OUR STORY

STL Fertility

From staff to patients, we envisioned an atmosphere of support, empathy, and compassion while providing clinically excellent patient care and results that exceed national and regional benchmarks.

In 2020, with our parent practice facing financial instability, Dr. Dayal and Dr. Schulte stepped up to launch STL Fertility, fulfilling their vision to open a fertility practice that provides the latest and best fertility treatments available, in a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment for all.

Many of us have traveled our own fertility path to parenthood, and we cannot wait to champion you through yours!

Our family is here to help build yours.

ABOUT US

“The dream was to create a place where everyone felt like family.”

Meet Our Providers

Dr. Molina Dayal

Medical Director, STL Fertility

Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Board Certified In Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility

Fellowship-Trained

With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Dayal has completed degrees and residencies at some of the top medical schools in the world including The Johns Hopkins University, Washington University in St. Louis, and The University of Pennsylvania.

Known for her calm, collected nature, Dr. Dayal creates a safe space for patients through the ups and downs of their journey. As someone who has endured her own unique fertility journey, Dr. Dayal's empathy and understanding of the patient experience and complexity of emotions involved transcends the typical doctor-patient relationship, enabling her to provide hope and comfort to patients when they need it most.

Dr. Maureen Schulte

Operations Director, STL Fertility
Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Board Certified In Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
Fellowship-Trained

Dr. Schulte has earned decades of education and experience, completing degrees, residencies and fellowships at some of the top schools in the country, including Truman State University, University of Illinois, and Washington University in St. Louis.

Dr. Schulte is known for her positivity and warmth. She provides a sense of familiarity that immediately puts patients at ease, making them feel heard, seen, and understood. Having gone through her own unique fertility journey, Dr. Schulte celebrates with patients through the highest of highs and provides the strength and support they need to endure the lowest of lows.

Dr. Violet Klenov

Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology
Board Certified in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
Fellowship-Trained

Dr. Violet Klenov is a double board-certified reproductive endocrinologist and infertility specialist with deep roots in St. Louis. She brings a wealth of expertise, having completed her degrees, residency, and REI fellowship at prestigious institutions, including the University of Wisconsin, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine in Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, and the University of Iowa. She joins us after over five years of private practice in the area.

Throughout her career, Dr. Klenov has received numerous accolades for her groundbreaking research, teaching, and exceptional minimally invasive surgical skills. She is an active member of several leading medical associations and was elected to the board of the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society by her peers. Additionally, she serves as the REI subspecialty faculty educator for the Mercy Hospital St. Louis Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program.

While Dr. Klenov is passionate about all aspects of reproductive health, she has a particular focus on shared decision-making, cost-effective treatments, and maintaining natural approaches when possible. She is especially dedicated to supporting LGBTQIA+ individuals, single parents by choice, and optimizing IVF success rates to help all families achieve their dreams.

Melanie Miranda, WHNP-BC

Nurse Practitioner
Board Certified In Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
Board Certified in Infertility Nursing

With over 14 years of experience in women’s health serving alongside top fertility and postpartum specialists at both Washington University and Barnes Jewish Hospital, Melanie Miranda brings strong clinical knowledge along with her unique intuition, empathy, and compassion to STL Fertility.

Melanie has a strong passion for serving women and is a proud member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, and the American Association of Nurse Practitioners. Melanie is committed to providing the support and strength her patients need throughout their pursuit of parenthood.

Physicians

Meet Our Incredible Team!

PATIENT FINANCIAL TEAM

Tracie K.

Tracie K. is the Patient Financial Manager at STL Fertility. She is from the St Louis, MO area, and has lived in Charleston, SC and Clearwater, FL, but always finds her way back “home”. She’s currently in school obtaining her bachelor’s degree. Tracie was a cosmetologist and makeup artist for 13 years before transitioning into the medical field and continuing doing hair part-time. She has worked in the hospital setting as well as smaller medical offices and has been in the fertility field for around 5 years. Tracie married her husband in 2021 and gained 2 beautiful bonus daughters before having her first child, another daughter! She has had her own fertility journey and is currently doing IVF as well! She enjoys all things artistic, like painting, drawing, listening to music, etc. When not working with the Finance Department at STL Fertility, you can catch Tracie doing hair and makeup, hanging out with her family and kittens, or taking pictures of her kids!

Taylor C.

Taylor C. is a Financial Counselor at STL Fertility. She grew up in O`Fallon, MO before she went off to college in Columbia, MO. When in Columbia, she found her calling to kids and became a Pre-K Teacher till she wanted to pursue the medical field to help others. Taylor is back in the St. Louis area with her daughter and partner Steve. She has an active and sassy 3-year-old daughter who loves being a girly girl and testing boundaries. Taylor has been in the medical field for five years, starting out as a receptionist, progressing to working predominantly with prior authorizations, and finally landing at STL Fertility in financial counseling. Taylor is new to the fertility world but loves all the different aspects she is learning. She loves hiking, being on the water but most importantly her family and their dog Cooper. When not working, she enjoys going to their farm, shopping or just simply spending time with her daughter and boyfriend Steve.

Courtney B.

Courtney B. is a Financial Counselor at STL Fertility. She was born and raised near Edwardsville, IL. She graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville with a bachelor’s in public health and then attended Southern Illinois University Carbondale where she graduated with a Master’s in Healthcare Administration. She took an opportunity as a Patient Coordinator at a fertility clinic in 2018, which sparked her love for fertility. She began her career in financial counseling in 2019 and has continued down this path which ultimately led her to STL Fertility in 2023. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and 5 children, reading, and shopping!

Lisa N.

Lisa N. is the Revenue Cycle Manager at STL Fertility. With over 8 years of experience, Lisa has held various billing-related roles within the fertility field. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from Missouri State University. Originally from Waterloo, IL, Lisa resides in St. Louis with her husband and 2 children. When she’s not working, Lisa enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and traveling.

Ruth M.

Ruth is the A/R Coordinator at STL Fertility. She is from Schaumburg, Illinois and is working remotely. Ruth has been working in healthcare for 24 years. She started in OB-GYN and eventually moved to the Reproductive Endocrinology field where she has been for the past 17 years. She has done reception, billing, office management and both patient/insurance accounts receivable. Ruth married into a large family in 1986. She has 2 sons, 1 daughter and 5 grandkids. She is lucky enough to spend a lot of quality time with all of them, often traveling to Ohio to visit her one son and family. During the summer, Ruth and her family spend a lot of time at their family lake house boating, fishing, swimming and just making tons of memories together. When not busy with family activities Ruth loves reading and scrapbooking.

Mindy L.

Mindy Lux is the Insurance Coordinator at STL Fertility. Her main focus is confirming patient insurance eligibility, benefits, and coverage details with insurance companies. She obtained her bachelor's degree from Missouri State University. Mindy grew up in St. Louis where she currently lives with her husband and children. When she is not chasing around her two boys, she enjoys baking, reading and spending time with friends and family.

CLINICAL TEAM

Jessica B.

Jessica B. is the clinical nurse manager and coordinator at STL Fertility. She graduated from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. From the beginning of her nursing career, she knew she wanted to become a neonatal ICU nurse (NICU) because her own niece was born prematurely. Jessica started her first nursing job at St. Louis Children’s hospital NICU where she gained much experience as a floor nurse for several years and eventually transitioned to becoming an Assistant Nurse Manager in the NICU from 2019-2021. During her time in the NICU, Jessica faced her own fertility journey. It was through her OBGYN recommending going forward with doing carrier screening test prior to starting to try to start a family that she found she was a carrier of a genetic disorder called Spinal Muscular Atrophy. Through this finding, her husband was tested and found to be positive for the same genetic disorder. After much discussion and meeting with genetic counselors, it was ultimately decided they felt the best option moving forward was going through IVF to test their embryos for this disease. Jessica went through two IVF cycles and three frozen embryo transfers. This led to her passion for fertility and understanding IVF more. In 2021, she saw an opening for a coordinator position at STL Fertility and has loved helping others on their fertility journey. In her free time, Jess loves being with her husband and two young boys (Brooks and Beau). She loves to travel, relax with a good documentary, and work out.

Lauren P.

Lauren P. is an IVF Registered Nurse Coordinator at STL Fertility. As an STL native, she began her journey in women's health at the age of 18 as a medical assistant in an OB/GYN clinic and later became a student nurse technician at Barnes in Labor and Delivery and Antepartum while pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing. After graduating from Chamberlain College of Nursing in October of 2017, she started her nursing career as an inpatient women's health nurse at Mercy St. Louis, where she primarily cared for post-surgical and postpartum women. In November of 2021, she left floor nursing to join STL Fertility where she planted roots and has continued to grow. While she has explored various aspects of women's services, she has developed a special passion for the infertility field and finds joy in assisting couples and individuals in their journey to build their families. Outside of her nursing role, Lauren enjoys tending to her indoor plants, crafting with her Cricut, and spending quality time with her husband and two young children.

Andrea B.

Andrea B. is an IVF registered nurse coordinator at STL Fertility. She received her nursing degree from the Jewish Hospital College of Nursing and has spent most of her 24-year nursing career in women’s health. Andrea started her career as a Labor and Delivery nurse at Barnes Jewish Hospital. She also spent several years at Mercy Hospital as a NICU nurse. However the majority of her career has been as a fertility nurse. Andrea has more than 15 years experience in fertility and has a passion for patient education. She finds the more knowledge she can share with each patient, the better their fertility journey can be. In her downtime, Andrea enjoys time with her partner and 3 children camping, boating, or watching live sporting events. She also has a self-admitted addiction to yoga!

Brittany P.

Brittany P. is an IVF Registered Nurse Coordinator at STL Fertility. Brittany first found her passion for taking care of people while working at The Walt Disney World Resort. After years of working around the world and the U.S.A. in Hospitality Management, she felt she could better serve and utilize her empathy and caring ways in a healthcare setting. She graduated from Goldfarb College of Nursing in 2017 and entered the world of Women's Health - with a primary focus on Postpartum. After years of taking care of other women and families, she was ready to begin her own, only to find roadblocks at every turn. While beginning her own journey as an IVF momma, she wanted to be able to help other women who walked the same path. Brittany became an IVF Nurse Coordinator in October 2017 and has never looked back!

When she is not passionately discussing the intricacies of the fertility world, ICSI, and PGT with her family and friends, she enjoys to cheer on the St Louis Blues, camp, hike, and travel with her husband and son.

Karla G.

Karla G. is a dedicated professional in the field of women's health, born in

Nayarit, Mexico, and later moved to San Diego during her mid-teens due to her parents' work as

farmworkers. In 2007, she graduated from Kaplan College as a Medical Assistant and

Phlebotomist, marking the beginning of her impactful journey in healthcare. Karla's commitment to women's health led her to become a manager at a teen clinic, where she contributed significantly to the well-being of young individuals. Fate brought her together with her husband, who was stationed at Marine Base Camp Pendleton. Opting to start a family, they made the decision to relocate to Missouri.

Since 2020, Karla has been an integral part of STL Fertility, where she currently serves as the

Medical Assistant Supervisor and IUI Coordinator. Her role involves coordinating intrauterine

insemination procedures and overseeing the medical assistant team, showcasing her leadership

skills and passion for reproductive health. Karla G.'s journey reflects a remarkable dedication to healthcare and a commitment to supporting individuals on their path to building families.

Katherine R.

Meet Kat, a dedicated single mom and accomplished Medical Assistant. Her passion for makeup is a creative outlet, complementing her professional achievements, including graduating from Vaterott in 2015 with honors on the dean’s list. Balancing the roles of caregiver and career professional, Kat embodies resilience and a love for both family and personal growth.

Jacqueline A.

Jacqueline is a medical assistant at STL Fertility. She is a St. Louis native with a passion for healthcare. She earned her bachelor's degree in Nuclear Medicine Technology from Saint Louis University in 2020. Beginning her career at DePaul Hospital, she gained valuable experience before realizing her calling led her to a different path. Joining STL Fertility, Jacqueline plays a crucial role, aiding in intralipids, performing blood draws, and assisting in operating room procedures. Beyond her medical expertise, she finds joy in discovering new coffee shops and cherishing moments with friends and family outside of work.

Patti V.

Patti, a St. Louis native, discovered her passion for women's healthcare early on, working as a receptionist at an OB/GYN office after high school. In 2019, she earned her certification as a medical assistant from the St. Louis School of Phlebotomy and holds an associates degree from St. Louis Community College in general studies. Currently studying Organizational Leadership and Healthcare Communication at UMSL, Patti's academic pursuits align with her dedication to women's health.

Motivated by personal experiences, Patti joined STL Fertility after facing challenges with infertility herself. Alongside her fiancé Zach, they navigate their fertility journey, and are getting married in May 2025. Patti's story reflects not only professional commitment but also personal resilience and love for reproductive endocrinology and women’s health.

Merry M.

(COMING SOON)

Cayla A.

Cayla is a dedicated Medical Assistant with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. With two years of experience in reproductive healthcare, she is committed to assisting individuals and couples on their journey to parenthood. Cayla understands that everyone's journey is unique, and she is excited to support you every step of the way!

FRONT DESK TEAM

Brandie J.

As the Front Desk Manager and a former fertility patient here at STL Fertility, I truly understand what people struggling with infertility are feeling day-to-day and appointment-to-appointment. Being a native of Illinois and growing up in the St. Louis metropolitan area, I appreciate the combination of local hands-on fertility care connected with the latest global treatment advancements like IVF, PGT-A, and egg freezing. My role here is to ensure the schedule and the office flows and functions efficiently and effectively. As part of a team focused on patient care I’m excited to serve you.

Erin M.

Erin is our front office coordinator at StL Fertility. Erin is an avid sports fan, you can often find her cheering for her favorite sports teams, the St Louis Blues, the St Louis Cardinals, and the Kansas City Chiefs. Erin is a new mom to a baby boy named Keaton, and is embracing motherhood and family life with her partner Justin, his two teens, and their dog, Berry. Erin is a breast cancer survivor, and is passionate about reproductive health, Alzheimer's research, and stray animal rescue/welfare.

Katie O.

Hi, my fellow warriors, my name is Katie O. and I am one of the Front Desk Coordinators. A little about me. I have been married to my husband for 8 years. We have 2 dogs and just built our first house together. I have been working for STL Fertility for almost a year now, before that I worked for Non-Profits, and other misc. places. Before joining the team, I was a patient of STL Fertility. I am an infertility warrior and after 7 years of trying, we are expecting our first child via surrogacy. I have been a licensed Cosmetologist for 14 years. My husband and I are very involved with our church Twin Rivers and serving our community. We enjoy traveling with our friends to different places, and sharing moments in life with those we love the most. Coming this Spring, my friend and I are starting a podcast to help other warriors out there. I love being there for other warriors no matter where they are in the journey. I am here for you and you are not ALONE!

PATIENT EXPERIENCE TEAM

Andrea M.

Dedicated Patient Experience Manager with a passion for supporting patients in their path to parenthood. Balancing work and home life , I enjoy spending quality time with family and friends. Fueling my days with a love for coffee and a soundtrack of diverse music.

Beth N.

Beth N. is the Relationship Manager at STL Fertility. She was born and raised in St. Louis, MO, and after graduating from Vanderbilt University as an English and Communications Major, she moved to Chicago to work in Sales and Marketing. This is where she met her now husband and became an active member of the endurance running community. She took an opportunity to work for the Northwestern School of Medicine as a Project Manager/Operations Manager, where she was exposed to lab, research, and clinical space, and became certified in Project Management. After getting married in Chicago in 2019, she moved with her husband back to St. Louis and a year later had her first patient consult with Dr. Schulte. Despite the ups and downs of her IVF journey, she loved everything about STL Fertility and started her role there in 2022 before having her first baby. She manages the sales, sales operations and marketing for the clinic and when not doing that, you can find her running (mostly chasing her 1 year old daughter), doing peloton and Orangetheory workouts, and finding/eating good food around St. Louis!

LABORATORY TEAM

Lab Tam

Sarah H.

Sarah H. is the Lab Manager at STL Fertility. She is originally from Columbia, Missouri, and she graduated from the University of Missouri with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a B.S. in Secondary Education. Sarah worked in animal embryology, reproduction, and research in academia for over a decade prior to starting at the clinic in 2018. When not embryologist-ing at STL Fertility, she enjoys spending her time with her husband and two daughters, reading, and cuddling her cats.

Dr. Sheela Ali

Dr. Sheela Ali is the Laboratory Director for Embryology, Andrology and Endocrinology labs at STL Fertility. She has been actively involved in human IVF since 2008. She completed her master's degree in Clinical Embryology and Andrology at the Jones Institute of Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2013 and earned a PhD in Developmental Biology from the University of North Texas in 2018. Throughout her graduate studies, her research was centered on investigating E-Cadherin's role in trophectoderm grafts from sibling embryos and the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and predictive modeling to identify critical thresholds in IVF treatments. Her work utilized AI applications to demonstrate how AI can significantly improve real-time support tools for clinical decision-making, especially in optimizing factors like maximum allowable gonadotropin doses for enhanced outcomes.

Certified as a High Complexity Laboratory Director (HCLD), Clinical Consultant (CC), and Technical Supervisor (TS) by the American Board of Bioanalysts (ABB), Dr. Ali has contributed expertise to various panels and initiatives. She served as a panelist for NASA's space biology research program and collaborated with the United Nations as an expert reviewer, particularly concerning proposals related to procuring PCR testing platforms for SARS-CoV-2.

Dr. Ali has previously been involved as a scientific advisory board member for the College of Reproductive Biology (CRB) and EmbryVu genetics laboratory. Additionally, she actively participates as a committee member for the ASRM membership committee, SART QA committee, and CRB committee. Beyond her professional engagements, she finds fulfillment in exploring different cultures during her leisure time.

Stephanie M.

Stephanie is an accomplished embryologist with more than 10 years of experience. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from the University of Missouri-Columbia, where she was introduced to assisted reproduction techniques. Building on her foundation, Stephanie further pursued her academic journey and earned an MBA from the University of Iowa, highlighting her commitment to both scientific and business aspects. Outside the laboratory, Stephanie leads a well-rounded life. Her love for horses is evident in her leisure time spent riding and managing a boarding barn. Additionally, she enjoys staying informed and entertained through podcasts, showcasing her curiosity and eagerness to explore diverse topics.

Kasi R.

Kasi is our Andrologist/Laboratory Technician here at STL Fertility. She was born and raised in Dayton, Ohio and attended Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, with a specialization in Marine and Freshwater Biology. After graduating, Kasi held several roles within her specialty, including zookeeper and Lead Penguin Keeper at various zoos, and biologist at Cabela’s and Bass Pro where she dove and took care of the company’s live animals. She then relocated to St. Louis to be closer to family and became an Andrologist at another fertility clinic before spending time as a Lab Tech III at Mercy Laboratories. She felt right at home when she found her way to her position at STL Fertility and brings so much positive energy and love to the team. In her free time, Kasi enjoys watching football (GO BLUE!!), working out on her Peloton, and visiting her out of town family. She spends a lot of time in her favorite state Michigan during the wintertime to ski, and to visit her favorite lake (Torch Lake) in the summers.

Claire K.

Claire K. is the Laboratory Technician at STL Fertility. She graduated from Missouri State University with a Bachelors of Science in cell and molecular biology in 2020. She continued her research at Missouri State for two more years to earn her Masters of Science in cell and molecular biology. Her research focused on RNA editing in males and females during acute inflammation. Claire also spent several months working in a cancer research lab at Washington University in St. Louis before starting her work in the IVF field. She is currently spending time working in andrology and endocrinology but is working up to become an embryologist. Claire spends her free time running, cooking, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Kendra

Kendra is an Embryologist at STL Fertility. She obtained her masters degree at the University of Illinois and is a board certified Technical Supervisor in Embryology and Andrology. She has been working in the field of assisted reproductive technologies for over twenty years. Away from work she enjoys dogs, vegetable and perennial gardening, archery, and the outdoors.

Catherine

Cat is an Embryologist with STL Fertility. She has worked in the IVF field for many years and in her free time enjoys spending time with her three kids and husband.