Dr. Crystal Chan Scientific Director
Co-Owner, Markham Fertility
Fertility treatments can be stressful so I try to make my patients feel at ease, sometimes with my quirky sense of humour. It's important to smile, even during stressful times.
Dr. Crystal Chan is Scientific Director of Markham Fertility Centre. She is a nationally renowned Fertility Specialist and Reproductive Scientist. She is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology (OB/GYN) and the Department of Lab Medicine and Pathology (LMP) at the University of Toronto.
Dr. Chan is a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons and Physicians of Canada, with dual specialization in OB/GYN and Gynecologic Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (GREI). After obtaining her Medical Degree and Residency at the University of Toronto, Dr. Chan completed a Fellowship in GREI at Mount Sinai Hospital. She then completed a Visiting Scholarship at the Center for Reproductive Sciences at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). She was a full-time academic Clinician Investigator at Mt Sinai Hospital prior to joining Markham Fertility Centre.
Dr. Chan has been very involved in creating national practice standards for GREI. She is an active member of the Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society (CFAS) and was a lead author on CFAS national guidelines on preimplantation genetic testing. She started the Greater Toronto Area Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (GTA-REI) Network, and is involved in collaborative research projects with other fertility specialists throughout the city.
Dr. Chan is passionate about research on the molecular mechanisms behind implantation and conception. Her areas of interest include studying uterine receptivity in IVF, pre-implantation genetic testing, as well as reproductive immunology. She has received national and international accolades for research, including awards from the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and the Canadian Society for Clinical Investigation (CSCI).
Dr. Chan enjoys educating the next generation of fertility experts. She is a course director for the University of Toronto Masters of Health Sciences in LMP, Clinical Embryology Stream. She is a member of the Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons (SLS), and is actively involved in teaching laparoscopic surgery skills at local and international conferences. Dr. Chan is also involved in fertility outreach to the Canadian Chinese community. She can converse in Mandarin, Chinese, and has been featured on Fairchild Radio and Singtao Daily.
More About Dr. Chan
We asked each of our doctors some questions so you can to learn more about who they are as people, not just scientists and clinicians.
What motivates you?
Reproductive medicine is my calling. I love my patients and I love the science. I strive to be a champion for my patients and to help them achieve their goals. There is nothing more motivating than seeing them succeed with a beautiful baby in their arms. Conducting research and helping to create best practices also motivate me. I enjoy advancing the field by contributing to research and educating the next generation through teaching at the university. I feel like the academic side of my work will be my legacy. I LOVE my job.
What is your message to patients who are struggling to create their family?
Give yourself grace. None of this is your fault. You are doing all the right things and we are here to help you. Also – you are stronger than you think, and you will get through this.
What would your patients say about you?
I think my patients would say I care about them, sometimes to the point of obsessiveness. I think my patients know that I am working very hard for them, sometimes behind the scenes. I think they would say I like to individualize their care, and treat patients like I would want to be treated myself. I also tend to feel the same emotions they are feeling, as they navigate through their fertility journey.
Your Fertility Physicians
We are an all-female, physician-owned group of fertility specialists with a passion for our patients and their goals.
Your care is in the hands of highly trained physicians who have completed five-year residencies in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, followed by two-year subspecialty training in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at leading institutions in Canada. Our doctors are not only experts in the field but also passionate about their work, providing exceptional care to our patients and their families with their expertise and compassionate approach.
