HRC Fertility Announces Several Additions to Award-Winning Physician Roster

New physicians join as California’s SB 729 drives increased access and demand for statewide IVF care.

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HRC Fertility, one of the largest providers of advanced fertility care, is expanding its award-winning physician team with the addition of seven highly trained reproductive specialists. With California’s Senate Bill 729, which went into effect on January 1, 2026, broadening insurance coverage for fertility treatment and driving an anticipated uptick in demand, HRC Fertility is poised to meet patient needs.

“SB 729 is an historic step forward in expanding access to long-coveted IVF care,” shares Kerry Ayazi, administrative president of HRC Fertility. “As more patients become eligible for covered services, demand for high-quality care will rise. HRC Fertility has been preparing for this shift and the addition of these exceptional physicians supports our goal of continuing to provide comprehensive, compassionate treatment to all walks of life.”

The arrivals of the new physicians come at a moment when, in addition to California SB 729, global leaders such as the World Health Organization (WHO) are calling for expanded access to evidence-based fertility treatments. The WHO’s first-ever global guideline on infertility emphasizes the “right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress,” noting that assisted reproductive technologies play a central role in addressing infertility. By bringing additional REI specialists, HRC Fertility is helping ensure patients have access to expert clinicians and high-quality care and innovations.

Expanding care in Orange County, California

Dr. Anupama Rambhatla, a board-certified Obstetrician-Gynecologist and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI) specialist, joins HRC Fertility’s Newport Beach and Mission Viejo offices. Dr. Rambhatla brings advanced training in minimally invasive and reproductive surgery as well as expertise in endometriosis, infertility and oncofertility. She completed fellowship training in reproductive surgery and in REI, and her research has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including Fertility and Sterility and the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics.

Dr. Esther H. Chung is also joining the Newport Beach team, as well as the Fullerton clinic. A Harvard-educated physician, Dr. Chung completed her OB/GYN residency at Duke University, where she served as Administrative Chief Resident, followed by fellowship training in REI at Stanford University. She has received national recognition for her research on cost-effective IVF and egg freezing, with publications in leading journals such as Obstetrics & Gynecology and Fertility and Sterility, and presentations at ASRM and PCRS.

Expanding care in Pasadena, California

HRC Fertility’s Pasadena center adds three specialists to its team whose clinical backgrounds and research strengthen services available at the clinic. Dr. Mabel Lee is a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist with fellowship training in REI at UCLA. Her academic work includes research on pre-implantation genetic testing, fertility preservation, access to care and long-term ART outcomes. She previously served as Executive Chief Resident, a position that placed her at the center of resident leadership and program development.

Dr. Sharrón L. Manuel completed her MD/PhD at Drexel University, where her doctoral work focused on inflammatory processes related to fertility. Her research continues to explore inflammation, as well as explored ovarian aging and health disparities, and she has been recognized with multiple early-career distinctions, including the Drexel Graduate Citation Award, the SSR Burroughs Wellcome Travel Fellowship and the Young Scientist Award from the International Conference on Human Retrovirology.

Dr. Botros Rizk is an internationally recognized reproductive endocrinologist with more than four decades of experience in reproductive medicine. He completed fellowship training at the Bourn Hall Clinic in London and Cambridge under Nobel Laureate Robert Edwards and later served as professor and chief of the REI division at the USC Keck School of Medicine. Dr. Rizk has authored 28 medical textbooks and more than 400 scientific publications, contributing foundational work in ovarian stimulation and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome.

Expanding care in Encino and Westlake Village, California

Dr. Roy Handelsman joins the Encino and Westlake Village centers with training from Cedars-Sinai and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s Magee-Womens Hospital. A member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the most prestigious honor society for physicians-in-training, he has contributed research on recurrent pregnancy loss, PCOS and preimplantation genetic testing.

Expanding care in Beverly Hills, California

Dr. Katherine VanHise joins HRC Fertility’s Beverly Hills center after completing OBGYN residency and REI fellowship training at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. She earned her medical degree at Penn State College of Medicine, where she received a scholarship for her excellence in Women’s Health. Her academic work includes first-author publications in Fertility and Sterility and the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, along with national presentations on racial disparities in PCOS.

“These new physicians bring extraordinary training, thoughtful clinical leadership and a shared dedication to helping patients build their families,” says Dr. Bradford Kolb, President of HRC Fertility. “As SB 729 expands insurance coverage for IVF care statewide, patient demand will continue to grow. By expanding our team now, we’re planning for access to our compassionate, evidence-based care.”

To learn more about HRC Fertility, potential eligibility for IVF insurance coverage or flexible payment plans for services not covered by insurance, or to schedule an appointment with any of HRC Fertility’s physicians please visit www.HavingBabies.com.

About HRC Fertility

HRC Fertility is one of the largest providers of advanced fertility treatments, boasting locations across the Bay Area as well as Los Angeles, Orange, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties, with Dr. Bradford Kolb leading the opening of its new Las Vegas location in early 2026. Welcoming individuals, couples and families from all walks of life, HRC Fertility is dedicated to helping preserve family building options for the future or start a journey towards family building now. For detailed information about HRC Fertility’s services, locations and providers, please visit: www.HavingBabies.com.