University Fertility Associates Changes Name To Florida Fertility Institute

Names Dr. Mark Sanchez Associate Medical Director of Expanded Tampa Practice, Prepares for Future Growth

TAMPA, Fla., Feb 18, 2003 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- University Fertility Associates, established in 1986 by Dr. Edward Zbella with offices in Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Tampa, has changed its name to the Florida Fertility Institute.

Our practice has grown significantly over the past 16 years," said Dr. Zbella, Medical Director of the Florida Fertility Institute. "We regularly serve patients from throughout Florida and receive referrals from across the nation for our more advanced reproductive treatments, especially microsurgical tubal reversal." Dr. Zbella said that a new name was needed to reflect the geographic scope of the practice, especially since the Institute has plans for continued growth and additional locations. "The name change is also intended to communicate our longstanding commitment to scientific and clinical research," said Dr. Zbella. He said that this commitment had resulted in a number of significant technological "firsts" in the Tampa Bay area including:

-- The first and only in-office in vitro fertilization (IVF) program

-- The first gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT) pregnancy

-- The first pregnancy using donor eggs and IVF in the region

-- The first practice to offer embryo cryopreservation

-- The first baby born from intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)

-- The first local facility to offer outpatient tubal reversals by reproductive endocrinologists

Dr. Zbella said that the Institute had also recently relocated itsTampa practice to expanded offices at University Community Hospital's Carrollwood Medical Arts Center, and named Dr. Mark Sanchez as Associate Medical Director.

Dr. Sanchez said that the Institute has had a presence in Tampa since 1991. "But even without any aggressive marketing of our services, the practice grew beyond what that initial smaller, part-time office and staff could accommodate," he said. "As the number of inquiries we received from doctors and their patients in the Tampa market continued to increase, it became evident to us that a definite need existed for a practice of our quality and reputation in Tampa."

Dr. Sanchez said that the new office was chosen primarily for its central location, making it more accessible to more Tampa patients, and because additional space was needed. He said that a new web site, with expanded interactive features including a patient newsletter, had been created to provide additional information and resources to the growing number of questions today's couples have about infertility, at http://www.TheFertilityExperts.com.

The Florida Fertility Institute is nationally recognized for its state-of-the-art diagnosis and treatment of the full range of infertility problems. The Institute is equipped to perform comprehensive testing, including hormonal assays, transvaginal ultrasound scanning, andrology testing and computer assisted hysterosalpingography. The practice is accredited by the prestigious Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations.