Hartford Business Journal

GREATER HARTFORD HEALTH • Spring 2018 www.HartfordBusiness.com • March 26, 2018 • Hartford Business Journal 21 Quality Construction Builds Repeat Customers www.borghesibuilding.com © 2011 BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. All rights reserved. Butler Manufacturing™ is a division of BlueScope Buildings North America, Inc. 2155 East Main Street • Torrington, Connecticut 06790 Mozzicato Retail, Rocky Hill, CT | 2014 | Renovation — 6,000 sq. ft. Mozzicato Bakery/Retail, Plainville, CT 2010 | 4,700 sq. ft. Farmington Bank, Plainville, CT 2010 | 2,700 sq. ft. Contact us at 860-482-7613 or visit us on the web. H "The holy grail of all this is you put one in and you maintain a high preg- nancy rate," he said. Genetic testing advances The Center, through its Farmington headquarters and satellite offices in Hartford and New London, sees about 1,500 new patients a year. They include couples experiencing infertility, lesbian couples, younger women who freeze their eggs to implant later (a growing trend), and couples with no fertility issues but with defective genes, like cys- tic fibrosis, that can affect offspring. For the latter, the Center does pre- implantation genetic diagnosis, where the woman goes through an IVF cycle, a number of embryos are created in the lab and biopsied to determine which lack genetic disorders and can be implanted. "It's an example of how technology over the last 10 years has really evolved," Verrastro said of genetic testing. With advancements in genetics and personalized medicine, but the num- ber of infertile couples relatively fixed, "there will probably at some point be just as many people going through this for a genetic reason as an infertility reason," he said. In infertility cases, about a third are attributed to the female, a third to the male, with the other third a combination of problems in both, or unexplained. The Center is operated by In Vitro Sciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of Avon-based Women's Health USA. The Center was founded in 1982 at UConn Health, which in 1998 outsourced man- agement to In Vitro Sciences. The Center's building was razed for Bioscience Connecticut in 2014 and relocated 2 miles away at its current location on Batterson Park Road. It maintains an academic and clinical affiliation with UConn and manages the fertility fellowship, training the next gen- eration of fertility doctors. Verrastro oversees about 130 full- and part-time and per-diem staff with an annual budget of about $35 million. The Center has six doctors. Its current five-year strategic plan includes adding another doctor in July 2019 and fourth office by the end of this year and another by mid-2019. Among fertility clinics, "we've really taken control of the majority of the state" outside Fairfield County, which has ample clinics and is outside the Center's focus area, Verrastro said. Yale is another competitor but the Center's program "is probably twice the size of Yale's," he said. Dr. John Nulsen, the Center's medical director, said Verrastro's influence has been significant since his arrival. The number of doctors, offices and annual IVF cycles have tripled, the latter hitting about 1,300. "There is no way we would be where we are now without his leadership," Nulsen said. "He's really evolved and developed into a tremendous, respected and competent leader, but he works, I feel, in a very compassionate way with all the staff," Nulsen said. Mindfulness influence Verrastro studies emotional intelligence, or mindfulness, and encourages staff to experience its benefits. He regularly brings meditation experts to help staff on things like managing stress productively. Physical fitness is a big stress reliever for Verrastro and his husband, Scott Yohe, who formerly sold large capital medi- cal equipment. The two have been together 20 years, married for five. Verrastro hits the gym almost daily and runs 5Ks and half-mara- thons. He's also an equestrian, but no longer owns hors- es. Verrastro also enjoys being a member the past seven years of the weekly Rainbow Bowling League for LGBTQ indi- viduals. A theater buff, he and Yohe regu- larly attend shows in New York. "People have to have happy, healthy personal lives in order to be really productive employ- ees," he said. "I don't think you can have one without the other." Paul Verrastro is seen in the andrology lab at the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services. Founded by the Sisters of Mercy Time to get busy living. Celebrate a Lifetime of Smart Decisions by Making Another One Right Now. Like a successful career, a fulfilling retirement is built on smart decisions. Choose e Mercy Community, right in West Hartford, and celebrate your success in style – with great neighbors, fun ways to stay active, new things to learn, and local cultural events. It's one of the smartest decisions you'll ever make. www.eMercyCommunity.org 860-570-8400 INDEPENDENT LIVING • ASSISTED LIVING • SKILLED NURSING SHORT-TERM REHAB • ADULT DAY CENTER • MEMORY CARE

• Cover