Marilyn Butterfield R.N., M.S.

The logo of the Family Fertility Center is an open heart and our motto is, "When your heart is open all things are possible." This symbol describes the spiritual journey I feel we all take as consumers of infertility treatment.

My own journey through infertility included four IVF procedures and two surgeries. I was finally successful at the age of 43 in adopting a newborn son and at 46, giving birth to another son after receiving a donated embryo. My realization that "I could love any child" only came to me after I grieved the loss of my "genetically connected child." No matter how hard I worked at being "the perfect infertility patient," what finally worked in the end was not a matter of will.

It seems to me that my heart opened once I learned the truth about parenting. Genetic ties are special and very interesting but ultimately not sustaining. The deep love I feel for my children has grown from the sharing and learning that occurs each day. Having the same eye color and the same hair texture will never bind us deeply. Parenting is all about our day-to-day experiences. I treasure our bedtime talks about how my son really feels about his first day at school; or the tears we shed together when his best friend moved two thousand miles away.

Biography

Education

Psychiatric/Mental Health Nurse
Licensed with BRN, eligible for insurance reimbursement and included as a professional, listed in the evidence code of California

M.S., Psychiatric Nursing
University of California
San Francisco, June 1973

B.S. Nursing
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Aug. 1968

Diploma, Nursing
Englewood Hospital
New Jersey Sept. 1966

Experience

Current Business

Family Fertility Center
Owner/Director
We provide all services in support of surrogacy and egg donation

Women's Fertility Center
March , 1992 - January , 1993
Owner/Director

Private Practice
1986 to Present
Primary interest since 1987 has been counseling services for clients dealing with infertility. Focused on stress management (taught self hypnosis) and problem solving skills. Provided counseling and liaison for alternative methods of family building (adoption, egg donation and surrogacy) and evaluations of egg donors and surrogates. Led infertility support groups for the infertility advocacy group, RESOLVE, and public speaking on infertility issues.

Employment

October, 1987 - March, 1992
Infertility Counselor
IVF Program in Bay Area
Evaluated and counseled all patients going through IVF program. Offered a tape that I developed to teach self hypnosis to couples as a stress management tool. Evaluated all surrogates and ovum donors going through program. Spoke at many seminars to clients considering assisted methods of reproduction and alternative methods of family building. Led support groups through Resolve for infertile individuals and couples.

January, 1980 - October, 1987
Community Mental Health Services, San Francisco, CA
Assistant Director, Adult Community Mental Health Services
Responsible for eight clinical services programs providing services annually to over 4,000 clients. Reviewed contracts, budgets, staffing patterns for multidisciplinary treatment teams. Also developed and coordinated all quality assurance activities in eighty clinical programs. These quality assurance functions included peer review, utilization review, and medication monitoring. Developed and implemented training programs that remediated clinical deficiencies that were identified by monitoring procedures. Represented SFCMHS with State Department of Mental Health and State Department of Health regarding Quality Assurance Subcommittee of California Conference of Local Mental Health Directors. Coordinated the work of another clinical nurse specialist and clinical pharmacist in this quality assurance unit.

October, 1975 - December, 1979
Children's Service
Worked with children and families as a primary therapist in an outpatient setting. Provided collaboration and consultation to local schools, day care programs and a Head Start Program. Attended training program in child development at Psychoanalytic Institute.

March, 1975 - October, 1975
Adult Services
Worked as primary therapist for adults in an outpatient clinic. Provided consultation to impatient service. Founded Women's Services at Southeast Committee to assess and implemented relevant mental health services for women in this district.

July, 1974 - March, 1975
Staff Nurse in Intensive Treatment Unit
Functioned primarily on crisis intervention and inpatient psychiatric service as primary therapist.

July, 1973 - March, 1974
C. Public Health Nurse, Psychiatric Option
East Oakland Mental Health Rehabilitation Service in Oakland, California

June, 1969 - July, 1973
D. In service Educator, Psychiatric Division
Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Florida.
Responsible for training and orientation of all mental health personnel in this 178 bed facility.

September, 1968 - May, 1969
E. Faculty Member
Nursing Program, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York

September, 1966 - May, 1968
F. Staff Nurse
Hospital of University of Pennsylvania.

Memberships

• American Society for Reproductive Medicine
• Resolve
• Directory of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses in California

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