Rebuilding Surrogacy: An REI's Honest Take on Fixing a Broken System

"The biggest red flag for an agency is when they say we have a tiered program where the more you pay, the faster you'll match." That's how Dr. Brian Levine sums up what's broken in American surrogacy, and he has spent the last several years trying to fix it. This week we sit down with Dr. Brian Levine, double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and OB/GYN, founding partner and practice director of CCRM Fertility New York, and founder of the surrogacy platform Nodal. Dr. Levine walks us through his winding path into fertility medicine, the mentors who shaped him, and the ethical frustrations that pushed him to rethink how surrogacy works. Whether you're considering surrogacy, supporting someone who is, or working in the fertility space, this is an honest look at a part of family building that is still too often wrapped in secrecy. In this episode, we cover: How a single medical school lecture on genetic testing of embryos changed his career plans overnightThe bold escalator moment that led to the founding of CCRM New YorkHow surrogacy becoming legal in New York changed the market, and why he started NodalWhy Nodal lets the surrogate make the first move, and the meaning behind the nameThe changing policy landscape around IVF and surrogacy, from state-level legal questions to recent efforts to lower fertility medication costsWhy the words we use matter, and why "use a surrogate" should be retiredRed flags and green flags to look for when you vet a surrogacy agencyWhy he keeps his clinic and his surrogacy company completely separate More than anything, this conversation is a reminder that surrogacy should put the surrogate first, because she's the one doing the heavy lifting. For everyone involved, that means transparency, fair fees, and a real person on the other end of the phone when something goes sideways. If you're exploring surrogacy, feeling overwhelmed by what you're seeing in the headlines, or want to understand what a good agency relationship should look like, this episode is for you. Connect with Dr. Brian Levine:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drbrianlevine/Nodal: https://www.nodal.com/Nodal Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nodalhealth/CCRM New York: https://www.ccrmivf.com/ccrm-fertility-doctors/brian-levine/