MFC Expands Fertility Care in Northern Ontario: A Vision for Access and Choice
Every individual dreaming of building a family deserves access to compassionate, high-quality fertility care, no matter where they live. For too long, those in Northern Ontario and rural communities have faced significant barriers—long travel distances, limited provider options, and higher financial burdens compared to their urban counterparts. Our vision is to change this by creating a network of care that prioritizes access, choice, and equity, ensuring that geography doesn’t dictate the quality or affordability of fertility treatment. Through strategic partnerships, new satellite centres, and thoughtful patient support, we’re bringing advanced fertility care closer to home for families across the region.
Fertility Care: A Commitment to Equity
Fertility care is deeply personal, and the journey can be emotionally, physically, and financially demanding. In urban centres like Toronto, patients often have multiple clinics to choose from, with access to cutting-edge treatments like in vitro fertilization (IVF), egg freezing, and preimplantation genetic testing (PGT). However, in rural and Northern Ontario, options have historically been scarce, forcing patients to travel hours for consultations, monitoring, or procedures—adding costs for travel, accommodations, and time off work. This disparity places an unfair burden on rural patients, who may face thousands of dollars in additional expenses compared to urban residents. Or, the simply give up and never had the opportunity to pursue their family. One paper suggests that rural Ontarians are 4 times less likely to pursue fertility treatments where their clinic is more than 100km away.
Our goal at Markham Fertility Centre is to level the playing field. We are committed to ensuring that patients in all areas have the same opportunities to choose their providers and access advanced treatments without disproportionate costs. By expanding our reach through partnerships, satellite locations, and patient-focused initiatives, we’re making fertility care more seamless, affordable, and patient-centered for everyone.
NEW! Markham has extended its reach to Sudbury through NEO Women’s Health Network
France Gelinas, (MP for Sudbury), Dr. Meivys Garcia (Medical Director at MFC) & Renee Higgins (MFC patient from Sudbury)
We are thrilled to announce our newest outreach into Sudbury, further bridging the gap for patients in Northeastern Ontario. Through a strong partnership with NEO Fertility, led by Dr. Karen Splinter and Dr. Jennifer Jocko, we are now able to provide fertility monitoring and diagnostic services to patients in the Sudbury region. NEO, the only dedicated fertility clinic in Northeastern Ontario, has been a game-changer since its opening in 2018, serving patients from Sault Ste. Marie to North Bay and north to Timmins, Hearst, and Kapuskasing.
At NEO, patients can access critical services like cycle monitoring, blood work, ultrasounds, and intrauterine insemination (IUI), all performed locally to reduce the need for costly and time-consuming travel to southern Ontario. For those requiring advanced treatments like IVF, our partnership ensures seamless coordination with Markham Fertility Centre, allowing patients to complete preliminary diagnostics in Sudbury before transitioning to our main facility. This collaboration eliminates the burden of repeated tests or long-distance travel for quick procedures, saving patients time and money. Dr. Splinter and Dr. Jocko’s dedication to compassionate, patient-centered care aligns perfectly with our mission to make fertility care accessible and equitable.
Partnering with DREAM Fertility in Whitby-Oshawa
A cornerstone of our mission is our strong partnership with DREAM Fertility in Whitby-Oshawa, a female-led clinic founded by Dr. Melanie Campbell and Dr. Salina Kanji in November 2021. Recognizing the need for expanded reproductive services in the Durham region, we have collaborated with DREAM to provide seamless access to comprehensive fertility care. Patients in Whitby-Oshawa and surrounding areas can now undergo cycle monitoring locally at DREAM, eliminating the need for frequent trips to Markham for procedures like IVF and egg freezing.
Patients receive the same high-quality care they expect from Markham Fertility Centre, with the convenience of staying closer to home. Dr. Kanji, who also practices at Markham Fertility Centre, bridges both teams, ensuring continuity of care. Eligible patients can access Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP)-covered services and funding, further reducing financial barriers. By working hand-in-hand with DREAM’s dedicated team, we’re making fertility care more accessible and less burdensome for families in Durham and beyond.
Establishing a Satellite Centre in Barrie-Innisfil
To further expand access in Northern Ontario, we proudly established a satellite centre in Innisfil, bringing advanced fertility care to Simcoe County. This centre is supported by two exceptional obstetrician-gynaecologists, Dr. Kilani and Dr. Fefelova, who share our commitment to personalized, patient-centered care. The Innisfil satellite centre allows patients to access consultations, diagnostic testing, and cycle monitoring without traveling to urban hubs like Toronto or Markham.
To underscore our commitment to choice, patients from other clinics in the GTA may also using the Innisfil satellite for monitoring. We welcome other IVF centres to reach out to us if they have a patient needing to monitor and avoid travel. This model empowers patients to choose providers closer to home while maintaining access to our full suite of reproductive services.
Partnering with Horizon Fertility in Orillia
Our vision extends to Orillia, Muskoka, and surrounding areas through a solid partnership with Horizon Fertility, led by Dr. Catford and Dr. Sheppard. Horizon Fertility is a female, physician-owned clinic dedicated to providing compassionate reproductive care in a welcoming environment. By partnering with Horizon, we have created a pathway for patients in Orillia and nearby rural communities to access fertility consultations, diagnostic imaging, and cycle monitoring locally, with direct referrals to Markham Fertility Centre for advanced treatments like IVF or egg freezing.
Together, we are empowering patients in Northern Ontario to pursue their fertility goals without the added stress of long-distance travel or limited provider options. Horizon’s kind and supportive approach complements our mission, making fertility care more accessible and equitable for families in the region.
Partnering with WELL Health Diagnostic Centres
To further enhance our diagnostic capabilities, we’ve established a robust partnership with WELL Health Diagnostic Centres, a leading network of diagnostic facilities across Canada. WELL Health’s state-of-the-art centres, including their location in Sudbury, provide advanced imaging and diagnostic services that complement our fertility offerings. This partnership allows us to streamline diagnostic testing, such as ultrasounds and bloodwork, for patients across our network, ensuring faster results and a smoother care journey.
By integrating with WELL Health’s extensive network, we’re able to offer patients in Northern Ontario additional access to cutting-edge diagnostic tools without the need to travel to urban centres. This collaboration reinforces our commitment to reducing financial and logistical barriers, ensuring that rural patients have the same access to high-quality diagnostics as those in urban areas.
Fertility Care: Comfort and Convenience with Hilton Suites Hotel Markham
Recognizing that some patients may still need to travel to our main lab in Markham for advanced treatments like IVF, we have partnered with Hilton Suites Hotel Markham to provide a familiar and comfortable respite. Markham Fertility Centre patients receive preferred rates on hotel rooms and full kitchen suites, making their journey easier and more affordable. Whether staying for a day or an extended period, patients can relax in a welcoming environment with the convenience of full kitchens, ideal for maintaining routines during treatment. This partnership reflects our commitment to supporting patients holistically, reducing the stress of travel and ensuring a home-away-from-home experience.
Fertility Care: Empowering Patients with My Fertility Podcast
Knowledge is power, and we are proud to offer My Fertility Podcast, a valuable resource for anyone navigating their fertility journey. Hosted by Dr. Meivys Garcia and Dr. Marta Wais, the podcast provides endless hours of insightful content covering all aspects of fertility care—from understanding treatment options to managing emotional challenges. Whether you live in Toronto, Timmins, or across the world, My Fertility Podcast is a reliable, accessible source of expert information, empowering patients with the knowledge to make informed decisions. Available on all major platforms like Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music or wherever you listen to podcasts – it’s a trusted companion for anyone, anywhere, seeking clarity and support on their path to parenthood.
Fertility Care: Empowering Choice and Reducing Barriers
We believe patients should have the freedom to choose their fertility providers based on their needs, preferences, and values—not their postal code. Our partnerships with DREAM Fertility, Horizon Fertility, NEO Fertility, WELL Health Diagnostic Centres, and Hilton Suites Hotel Markham, along with our satellite centre in Innisfil, reflect this commitment. These initiatives enable patients to access consultations, monitoring, diagnostics, and comfortable accommodations closer to home, reducing travel costs and time away from work or family. For advanced procedures, our seamless referral process ensures patients can transition to Markham Fertility Centre without disruption, receiving the same high standards of care that have made us a leader in Canadian fertility since 1988.
We’re also leveraging Ontario’s Fertility Program, which funds one IVF cycle per patient, to further reduce financial barriers. By offering OHIP-covered virtual consults and local `monitoring at our partner and satellite sites, we ensure that rural patients face no greater financial burden than urban ones. Our Clinical Program Manager oversees care across all locations, ensuring consistency and quality, so patients feel supported at every step.
A Future of Hope and Accessibility
Our journey to make fertility care in Northern Ontario more accessible is gaining momentum. Whether you’re in Whitby-Oshawa, Orillia, Innisfil, Sudbury, or a remote rural community, we’re here to support you with personalized care, advanced technology, and a commitment to your unique journey.
To be sure, there is more we can do to improve access. We are hopeful that innovations will bring costs down and enable remote diagnostic monitoring for all patients – two major barriers of care. We are hyper focused on solutions and look forward to a future that is more equitable and accessible.
We invite you to start your fertility journey with us. Book a free, no-pressure consultation with one of our fertility guides at Markham Fertility Centre. Tune in to My Fertility Podcast for expert insights, and rest easy with our preferred rates at Hilton Suites Hotel Markham if travel is needed. Together, we’ll turn your dreams of family into reality, no matter where you call home. Visit markhamfertility.com to learn more and get started on your journey.