Althea O’Shaughnessy

MD, FACOG

When it comes to treating her patients, Dr. Althea O’Shaughnessy feels a direct and transparent approach is best for her patients.  “I believe in a straightforward, no-nonsense approach in patient care. Patients entering treatment are fearful enough. Truth is a great remedy for fear. I’m always open and honest with my patients, I try my best to assuage their fear, educate them on their journey, and make them feel more comfortable in making decisions about their reproductive options.”

Dr. O’Shaughnessy is New York native, having completed much of her education on the east coast. It was in her ninth-grade biology class that first turned her on to science and the medical field. “I had a teacher who I found a connection with and became really intrigued in pursuing a life in the field of science in some way. She created a spark in me that I just couldn’t ignore,” stated Dr. O’Shaughnessy. 

Education

Dr. O’Shaughnessy took that spark to Hartford, CT where she received her bachelor's degree from Trinity College prior to receiving her medical degree from the University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry. She completed her OBGYN residence back in Connecticut at the University of Connecticut Health Center but followed her heart back to New York for her fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at Downstate Medical Center.

Dr. O’Shaughnessy’s impressive career includes practicing at facilities such as Mount Sinai Hospital, Cooper Center for IVF in New Jersey, and the Sher Institute for Reproductive Medicine in New York.

It was just a few years ago that the O’Shaughnessy family - Dr. O’Shaughnessy, her husband and 2 children, packed up and headed out west to Colorado, and she joined the team at Conceptions. “The decision to join the Conceptions team was an easy one for me. I was really captivated by, and still am, about our ability at Conceptions to really individualize patient care. We try to do things to improve their chances of pregnancy as an individual based on science and not try to fit the patient in a box based on protocols,” said Dr. O’Shaughnessy.

Individualized Patient Care

“When a patient comes to meet with me for the first time, the conversation revolves around two important aspects; one, I determine the comfort level of the patient. If they’re not comfortable, we do everything we can to help them get comfortable with fertility care. Two, I provide as much education as the patient is willing to take in. The more educated I can help make my patient, the more in control they are of their own fertility journey. They know what they’re getting into and know they can either stop, change, or shift directions at any time. It’s critically important that the patient knows they are in the driver’s seat.”

Conceptions is one of the best centers out there because of our success rates and our staff. The doctors, the lab, and all the teams trust each other implicitly and work in concert to provide the best possible outcome for our patients. From our expert embryology team to the IVF team, the frozen embryo transfer team, the donor egg team, the patient monitoring team, and the nursing and support staff – we all work together seamlessly and provide the patient with support throughout the entire process.

Dr. O’Shaughnessy also heads up the donor egg program for Conceptions. “Donating your eggs is a very personal decision and needs to be made from a place of altruism. Without it, donors will not get through the procedures needed for a successful donation. All our potential donors visit with an ASRM-certified psychologist to ensure they are emotionally fit for donation in addition to being physically fit.”