Behind The White Coat: Dr. Michael Strug Joins Pacific Fertility Center

At Pacific Fertility Center, we strive to assemble a team of dedicated, highly skilled physicians to help our patients achieve their family-building goals. It’s PFC’s pleasure to welcome Dr. Michael Strug to PFC’s esteemed physician team!

Dr. Strug joins us from Stanford University School of Medicine, where he completed his clinical fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. To help you get to know Dr. Strug a little better, we sat down with him for a quick Q&A on what drew him to fertility care, his approach to fertility treatment, and more.

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  Can you tell everyone what drew you to fertility care?

I’m a science geek and was initially drawn to fertility care after the opportunity to participate in research to better understand fertility and pregnancy. Prior to entering med school, I worked in the clinical laboratory of a fertility clinic, and, during this experience, I was fascinated by the cutting-edge treatments for infertility, but ultimately, the patients drew me in. I wanted to be a part of their fertility journey, including the good times and the bad.

• Why Pacific Fertility Center?

PFC has an incredible reputation in the Bay Area with an evidence-based and patient-centered approach lending to its high success rates. Upon first meeting the clinical team, I could feel the warmth and dedication to serving their patients, as evidenced by the longevity of many staff members being on the team for several years.

• What is your approach to fertility and fertility treatments?

I aim to support my patients' family-building goals by helping them choose the best path for their unique needs. Since there is no one-size-fits-all approach, each patient's care is personalized. Additionally, during these often-stressful times, I strive to remain positive and offer hope, even when it seems unlikely.

• What’s your favorite part about helping patients on their fertility journey?

I enjoy getting to know my patients and being a source of solace during their journey. Witnessing their resilience and hope is truly inspiring.

• What is a recent breakthrough in fertility or fertility treatments that you feel is significant, and why?

In the past twenty years, fertility preservation techniques have significantly advanced, benefiting patients undergoing medical or surgical treatments that could affect their future fertility, as well as those uncertain about their family planning. Recent improvements in egg, sperm, and embryo cryopreservation have dramatically increased success rates and expanded available options, offering greater flexibility. This is an evolving field that is likely to offer even more options in the future.

• What do you think is the “future” of fertility?

I believe that assisted reproduction technologies, which have significantly advanced since the inception of IVF, will continue to improve. We can expect better methods for genetic testing and the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) to more effectively identify factors contributing to infertility and miscarriage. I view AI not as a replacement for compassionate care but as a tool to detect subtle changes that may be difficult for the human brain to perceive.

• Do you have a message you’d like to share with your future patients?

I am both honored and humbled that you would entrust your care with me. I hope to continue to uphold the high standards that patients pursuing care at PFC have come to expect.

Dr. Strug will begin seeing patients in October and brings a wealth of new knowledge and expertise to PFC. We can’t wait to see what he helps our patients achieve! You can read more about Dr. Strug’s medical background and experience here. Want to work with Dr. Strug? Contact us today to schedule an appointment.