle embryo transfer. Allow me to take as minimal drugs as possible and rely on my natural cycle to decipher, went to transfer our embryo. Our first try was successful as I knew it would be
The clinics care and staff [at RMA of Southern California] are stellar & by far their biggest strength. The finance department was in transition when i onboarded and could definitely be better coordinated with the medical team & their procedures...They communicated clearly, and made sure that I was on top of all appointments, drugs, and was equipped with any information needed to complete treatment. My nurse, Emily, was well in her pregnancy by the end of my treatment, yet I always felt taken care of
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr Kim gave us facts and statistics, right from the first consultation. He analyzed our numbers and gave his professional medical opinion but always left room for possibility. He was very attentive to our goals and our priorities. For example, knowing that we preferred as natural a process as possible, he suggested that we do a natural cycle for embryo transfer. He’s consistent Karen empathy allow me to feel safe and relaxed throughout this entire process and greatly contributed to the success of a starting our family.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Ask as many questions as you need to feel informed and safe about the process. Dr. Ken is willing to fully explain the pros and cons and options thoroughly. He will give you information that is concise, clear, science based, while also analyzing your numbers and adjusting methods to give you the best outcome possible, it is truly a team effort working with Dr. Kim
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr Kim and his staff were always attentive, informative and mindful of our questions, concerns and priorities. He made sure we were aware of the statistics, best practices, possible outcomes while keeping empathy and a positive outlook in tact.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
Doctor came first analyzed, my ovarian reserve, and my husband sperm. Once he had that information, we decided three egg retrieval’s. Per his suggestion, we did them all before our first embryo transfer his suggestion to do a natural cycle embryo transfer. Allow me to take as minimal drugs as possible and rely on my natural cycle to decipher, went to transfer our embryo. Our first try was successful as I knew it would be. Prior to working with Dr. Kim, other doctors have told us we probably would not get pregnant without ever analyzing our numbers first. Dr. Kim never jumped to conclusions or made assessments without first understanding the numbers, the odds and the options in all situations. Explain them clearly and well with empathy and compassion.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Emily Wright)
Emily Wright and the entire medical staff, an RMA Southern California, are wonderful & thorough. They communicated clearly, and made sure that I was on top of all appointments, drugs, and was equipped with any information needed to complete treatment. My nurse, Emily, was well in her pregnancy by the end of my treatment, yet I always felt taken care of, and grateful for her attentive manner even during maternity leave
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
The clinics care and staff are stellar & by far their biggest strength. The finance department was in transition when i onboarded and could definitely be better coordinated with the medical team & their procedures.
Dr. Landay always took the time to address our concerns, answer our questions, and provide personalized support. Her calm demeanor and positive outlook helped us stay optimistic even during the most challenging of times. For the challenging times, her responses were heartfelt and kind...She has the perfect combination of skilled doctor and bedside manner...[she] recommended that we went to a reproductive urologist before the second egg retrieva
[RMA of Southern California] is very convenient they have everything that you need in the office. All bloodwork and ultrasounds are in the office. Egg retrievals saline sonograms and embryo transfers are also all in the office...Merrissa Wowk [a nurse] is a true saint I can’t express enough how her knowledge and handholding was everything to get through the dark times...They only transfer one embryo at a time at RMA and I trust that there are reason for that
How was your experience with Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
What truly sets Dr. Landay apart is her genuine care and empathy for her patients. Despite the emotional rollercoaster that infertility treatments can often be, Dr. Landay always took the time to address our concerns, answer our questions, and provide personalized support. Her calm demeanor and positive outlook helped us stay optimistic even during the most challenging of times. For the challenging times, her responses were heartfelt and kind, and I genuinely felt like she was with us every step of the way. She has the perfect combination of skilled doctor and bedside manner.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
Be open and honest with all of your concerns. She is one of the best listeners. Once she explains the treatment plan and puts your heart at ease, Let Dr. Landay take the wheel. She knows what she’s doing.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
She was so patient with all of our questions and all of our concerns. I fully felt like I understood everything even some of the things that didn’t have an answer you could feel that true genuinely cared. I know that she is as invested in my journey, as I am.
Describe the protocols Melanie Landay used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
I ended up having two egg retrievals with ICSI sperm insemination of my husband, sperm that resulted in embryos that would arrest before blast assist before blastocyst. Dr. Landay recommended that we went to a reproductive urologist before the second egg retrieval which we did but he ended up not being our fit after the second round of IVF led to successful embryos. We went to a different reproductive urologist. My husband had a Tese surgery and we went back in for around three of IVF, which resulted in five healthy embryos that was a wonderful and beautiful blessing after such a dark time. Dr. Landay explained everything very well. We are eternally grateful to her guidance, because that is what let us to get the tese.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Merrissa Wowk)
Merrissa Wowk is a true saint I can’t express enough how her knowledge and handholding was everything to get through the dark times. I absolutely adore her. They are the best team.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
RMA is very convenient they have everything that you need in the office. All bloodwork and ultrasounds are in the office. Egg retrievals saline sonograms and embryo transfers are also all in the office.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California.
I am over 35 so my insurance paid for part of it because I did have fertility coverage my insurance paid for diagnostics. My responsibility was medications and surgical portions.
Describe Melanie Landay's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
I don’t have an opinion on this I trust Dr. Landay’s judgment. They only transfer one embryo at a time at RMA and I trust that there are reason for that makes sense I want to have a baby, so whatever is the healthiest way to do so I am all for it.
Dr. Kim took the time to understand my personal background - both related to infertility and not - and explained the reproductive process and the diagnosis I had received at a previous clinic clearly and with respect to my ethnicity and medical history. This continued every step of the way...is extremely intelligent and understanding. He took me seriously as an individual, and seemed really invested in a positive outcome for our family. He took time to answer any question I had. I appreciated that he performed almost every ultrasound personally
[RMA of Southern California] Strengths: 1. Very small clinic, so it's extremely personalized...very single ultrasound was performed by one of the doctors or Emily, the nurse practitioner -- someone I knew and who knew me. 2. It's connected to the larger RMA network, so they are at the forefront of research...3. Dr. Kim is no-nonsense...4. They were very flexible about allowing my acupuncturist to treat me in house. Weaknesses...I don't love their email system or the app they use. The emails are difficult to access from a mobile device, and the app doesn't update consistently.
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim is extremely intelligent and understanding. He took me seriously as an individual, and seemed really invested in a positive outcome for our family. He took time to answer any question I had. I appreciated that he performed almost every ultrasound personally, and that he reviewed the results of any ultrasound performed by Dr. Landay or NP Emily Wright. He also put me at ease - one of the first things he told me was that I was paying him a lot of money for his expertise and knowledge, and that I should focus on all the other areas of my life and not stress about doing all the research or letting anxiety get in the way of my treatments. I appreciated this, because IVF is so stressful, and in general, I have issues with stress triggering physical symptoms. But, even with that caveat, he always answered my questions thoroughly and with tenderness - I was never brushed off, just reassured that I was in good hands. I also appreciated that he didn't overwhelm me with information - he shared each step of the protocol as it was necessary for me to know, since he was flexible about making adjustments when necessary and wanted to minimize my anxiety.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
He is open to questions and feedback, so be vocal! Trust him when he says he cares.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
I felt like a human from the moment I walked in. I have a lot of allergies to foods and medications, and am usually not taken seriously by medical professionals. Priscillia, the tech who took my initial vitals and general intake, took my medical history extremely seriously, and went over the ingredients that would be used in the ultrasound for my consultation. During my consultation, Dr. Kim took the time to understand my personal background - both related to infertility and not - and explained the reproductive process and the diagnosis I had received at a previous clinic clearly and with respect to my ethnicity and medical history. This continued every step of the way. Each person I spoke to - from billing to reception to medical techs to nurses to doctors - knew who I was, what my medical history entailed, what my fertility history entailed, and where my anxieties lay. I was offered services specific to my religious practice. Most importantly, when I suffered an ectopic pregnancy followed the first transfer and had to go to the ER to terminate it, Dr. Kim and the on-call nurse Merrissa were in constant communication with the ER doctor, even though it was a Saturday. Additionally, Dr. Kim tweaked my treatment protocols based on my unique sensitivities.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
For my egg retrieval, I did injections of low dose HCG and Follistim and trigger shot before retrieval. For my first transfer cycle, I took estradiol, initially 2 doses of 2mg orally and then upped to 3 doses, one vaginally. Then, I added injections of progesterone in olive oil (I have a sesame allergy)- 1 cc daily. I used metrogel the night before the transfer and a progesterone suppository the morning of. I did get pregnant, but it resulted in a likely ectopic pregnancy which I had terminated in the ER with injections of methotrexate. We switched treatment protocols for my second transfer, since Dr. Kim hypothesized that my extreme allergic history may have led to inflammation of my uterus, and we weren't 100% confirmed that the pregnancy was ectopic (I was told by the ER doctor that this is the case 15% of the time - the embryo was growing at a rate that indicated it was ectopic and I experienced severe cramping and bleeding but the embryo could not be found in either my uterus or fallopian tubes). The second transfer protocol included only 2mg of estradiol 2x a day, progesterone in olive oil at 1cc 1x a day, doxycycline to prevent infection (about a week before), medrol steroids to prevent inflammation (3 days before, day of, day after), metrogel, and a progesterone suppository. This transfer did not result in a pregnancy. For my third transfer, we switched to a natural protocol, as Dr. Kim hypothesized that perhaps my immune system was reacting to the embryo as a foreign body since the whole cycle was synthetic, and if we convinced my body that it was pregnant naturally, the embryo would stick properly. For this cycle, we began with birth control, then letrazole pills to boost ovulation. I didn't respond as well to the letrazole as expected, so he tweaked the protocol to add in a few days of Follistim, initially at 100 and then dialed down to 75 and then back to 100. This stimulated three eggs, and then we triggered ovulation. Then, I did progesterone in olive oil injections (1cc) - usually the protocol would be a progesterone suppository, but I was allergic to the inactive ingredients in the suppository so Dr. Kim adjusted the medication. I had had a bad stomach reaction to the doxycycline, so we nixed that but kept the steroids in from the previous cycle, with a slightly adjusted timeline (2 days before, 1 day of, 2 days after), metrogel, and progesterone suppository. This resulted in a pregnancy, and I am now nearly 20 weeks along!
Some other notes - a previous doctor suggested I take Vitamin B, a probiotic, Vitamin D, and magnesium. I did this for my egg retrieval and the first transfer cycle (minus the Vitamin B, 5000 IU of Vitamin D). I didn't feel great on all the vitamins and skipped them for cycle #2. On Dr. Kim's recommendation, I added them back in for cycle #3 (2000 IU vitamin D).
I also did acupuncture before each procedure - 12 sessions before my egg retrieval, weekly before my transfers, as well as one treatment before and after each transfer. Dr. Kim was supportive of acupuncture and made space for my acupuncturist to treat me in the clinic.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Three nurses, one for each cycle. Emily Wright oversaw my egg retrieval and first transfer. Torrie Washington took over my second transfer when Emily went on maternity leave. I had issues with Torrie, so I requested a switch and was assigned to Merrissa Wowk.)
I had different experiences with each nurse.
Emily, my first nurse, and a nurse practitioner, was very good. She had excellent bedside manner, especially following my pregnancy termination. There were times I felt like she didn't explain everything super clearly - I was a bit more nervous about doing the injections correctly than I think she understood. But overall, she was a good communicator and very competent, and I felt safe and cared for.
Torrie was my second nurse. She was very new and it showed. My only concern at all with RMA is my experience with Torrie. She had terrible bedside manner - sometimes was rude, dismissive, and acted like I was bothering her when I had questions. But most egregiously, she made several mistakes. She called in some prescriptions incorrectly, not paying attention to my allergies. She had difficulty placing the ultrasound monitor during my second transfer and Dr. Kim had to take over. She also gave me misinformation about when to start taking birth control pills for my third cycle. I had a feeling she was wrong (she suggested I take them on Sunday regardless of whether I started my period, and I'd always been told to take birth control at the start of a menstrual cycle). I called the clinic to address my concerns and switch nurses, and Pooja, who was the nurse in charge, was extremely understanding, immediately switched my care to Merrissa, clarified my medication instructions, and promised to review Torrie's training. To her credit, I had a medication emergency at 6am when Torrie was the on call nurse, and she was kinder to me then and made sure to contact Merrissa before giving me advice because she said she didn't know the answer and wanted to make sure she gave me the correct information. I appreciated that growth.
Merrissa is AMAZING!!! I am so glad she got to be my nurse. She took care of me virtually as the on-call nurse when I had to go to the ER for the ectopic pregnancy and was incredibly knowledgeable and compassionate. As my primary nurse, she took the time to explain each step of the protocol, made sure I understood the medication instructions, took care to pivot with regards to my allergies, and had the most wonderful bedside manner. I felt so safe with her. She was invested in my journey and really understood me as an individual. I wish she could be my nurse throughout pregnancy.
Also - shoutout to Pooja. Not only was she helpful in solving my issues with Torrie, but she was the on call nurse one night when I had a medication emergency and calmly talked my husband through it (I was too upset to get on the phone). She also prepped me for my egg retrieval. I have small veins, and it was difficult to hook in the IV, and she led a team for 45 minutes to get the IV inserted, keeping me calm the entire time and taking care to avoid triggering a nerve condition I have in my right leg that can be exacerbated by needles.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
Strengths:
1. Very small clinic, so it's extremely personalized. Even on the rare occasion I was treated by Dr. Landay, the other doctor in the practice, I was reassured that she knew everything about my specific case. Every single ultrasound was performed by one of the doctors or Emily, the nurse practitioner -- someone I knew and who knew me.
2. It's connected to the larger RMA network, so they are at the forefront of research. This was also helpful because I had to get an ultrasound over Thanksgiving weekend and was able to visit the clinic in New Jersey for my monitoring while I was visiting family on the east coast. Dr. Kim made it clear that it was important for my mental health to get time with family, and I was lucky to have access to the extended team.
3. Dr. Kim is no-nonsense. At another clinic I went to, I felt blamed for my infertility, and was given advice to change my lifestyle in ways I found extremely stressful. Here, Dr. Kim was clear that it my decreased ovarian reserve was a genetic condition and no amount of changing my lifestyle could give me more eggs. It took a lot of pressure off, and allowed me to focus on my treatment and my life.
4. They were very flexible about allowing my acupuncturist to treat me in house.
Weaknesses:
1. Torrie was not a good nurse. I hope she gets more training.
2. I don't love their email system or the app they use. The emails are difficult to access from a mobile device, and the app doesn't update consistently.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
Egg retrieval - $15,500
Anesthesia - $550
PGT-A - $300 per embryo
PGT-M - $400 per embryo
Transfer - $4575
These prices are for those with no coverage for infertility. Some blood tests and ultrasounds were run through my insurance.
The clinic uses MDR pharmacy, which offers some of the best discounts on fertility meds and provides all syringes, alcohol swabs, and sharps containers for free, and they offer some patient discounts on certain medications.
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
RMA Socal only performs single embroy transfers, and I think that's great.
What specific things went wrong at RMA of Southern California?
Failed to call in prescriptions to pharmacy
Failed to convey critical information
Failed to consider drug intolerance
Describe the specific things that went wrong at RMA of Southern California.
Torrie forgot to call in medication once, and on several occasions called in medications I was allergic to. She also gave me the wrong information regarding when to start birth control.
However, the other nurses were exceptional, and Merrissa in particular was very clear about my allergies and made sure to call in the right doses and double check everything.
He [Dr. Thomas Kim] was extremely rude and condescending. At the consult he told an elaborate story about "an ideal American couple" with very generic names and good careers and super fertile which wasn't relevant and very triggering. He literally laughed at me when I shared a statistic I read. When I complained to the office about him, he went on to call me back and again was pushy with his perspective even though I said I never wanted to work with him.
I was able to get an appointment quickly [at RMA of Southern California]. The office was clean and there was plenty of spots to wait. They had extra masks. They didn't lose any of my information. All emails were sent in a secure platform (except the email from Dr. Kim). I was seen quickly once I arrived at the clinic. They took my vitals and weight and height...[Dr. Thomas Kim] was was extremely rude and condescending
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
During our consult for some reason he told an elaborate story about "Sarah" and "John" who were two "all-American good looking couple with great jobs. John works in technology. Sarah works in business. They have a home and Sarah is very fertile". The story went on for forever and it wasn't relevant to me or to my situation but he kept on telling it. And he wasn't sensitive to the fact that as someone with POI/DOR I was not interested in hearing the success rates of a highly fertile couple. Also how much money they make and their hypothetical home and hypothetical jobs weren't relevant at all. I gave him a statistic from NIH and Pub med that he literally laughed at. I left the appointment upset. I emailed a complaint and he called me back and said "sorry I came across in a bad way but I just want to tell you that I'm right" so basically in "apologizing" he was more concerned about his ego and being proven right. Even though he actually was wrong and I sent the link to the research article to prove it. On the phone call he kept berating me again about how unlikely it is that I will ever get pregnant. Which I already know but he did not need to do that. All he needed to do was apologize and I didn't even ask the office for an apology. But instead he said "sorry if I came across wrong but I just really want you to know how impossible it will be for you to get pregnant". Again, unneeded. I hung up on him and emailed the office again telling them I never want to work with them and I don't want him to ever contact me again and then got ANOTHER email from him again repeating again how impossible pregnancy would be for me. It was like he wanted to crush every hope and wish. I get it. 5% is not a great statistic but you don't have to keep telling me that over and over when I already said I don't want to work with you.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Just skip the consult all together.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
He was extremely rude and condescending. At the consult he told an elaborate story about "an ideal American couple" with very generic names and good careers and super fertile which wasn't relevant and very triggering. He literally laughed at me when I shared a statistic I read. When I complained to the office about him, he went on to call me back and again was pushy with his perspective even though I said I never wanted to work with him.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
He recommended donor eggs
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
I was able to get an appointment quickly. The office was clean and there was plenty of spots to wait. They had extra masks. They didn't lose any of my information. All emails were sent in a secure platform (except the email from Dr. Kim). I was seen quickly once I arrived at the clinic. They took my vitals and weight and height.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
Dr. Kim was a great fit for our family and situation, and our interaction with him was a high point in a long fertility journey that included fertility medications, IVF, surrogacy and plenty of other complications before we were blessed with our children. This is a wonderful doctor if you enjoy straightforward communication, being as active a participant as you want in your treatment decision, and evidence-based treatments.
RMA of SoCal is a finely tuned machine. I had almost 0 wait time in all my many visits. They are organized with patient records and in communication. Overall this clinic made a traditionally traumatic experience much better and even enjoyable at times. I recommend them highly...[nurse] Shelli Carter at RMA is an absolute gem, compassionate, always 100% organized - all of my 30 or so visits here started and ended in time. She answered all the questions I had throughout my cycles (connecting me with Dr Kim if necessary), provided supplemental data I asked for, and exercised a high level of care and involvement in my treatment. She is amazing!
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim was a great fit for our family and situation, and our interaction with him was a high point in a long fertility journey that included fertility medications, IVF, surrogacy and plenty of other complications before we were blessed with our children. This is a wonderful doctor if you enjoy straightforward communication, being as active a participant as you want in your treatment decision, and evidence-based treatments.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Be straightforward and ask any questions you have about the process. Dr. Kim is very patient and knowledgeable.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr Kim and his staff were with me for three years of fertility treatments, including a beautiful surrogate journey and a surprise natural pregnancy. Communication was prompt, appointments always started on time, I got answers to all questions about my treatment. Overall I felt the team truly cared. Appointments were always a great part of my day.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
Letrozole resulted in a chemical pregnancy 3 IVF freeze-all: retrieved 35 eggs resulting in 8 PGS normal embryos. Lining was always way too thin for a transfer and was unresponsive to estrogen. We progressed to surrogacy for one of the frozen embryos -> first transfer worked -> living child I had 1 successful natural pregnancy almost a great later. Although this was not a pregnancy created at RMA, they were kind enough to give full monitoring up to 9weeks, where I was transferred to an OB -> currently 25 weeks pregnant.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Shelli Carter)
Shelli Carter at RMA is an absolute gem, compassionate, always 100% organized - all of my 30 or so visits here started and ended in time. She answered all the questions I had throughout my cycles (connecting me with Dr Kim if necessary), provided supplemental data I asked for, and exercised a high level of care and involvement in my treatment. She is amazing!
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
RMA of SoCal is a finely tuned machine. I had almost 0 wait time in all my many visits. They are organized with patient records and in communication. Overall this clinic made a traditionally traumatic experience much better and even enjoyable at times. I recommend them highly.
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
Dr. Kim recommends eSET for euploid frozen embryos.
Dr. Kim spent so much time talking to me about my history, different treatment options, and expected outcomes. And every single time I had an appointment at the clinic, I saw Dr. Kim...he's honest and tells it how it is...I was grateful to Dr. Kim for sharing facts and science to back everything that he recommended, and for explaining the information in a way that made sense and was digestible...
Shelli [nurse at RMA of Southern California] was FANTASTIC. She always called me the same day I was seen for morning monitoring and spent ample time thoroughly reviewing my levels, my meds, and answering my hundred questions...I always saw the same few faces during my appointments, which made the experience feel much warmer...And I never waited more than a few minutes to be seen. And the clinic itself is beautiful - it looks brand new, and so modern....
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim has all the qualities of a fantastic doctor. He is kind and gentle with his approach - I always felt how invested he was in my success. At the same time, he's honest and tells it how it is. As someone who is naturally a control freak in life, it was very difficult for me to accept that I can't control my fertility. But I was grateful to Dr. Kim for sharing facts and science to back everything that he recommended, and for explaining the information in a way that made sense and was digestible. It made the uncontrollable feel a little more manageable.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Don't be afraid to ask questions! If something doesn't make sense to you straight away, Dr. Kim will be able to explain it clearly so that you feel comfortable with the information.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
From the beginning, Dr. Kim spent so much time talking to me about my history, different treatment options, and expected outcomes. And every single time I had an appointment at the clinic, I saw Dr. Kim. He managed my care from A-Z! Additionally, while I was in cycle and going in for monitoring visits, his nurse Shelli would call me that same afternoon and review my lab results and medications for the following few days. I always felt SO taken care of by the two of them.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
For my retrieval cycle, I had an antagonist cycle IVF with PGT-A. Used Estrace, Follistim, low dose HCG, Ganirelix, and Pregnyl/Lupron trigger. I responded much better than anticipated, so Dr. Kim adjusted my meds and dosage as I got closer to my retrieval. He had me trigger at the perfect time to maximize the number of eggs retrieved as well as avoid hyperstimulation.
For my transfer cycle, I had a medicated cycle and took Estrace and progesterone (in oil, intramuscular).
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Shelli)
Shelli was FANTASTIC. She always called me the same day I was seen for morning monitoring and spent ample time thoroughly reviewing my levels, my meds, and answering my hundred questions. She was just as invested and instrumental in my care as Dr. Kim, and I am so so thankful she was my nurse.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
Love the entire staff at RMA!! I always saw the same few faces during my appointments, which made the experience feel much warmer. The girls at the front desk always greeted me with a smile, asked me how I was doing, and celebrated each milestone along with me, which was so sweet and comforting.
I was always able to get an appointment quickly and super early in the morning, so I wouldn't have to miss work. And I never waited more than a few minutes to be seen. And the clinic itself is beautiful - it looks brand new, and so modern.
She [Dr. Melanie Landay] is very knowledgeable and takes all the time that the patient needs. She is very smart and is a problem solver. I highly recommend her; I would just recommend that sometimes what the patient needs is a bit of compassion before we immediately run to the medical discussion...She takes the time to explain the procedure and is generally pretty sympathetic; a few times she tilted towards focusing on the medical when what I needed at that time was compassion.
[RMA of Southern California is] A very well organized clinic. The support staff is splendid. Doctors can do everything in that clinic because it has its own lab, procedure room, etc. The staff were also really helpful in trying to help me financially. You also want to park outside, where they are many spots. Parking at the building is $20.
How was your experience with Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
She is very knowledgeable and takes all the time that the patient needs. She is very smart and is a problem solver. I highly recommend her; I would just recommend that sometimes what the patient needs is a bit of compassion before we immediately run to the medical discussion.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
I would take a notebook with you and be unafraid to ask questions. She is happy to answer them for you; but you need to stop her to ask make sure you understand because she might have the assumption that you and her are speaking the same medical language.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
She takes the time to explain the procedure and is generally pretty sympathetic; a few times she tilted towards focusing on the medical when what I needed at that time was compassion.
Describe the protocols Melanie Landay used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
Don't remember.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Emily Wright )
Emily is a great communicator and slower in pace than Dr. Landay, which actually works really well for me because she is a calming force.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
A very well organized clinic. The support staff is splendid. Doctors can do everything in that clinic because it has its own lab, procedure room, etc. The staff were also really helpful in trying to help me financially. You also want to park outside, where they are many spots. Parking at the building is $20.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California.
About 5,000 per cycle.
Describe Melanie Landay's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
She said that single embryo transfer was safer and I trusted her with that advice. I think she is a very cautious doctor, which I like.
He [Dr. Thomas Kim] was clear and easy to understand. Very straightforward which I appreciated. I felt like he was the best in his field and I felt safe putting my trust in him. During the procedures he was very kind and reassuring. He made it less scary and I felt like everything would work out...Dr Kim only does singles no multiples as it is harder on the body and would be more likely to succeed with one.
Overall really great. Some of the new [RMA of Southern California] staff are inexperienced which could lead to miscommunication. So be on top of everything yourself. Read all documents fully, you don’t want any surprise bills. Really easy to work with...It always felt like they took my case seriously and did their best when problems arose. They were always available and reassuring...Dr Kim only does singles no multiples as it is harder on the body and would be more likely to succeed with one.
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
He was clear and easy to understand. Very straightforward which I appreciated. I felt like he was the best in his field and I felt safe putting my trust in him. During the procedures he was very kind and reassuring. He made it less scary and I felt like everything would work out.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Be informed about all the pricing before you start.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
It always felt like they took my case seriously and did their best when problems arose. They were always available and reassuring.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
For the transfer I took estradiol pills and progesterone shots daily. This continues until week 10 of the pregnancy.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Shelly)
Shelly was amazing! She was very informative and always available. She was easy to talk to and it felt like she cared and was invested in our case.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
Overall really great. Some of the new staff are inexperienced which could lead to miscommunication. So be on top of everything yourself. Read all documents fully, you don’t want any surprise bills. Really easy to work with.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
The initial treatments were a set price. After a confirmed pregnancy is when the bills rack up for each ultrasound and blood draw.
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
Dr Kim only does singles no multiples as it is harder on the body and would be more likely to succeed with one.
Dr Kim is kind, reliability, and professional! After my consult I knew he was the DR for me because of the human manor he took and the detailed explanations he walked me through. I was never rushed off the phone and every question I had was answered...time to explain my exact age and rates of fertility so set my expectations. Our plan was very custom to me!...The process was simple for my 2 retrievals (one egg freezing and the second embryo freezing). ~2 weeks of injections and then retrieval...
The clinic [RMA of Southern California] is a well oiled machine! I never waited too long and the front desk team is fabulous. Azelia at the front desk was one of the reasons I choose RMA. She was kind and very informative, especially with billing...Clarifying that Emily Wright is a NP and one of the best I've ever worked with. She was also very kind and prompt with her responses! I knew she was reliable since I had a 3pm on Friday issue and she left her personal number for me to call all weekend...
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr Kim is kind, reliability, and professional! After my consult I knew he was the DR for me because of the human manor he took and the detailed explanations he walked me through. I was never rushed off the phone and every question I had was answered.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
If you're between Dr Kim and another Dr., meet with Dr Kim and you'll understand why all of the high marks.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr Kim to time to explain my exact age and rates of fertility so set my expectations. Our plan was very custom to me!
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
The process was simple for my 2 retrievals (one egg freezing and the second embryo freezing). ~2 weeks of injections and then retrieval.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Emily Wright)
Clarifying that Emily Wright is a NP and one of the best I've ever worked with. She was also very kind and prompt with her responses! I knew she was reliable since I had a 3pm on Friday issue and she left her personal number for me to call all weekend.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
The clinic is a well oiled machine! I never waited too long and the front desk team is fabulous. Azelia at the front desk was one of the reasons I choose RMA. She was kind and very informative, especially with billing.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
I had Progyny coverage which RMA works with regularly and it was a seamless experience.
Dr Kim worked up a plan based on my age, weight ( I have a higher bmi) and my previous insecurities with a different provider. He made me feel like we were doing the right thing and gave me a confidence...did a basic egg retrieval followed by a frozen embryo transfer. Due to my age we had all embryos genetically tested.
Clean, great location and great hours to balance work and the procedures. They were also very transparent on pricing. The only weakness is that parking is paid...Every day I received through communication directly from my nurse. She was always there with a positive outlook
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr Kim worked up a plan based on my age, weight ( I have a higher bmi) and my previous insecurities with a different provider. He made me feel like we were doing the right thing and gave me a confidence I hadn’t had before
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Be open minded and understand that infertility treatment is flexible if you are
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim worked with me not just a book! He made me feel confident in the plan and his team kept me updated through every step.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
We did a basic egg retrieval followed by a frozen embryo transfer. Due to my age we had all embryos genetically tested.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Emily )
Every day I received through communication directly from my nurse. She was always there with a positive outlook even when my body wasn’t feeling great. The team kept me feeling positive
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
Clean, great location and great hours to balance work and the procedures. They were also very transparent on pricing. The only weakness is that parking is paid but that’s normal in Los Angeles so it was to be expected
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
I used my insurance so I am not sure
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
We did not discuss multiple embryos due to my own desires
Dr Kim is one of the top doctors in this field. His skill and expertise are enormous...was able to perform a surgical procedure within minutes that a different doctor attempted twice unsuccessfully...bedside manner isn’t the warmest, he is very genuine and cares about his patients...a caring but busy doctor...also very responsive to emails and phone calls with questions of all types...
[RMA of Southern California] is well run, thorough and efficient. They generally communicate well and be as helpful as they can in most instances. It’s important for new patients to come in with questions and to do some of their own reading about things that can increase their chances of succes...Merissa Wowk is my nurse there now. She is also really sweet and prompt at responding to calls and phone calls.
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr Kim is one of the top doctors in this field. His skill and expertise are enormous. He was able to perform a surgical procedure within minutes that a different doctor attempted twice unsuccessfully.
While his bedside manner isn’t the warmest, he is very genuine and cares about his patients.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Ask lots of questions.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim is a caring but busy doctor. The nurses and staff were generally very kind and warm. They were also very responsive to emails and phone calls with questions of all types.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
I don’t remember
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Shells Carter and Merissa Wowk )
Shells Carter doesn’t work there anymore, but she was amazing. Very prompt in responding to calls and emails, very patient and thorough in explaining and Re-explaining everything to me. Very kind and patient.
Merissa Wowk is my nurse there now. She is also really sweet and prompt at responding to calls and phone calls. I haven’t had as much interaction with her as she is new to the team.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
The clinic is well run, thorough and efficient. They generally communicate well and be as helpful as they can in most instances. It’s important for new patients to come in with questions and to do some of their own reading about things that can increase their chances of succes. Dr Kim also has recommendations in this area. Ask him.
We absolutely loved working with Dr. Kim and highly recommend him...he explained information directly but with compassion and care. He didn’t sugarcoat anything and for that, we were very appreciative. He asked us about what we hoped to achieve, and based on those answers, he helped us put together a plan. Of course, this plan would change as we discovered more about our fertility issues, but we were always discussing information and making the plan together.
We feel so safe and at home at RMA. We're lucky to have them on our team...Our nurses were incredible and helped make a long and difficult journey as seamless as possible...Every single person we've encountered throughout our visits (and there were a lot of them!) was so kind and caring. Calls and emails were returned promptly and scheduling appointments was a breeze.
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
We absolutely loved working with Dr. Kim and highly recommend him. I did tons of research on doctors and clinics in our area before deciding to move forward with his services at RMA.
Before meeting Dr. Kim, we met with one other RE at a trendy fertility chain for a consultation and immediately decided they were not for us. When we came to Dr. Kim, he explained information directly but with compassion and care. He didn’t sugarcoat anything and for that, we were very appreciative. He asked us about what we hoped to achieve, and based on those answers, he helped us put together a plan. Of course, this plan would change as we discovered more about our fertility issues, but we were always discussing information and making the plan together. Dr. Kim would call personally to check in on us and discuss our results and next steps throughout the process. The more we got to know him, the more confidence and trust we had in him.
After my third and final retrieval, we faced a tough situation where I had a minor case of OHSS that required a visit to the ER and my husband came down with COVID the same day. Dr. Kim called three different times to make sure that I was recovering well and that my husband was feeling better. He genuinely cares.
We got pregnant from our first embryo transfer and we know we’ll be returning to Dr. Kim when it’s time to continue expanding our family. He’s a wonderful human being.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. He's not a doctor who will overwhelm you with information, but if you ask him to break things down, he will very clearly. Have patience and trust!
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
After our initial consultation at RMA, much of our treatment for MFI was outsourced to a urologist recommended by Dr. Kim. While we weren’t seeing Dr. Kim regularly during months of treatment my husband’s urologist prescribed, Dr. Kim was still in the loop with our case. My husband went to RMA regularly for labs during this time, and every time we visited, the team was always very kind and looked after us so well.
We knew we picked the correct team to help us through this journey. Once we began the IVF process, it became even clearer that we were in the right place. During months of difficult news and anxious waiting, we always felt supported and our team showed us so much compassion. We felt encouraged to ask questions, chat, call, and email to alleviate any of our concerns.
Dr. Kim always called to deliver results and chat through our questions - even on weekends when we figured results wouldn’t be available until the following week. When you’re waiting for such important news, not having to wait that extra 24 or 48 hours makes such a difference.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
My baseline tests were all normal. We hoped to do a single retrieval, however, I ended up doing three back-to-back retrievals to secure an adequate number of PGT embryos for how large of a family we hope to have.
For each retrieval, I was prescribed a modest medication regimen which my body responded to well. My protocol consisted of Estrace and Progesterone tablets, and injections of low-dose HCG, Gonal F, and Lupron. We were closely monitored throughout each round and decided to take a one-month break before our FET.
We did a medicated FET cycle and were lucky enough to have success on our first try. My FET protocol consisted of Estrace tablets and PIO injections, followed by Metrogel & progesterone bullet right before the transfer. After the transfer, I continued my PIO shots until I was 10 weeks pregnant.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Emily & Merrissa)
Our nurses were incredible and helped make a long and difficult journey as seamless as possible. We began our process with Emily and were transitioned to Merrissa when Emily was out for an extended period. Both Emily and Merrissa were very responsive and amazing at answering our endless questions. They're very organized and great communicators. Throughout so many phone calls and visits, they began to feel like family. Trustworthy, compassionate, and each with great a sense of humor - we really couldn’t ask for more.
We had one call in particular with Emily during our months of treatment with my husband's urologist where we were feeling so overwhelmed and defeated. Emily listened to us and was so encouraging. That conversation was a turning point in our mindset and helped get us through a very difficult time.
The majority of my communication throughout this process was with Merrissa. She's extremely detail-oriented and always made time for me. I can't thank her enough for responding to alllllll of the emails I sent her. My husband came with me to every single appointment - even just for bloodwork - and we would always pop our heads into the nurses' office next door to say hello to Merrissa. She's a gem.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
We wouldn't consider going anywhere else. Every single person we've encountered throughout our visits (and there were a lot of them!) was so kind and caring. Calls and emails were returned promptly and scheduling appointments was a breeze. Juana and Priscilla did the majority of my bloodwork and they were both pros and wonderful people to chat with. While Dr. Kim was on vacation, we had a few appointments with Dr. Landay for morning monitoring and she was absolutely lovely.
I dreamt of the day we'd graduate from our clinic for months, and by the time graduation day came, it was really difficult to leave. We feel so safe and at home at RMA. We're lucky to have them on our team.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
We're very lucky to have amazing insurance which includes fertility benefits. All billing was handled through our fertility benefits administrator. The process was seamless. The majority of our entire treatment protocol was covered by insurance.
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
We knew we'd do an eSET to maximize our chances of success. We felt very comfortable with this method and were given clear information that helped us understand the process and why this is the standard of care.
Dr. Kim is straightforward but also very warm...Dr. Kim called with important information (egg retrieval and IVF success follow up, mostly), but for all other calls I got the nurse assigned to me. This felt pretty efficient, but I do wish I got a little more face time with Dr. Kim or one or two check-ins along the way...He seemed really thrilled, as both a doctor and a human, when things went well for us. When we had setbacks, he explained why, took a moment to be there with us, was reassuring, and then clearly set expectations for next steps.
I thought everyone I interacted with at RMA was great. Sometimes they seemed really busy, especially on mornings where there were a lot of monitoring appointments, but I had no issue getting my preferred appointment time even when scheduling just a few days out. They did tend to run late as you got later into the morning. We did have a few billing snafus, but they were quickly sorted out...My nurse Merrissa was great! She was very communicative and warm. I know she had a lot on her plate, but I wouldn't have known because I always answered every email and call quickly.
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim is very direct with his communications and also very compassionate, which I liked, but I could see it being a downside for someone who wants an effusively warm or upbeat bedside manner. He seemed really thrilled, as both a doctor and a human, when things went well for us. When we had setbacks, he explained why, took a moment to be there with us, was reassuring, and then clearly set expectations for next steps.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim is straightforward but also very warm. I saw him, Dr. Landay, and the NP Ms. Wright when I went in for my monitoring. Dr. Kim called with important information (egg retrieval and IVF success follow up, mostly), but for all other calls I got the nurse assigned to me. This felt pretty efficient, but I do wish I got a little more face time with Dr. Kim or one or two check-ins along the way.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
For the IVF cycle, stimmed with Follistim, micro hcg, and Provera then did a dual Lupron/hcg trigger. It worked really well for me. We did a modified natural cycle after my lining didn't get thick enough on a medicated cycle. First transfer took.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California.
My nurse Merrissa was great! She was very communicative and warm. I know she had a lot on her plate, but I wouldn't have known because I always answered every email and call quickly.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
I thought everyone I interacted with at RMA was great. Sometimes they seemed really busy, especially on mornings where there were a lot of monitoring appointments, but I had no issue getting my preferred appointment time even when scheduling just a few days out. They did tend to run late as you got later into the morning. We did have a few billing snafus, but they were quickly sorted out.
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
Dr. Kim does single embryo transfer. He seems very up to date on the science with this and explained why in our consultation. I'm glad that's what we ended up doing.
[Dr. Thomas Kim] was great at explaining certain things and processes...At times, appt's did feel rushed...very nice, kind and gave enough information and sensitive to my needs and challenges...went straight into IVF due to my partner's low count sperm...on HCG and Follistim and progesterone for the egg retrievals...estrogen and Progesterone shots. for the embryo transfer.
[RMA of Southern California] is really effective, they get you in for appointments really early and can accommodate you...their phlebotomists could improve as well...Pooja was my second nurse...She was very on top of answering any questions I had over email, sometimes she'd miss my emails but when I would call she would call me back
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
He was great at explaining certain things and processes. I did wish that I would have gotten more details to certain procedures or that details would have been volunteered. As a first timer, sometimes I did not know what to ask. i did not know how many days my embryos were given to develop. At times, appt's did feel rushed. At times through the process I felt like I was confused or did not know what was next. Sometimes I had to call to get an update. However, overall I felt like the process went by really fast from my first appt to the embryo transfer. At UCLA I was looking at a 2 month wait period between my first appt and the follow ups.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
To ask the Dr to tell you abut what you haven't asked that you may need to know. To not assume that the doctor is telling you everything. ask dr's what are common questions patients ask in your situation.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim and his team were very nice, kind and gave enough information and sensitive to my needs and challenges
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
We went straight into IVF due to my partner's low count sperm. I was put on HCG and Follistim and progesterone for the egg retrievals. then the estrogen and Progesterone shots. for the embryo transfer.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Pooja Patel )
Pooja was my second nurse. The first nurse was not as good so I won't review her since she has left the clinic. however, I wish Pooja would have been my nurse from the beginning. She was assigned when I was preparing for my embryo transfer. She was very on top of answering any questions I had over email, sometimes she'd miss my emails but when I would call she would call me back. She was also on top of informing me of my levels and test results. She was very sweet, nice and positive. I really appreciated working with her.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
The clinic itself is really effective, they get you in for appointments really early and can accommodate you. I also think that the clinic has a lot going on. At times, my appointments felt rushed and like i did not have time to ask questions. I did not always get to see my doctor but it was nice to get to work with another one or their nursing team because they seemed less rushed. One time, the office manager was having a meeting with their front office team out in the waiting area and discussed strategies for getting more patients in quicker and it was not a good thing for a patient to witness I felt. I think that they are clearly good at what they do, given my success after my first transfer, although that can be bias. their phlebotomists could improve as well. I have never been so hurt from blood drawing, it was not smooth and easy how I have had it at other clinics. they were super sweet and nice though.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
I used my insurance which covered 50% of my treatment. I paid out of pocket about 10k
Dr. Landay is smart and compassionate. I came to her after a year of not being able to conceive and she put together a comprehensive plan of testing both my husband and I. She was so easy to talk to and explained all the results to us thoroughly and in a way that we could understand...She made changes to the timing and gave specific advice on dietary changes and supplements and we saw significant changes in our second round. We ended up with 2 healthy embryos and the first one she transferred stuck...
The clinic was very clean and professional. The admin staff was polite and courteous. I felt like the associate in charge of billing could have been a little more knowledgable and professional. I always got the answers I needed, but sometimes would have to ask someone else to feel satisfied...Emily [nurse] was great at communicating and explaining results. She always answered all my questions and made sure I understood any changes to the treatment plan...
How was your experience with Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Landay is smart and compassionate. I came to her after a year of not being able to conceive and she put together a comprehensive plan of testing both my husband and I. She was so easy to talk to and explained all the results to us thoroughly and in a way that we could understand and digest. We ended up going through 2 rounds of IVF and what impressed us the most was how after the first failed round, she encouraged us to try again and came up with a modified plan based on the first round’s results. She made changes to the timing and gave specific advice on dietary changes and supplements and we saw significant changes in our second round. We ended up with 2 healthy embryos and the first one she transferred stuck! I am now 38 weeks pregnant and couldn’t be more grateful to Dr. Landay and RMA!
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
Don't hesitate to ask questions- She has a wealth of knowledge and experience and is happy to share as much as she can.
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Melanie Landay at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Landay was very compassionate when delivering test results. She never made me feel rushed or like I couldn't ask questions. She always explained procedures and results thoroughly and in a way that was easy to understand.
Describe the protocols Melanie Landay used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
During my first IVF cycle I had a good amount of eggs, but when it came down to biopsying the embryos produced, none of them came back normal. During our second round Dr. Landay recommended eating a clean healthy diet, using HGH and also waited an extra day for my egg retrieval than she did during the last round. We ended up with 2 high quality embryos.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Emily)
Emily was great at communicating and explaining results. She always answered all my questions and made sure I understood any changes to the treatment plan.
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
The clinic was very clean and professional. The admin staff was polite and courteous. I felt like the associate in charge of billing could have been a little more knowledgable and professional. I always got the answers I needed, but sometimes would have to ask someone else to feel satisfied.
Describe Melanie Landay's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
She recommended doing a biopsy on the embryos and transferring the best quality embryo first.
Dr. Kim was very knowledgeable and very approachable. He was mild mannered which made him a good fit for this type of sensitive and emotional treatment. He attended every monitoring visit I had and personally called to report results after the major events and milestone (egg retrieval, embryo growth, transfer etc).
The office is clean and modern. It feels like a private clinic and the patient experience reflects that. Clinic never felt overrun and was always on time with appointments and monitoring visits. I was of the opinion that the lab and embryologist are equally as important as the reproductive endocrinologist. Dr. Kim and Shelley both made sure to point out how good their lab staff was - which may just be a line but my results speak for themselves. I was a low responder to egg retrieval but had 50% of my eggs end up as viable frozen 5 day embryos after ICSI and PGD testing....
How was your experience with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim was very knowledgeable and very approachable. He was mild mannered which made him a good fit for this type of sensitive and emotional treatment. He attended every monitoring visit I had and personally called to report results after the major events and milestone (egg retrieval, embryo growth, transfer etc). At each visit it was clear that he was busy and had a specific window for you - but that window was just for you. While he was in the room he gave his full attention and explained the monitoring etc. And you always new the nurse would be calling you in the afternoon for any and all additional details. I did wonder if my egg retrieval cycles were customized or adjusted enough because I had one failed cycle and was a low very responder (2 eggs, 4 eggs) but I think most of that was just my low ovarian reserve. And my first transfer was successful so I think his technique is good.
What's one piece of advice would you give a prospective patient of Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Ask lots of questions, especially during COVID-19 when you have less in person appointments and more phone conversations
During treatment, were you treated like a number or a human with Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California?
Dr. Kim and his staff were very friendly. They were very professional and clear with information and were able to delivered all news/updates/instructions in a sensitive manor. There was no ambiguity or misleading info provided. They were always available for questions and would provide thorough info and instructions. I always felt like I had easy access to them. This office was very well run and a VERY different experience from a normal doctor's office, much more private/concierge feeling and they did not seem overrun with patients so each got the attention they deserve. Staff knew your name and were friendly while also respecting privacy.
Describe the protocols Thomas Kim used in your cycles at RMA of Southern California and their degree of success.
Describe your experience with your nurse at RMA of Southern California. (Assigned nurse: Shelley)
The staff have a huge impact on your infertility treatment experience. They were excellent. Shelley, the office manager/primary nurse was WONDERFUL. Straightforward, very knowledgeable, a lot of experience, good practical tips and tricks, easy to communicate with and reliably called with updates. She was also easy to get ahold of for additional questions. I spent the most time talking to Shelley and she really makes this clinic great. All staff was friendly and professional. My one critique was one nurse who drew your blood was not nearly as smooth as the others - if I had her it was sure to hurt a bit and bruise
Describe your experience with RMA of Southern California.
Fairly new clinic (I believe) so there is only one doctor, Dr. Kim. I believe they are growing and adding more doctors. So I would ask what level of access you will have with your doctor - my access was great but it may change as they get busier. Despite them being a newer location - RMA is a very well established and respected fertility clinic with multiple locations around the US. Their focus on the latest and greatest standard of care was very important to me. They use the latest proven (not experimental) science for their patients. The publishing record and research behind RMA-IVI is impressive. The office is clean and modern. It feels like a private clinic and the patient experience reflects that. Clinic never felt overrun and was always on time with appointments and monitoring visits. I was of the opinion that the lab and embryologist are equally as important as the reproductive endocrinologist. Dr. Kim and Shelley both made sure to point out how good their lab staff was - which may just be a line but my results speak for themselves. I was a low responder to egg retrieval but had 50% of my eggs end up as viable frozen 5 day embryos after ICSI and PGD testing.
Describe the costs associated with your care under Thomas Kim at RMA of Southern California.
I had insurance coverage for fertility care so I only had to pay my annual $3k deductible and then small amounts after that. All of my treatment was within one year. I did pay for the prescriptions out of pocket to use a specialty pharmacy because getting approval for Rx coverage was going to take weeks and I was not willing to wait. So I paid ~ 7k total for 3 egg retrieval cycles plus 1 transfer cycle
Describe Thomas Kim's approach to eSET (elective single embryo transfer) vs. multiple embryo transfer at RMA of Southern California.
RMA standard of care is single embryo transfer except in special cases; I agreed with this strategy
