Infertility Specialist | Center for Reproductive Medicine
In 1991 Dr. Sharon Jaffe relocated to Central Florida, bringing with her compassion, knowledge, expertise and surgical skills to help couples conceive. After being graduated from The Johns Hopkins University, she moved to New York City for medical training at Albert Einstein College of Medicine where she remained to complete her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. After serving as the Chief Resident she had fellowship training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Columbia University. There she worked as director of the In Vitro Fertilization Center until Orlando Health recruited her to develop a resident education program for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility. Under her direction as resident educator, the standardized national scores in this field soared for her young doctors, with many becoming outstanding practicing physicians in Central Florida. In 1992, she gave birth to her beautiful daughter, Sarah. The following day she was diagnosed with breast cancer. While undergoing multiple surgical procedures and months of chemotherapy, she immediately became involved with local fundraising as part of the committee for Women Playing for Time. For many years she was an integral part of helping this organization raise millions of dollars to increase awareness and provide financial support in the fight against breast cancer. She has also participated at many other events to further help others transition from a breast cancer patient to a survivor.
Since joining the Center for Reproductive Medicine (CRM) in 1997, Dr. Jaffe has combined her experience as a breast cancer survivor and her knowledge as a reproductive endocrinologist to develop a fertility preservation program for all men and women diagnosed with cancer. Patients are extremely grateful when she provides her experience and support, not only as a physician, but also as a successful previous patient. She understands both the medical and psychosocial importance of timely care: a patient diagnosed with cancer will be given an expedited appointment to discuss fertility preservation options and subsequently start the desired treatment.
Providing education to others has always been important to Dr. Jaffe, the middle child of a college professor and a math teacher. As a student at The Johns Hopkins University, she found time to tutor others (in between her own studies and tennis team, achieving MVP and captain) and years later she was honored as Attending of the Year in Resident Education for expertise in teaching. As an Associate Professor at University of Central Florida School of Medicine, she volunteered on a committee to develop the reproductive and endocrine module for the School of Medicine where she was also awarded Outstanding Educator.
In the early 1990s Dr. Jaffe enjoyed educating women nationwide as host of Ask the OBGYN on America’s Health Network, which had 6 million subscribers. She does admit that it was exciting on occasion being recognized in different areas of the country by members of her television audience and her television experience has provided her additional insight to educating her own patients individually.
Education and research go hand-in-hand. Dr. Jaffe has been involved in research since freshman year in college. She has had many publications and presentations. She is proud that she has continued clinical research in private practice, helping many families to have children that would not have been possible without financially funded in vitro fertilization. Dr. Jaffe is extremely proud to be part of CRM which has been providing patients with individualized fertility treatment options since 1985 and achieving some of the highest success rates attainable. CRM is known for providing compassionate patient care, customized treatment plans, and affordable pricing options to give patients every possible chance of success to conceive.
In November 2017, the Center for Reproductive Medicine opened a brand new state of the art facility in Winter Park on Orlando Avenue. The doctors and staff at CRM are proud to provide a comfortable environment “Where dreams are conceived”. Whether helping to conceive Central Florida’s first IVF baby or preserving fertility via elective egg and sperm freezing, CRM has always been on the leading edge of technology and is part of an elite category of infertility clinics that are equipped with onsite embryology, laboratory and surgical facilities, providing patients with the highest quality of fertility care and convenience. In addition, CRM is a founding partner in My Egg Bank (MyEggBank.com), the world’s most successful egg freezing program with nearly 5000 successful deliveries. CRM physicians are also consistently recognized as Orlando’s Top Doctors and Best Doctors as well as named to the U.S. News & World Report list of Top U.S. Reproductive Endocrinologists. Dr. Jaffe has received much additional recognition including America’s Top Doctor, Best Doctors in America, Patient’s Choice Award, Compassionate Doctor Award and On-Time Physician Award.
Both Dr. Jaffe and her husband Lee can be frequently spotted around town supporting fundraising events throughout Central Florida. In 2007, Dr. Jaffe became an avid cyclist and along with a group of friends began participating in local and national cycling events raising funds for research and support of diabetes, multiple sclerosis, AIDS, breast cancer, leukemia and lymphoma…just to name a few. Her favorite ride was with Young Survivor Coalition in Pennsylvania and Maryland, nearly 250 miles in 2.5 days. Dr. Jaffe is very proud that her daughter has continued in her footsteps with community volunteer involvement in St. Louis where she has participated in fundraising events and serves as a mentor for future high school engineers. This exemplifies the importance of a leader, leading by example.
In the past couple years, Dr. Jaffe has on more than one occasion used her cardiac lifesaving knowledge and skills in public. She applied them once to save a fellow cyclist and most recently over 30,000 feet in the air, she performed CPR! The plane made an emergency landing. Thanks to Dr. Jaffe, the passenger from China lived!
Dr. Sharon Jaffe always says she has the best job in the world. “Through over 25 years of taking care of patients, I still look forward to coming in every day and offering my best to every infertility patient referred to me. It is a privilege to help them build their family. I have experienced many exhilarating moments when I meet “my babies” years later when I am introduced to them as children, teenagers or adults on the streets of Central Florida. On numerous occasions a child or a teenager has said “thank you” after being introduced to as me the doctor who helped with their conception. PRICELESS.”
1500 S. Orlando Ave., Winter Park, FL 32789 | 407-740-0909 | ivforlando.com
