Our Physicians

JOHN C. NULSEN, M.D.

Director and a lead physician at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, Dr. Nulsen is Board Certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. He has specialized in Reproductive Endocrinology since 1987 and has been Director of The Center's IVF Program since 1990. Dr. Nulsen founded The Center's donor egg program, which was responsible for the first successful donor egg conception in New England in 1987.

In 2006, Dr. Nulsen was awarded as one of "America's Top Doctors" and as one of Connecticut Magazine's "Top Doctors for Women." He was also selected as one of "America's Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists" in 2004-2005.

He graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in 1980 and completed his residency and fellowship training as well as a year of research in reproductive biology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

In addition to being an Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Dr. Nulsen is involved in all aspects of fertility treatments with special interests in endoscopic surgery, ovulation induction, IVF and egg donation. Dr. Nulsen continues to be actively involved in clinical research in reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

DONALD B. MAIER, M.D.

A lead physician at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services and Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility at The University of Connecticut Health Center, Dr. Maier is Board Certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. He has specialized in Reproductive Endocrinology since 1982.

Dr. Maier has been awarded as a "Best Doctor in America" in 2003-04; a special honor given to the top 5% of physicians in more than 400 subspecialties.

He graduated from Hahnemann Medical College and completed his residency at Thomas Jefferson Hospital, both in Philadelphia. He completed his fellowship at Duke University.

In addition to being an Associate Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Dr. Maier has special interests in IVF, PGD, recurrent pregnancy losses, uterine surgery, endoscopic surgery, and the psychological aspects of infertility.

CLAUDIO BENADIVA, M.D., H.C.L.D.

A lead physician at The Center and Director of the IVF Laboratory, Dr. Benadiva is Board Certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility. He has done extensive research in Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology since 1986.

Dr. Benadiva is among the very few physicians who are certified by the American Board of Bioanalysis as a high complexity laboratory director, making him uniquely suited to integrate both clinical and laboratory protocols in an IVF program. Dr. Benadiva has also been awarded "Best Doctor in America" in 2003-04, a special honor given to the top 5% of physicians in over 400 subspecialties. In 2004, Dr. Benadiva received a "Family Building Award" from the American Infertility Association (AIA) and was selected by The Consumers’ Research Council in America to be included in their 2004–05 Edition of the Guide to America’s Top Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

He graduated from the Univ. of Buenos Aires in 1981 and completed his residency at the Univ. of Connecticut Health Center. He completed fellowships at the Univ. of Pennsylvania School of Medicine and The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center. In addition to being an Associate Clinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the Univ. of Connecticut Health Center, Dr. Benadiva is involved with all fertility treatments and has a special interest in IVF, PGD, endoscopic surgery, and assisted reproductive technologies.

DAVID SCHMIDT, M.D.

A lead physician at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, Dr. Schmidt is board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI). He has specialized in Reproductive Endocrinology since 2001.

Dr. Schmidt is a well established and distinguished member of the University of Connecticut Health Center community. He graduated from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine in 1997 and completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at the UConn Health Center where he highlighted his final year as being the recipient of several awards for outstanding clinical and teaching skills. Dr. Schmidt recently completed a three year REI fellowship at The University of Connecticut Health Center at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services. During this time, Dr. Schmidt distinguished himself as an accomplished and compassionate clinician, leader among his peers, and dedicated academic.

In addition to being an Assistant Clinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the University of Connecticut Health Center, Dr. Schmidt has special interests in IVF, ovulation induction, endoscopic surgery and research. Several of Dr. Schmidt's research projects have been accepted for national publication or presentation. He has also been awarded the Dorfman Award for Excellence in Patient Care, the Alumni Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, and the Dr. Spero Neckles Award for Outstanding Resident Research.

Dr. Schmidt lives in Farmington, CT and sees patients in our Farmington and Hamden locations.

August C. Olivar, M.D.

Dr. Olivar is Director of the Hartford Division at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, part of the University of Connecticut Health Center. He is a Professor of Ob/Gyn at the UConn School of Medicine and is Board Certified in Ob/Gyn and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility.

He graduated from San Marcos Medical School in Lima, Peru in 1968, and then completed a Surgical Internship at Brown University and a residency in ob/gyn at Hartford Hospital. Dr. Olivar completed a Fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Peter Bent Brigham, Harvard Medical School in 1975.

After his training, Dr. Olivar served as Associate Director of the Dept. of Ob/Gyn at Mt. Sinai Hospital and subsequently became Acting Chief of the Dept. of Ob/Gyn and then Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility from 1975–1990. Dr. Olivar is affiliated with Hartford Hospital and was Chief of the Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Division from 1990–2006.

Dr. Olivar has published and lectured extensively on many reproduction topics and was a pioneer in using the CO2, KTP 532, and Nd YAG laser for laparoscopic pelvic surgery. He served many years as an ad hoc editor in peer review journals and as a consultant for the Reproductive Biology Resource Committee for the ASRM and the American College of Pathologists. He also served as president of the Laser & Advanced Technology Society.

Lawrence Engmann, M.D., M.R.C.O.G

A lead physician at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, Dr. Engmann is board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI). He has specialized in REI since 1998.

Dr. Engmann is a well established and respected member of the University of Connecticut Health Center community. He graduated from the University of Ghana Medical School and received his MRCOG in 1995 from the United Kingdom. He then went on to complete a reproductive medicine fellowship in 1998 in the UK. Upon relocating to the U.S., Dr. Engmann completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the UConn Health Center in 2003. Dr. Engmann recently completed a three year REI fellowship at The UConn Health Center at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services. During this time, Dr. Engmann distinguished himself as an accomplished and compassionate clinician, leader among his peers, and dedicated academic.

In addition to being a Clinical Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at the UConn Health Center, Dr.Engmann has special interests in ovulation induction, assisted reproductive technologies (IVF), endoscopic surgery and research. He has published many peer-reviewed articles and abstracts and lectured at many national and international meetings. He has also been awarded The Berlex Foundation Resident Education Award, the Best Maternal-Fetal Medicine Resident award, the Alumni Award for Undergraduate Education and The Ludwig Pyrtec Award for Best Scientific Paper.

Andrea J. DiLuigi, M.D.

A lead physician at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, Dr. DiLuigi is board certified in Obstetrics & Gynecology and is an active candidate for board certification in Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility (REI). She has specialized in REI since 2004.

Dr. DiLuigi received her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in 1998 and completed a residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Women & Infants Hospital/ Brown University in 2002. During her training, Dr. DiLuigi was the recipient of numerous teaching awards, honors, and academic achievement awards. After completing her residency, Dr. DiLuigi worked as an Attending Physician in Obstetrics and Gynecology with a private practice in Rhode Island. She also continued to pursue her passion for teaching residents and medical students at Women & Infants Hospital and the Brown University School of Medicine.

Dr. DiLuigi recently completed a three year REI fellowship at the University of Connecticut Health Center at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services. During this time, she distinguished herself as a caring, compassionate, and knowledgeable clinician as well as a dedicated academic.

Dr. DiLuigi is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Ob/Gyn at the UConn Health Center. She has published numerous articles and presented her research at several national meetings. Her special interests include IVF, ovulation induction, egg donation, and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

MARY CASEY JACOB, Ph.D.

Dr. Mary Casey Jacob is a highly trained external resource, providing education and counseling services to patients at The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services. Education about the psychosocial and ethical aspects of treatment choices is an important part of helping patients give true informed consent for treatments. The mind-body cognitive-behavioral oounseling Dr. Jacob offers is intended to help patients understand and cope with the stresses of infertility and better deal with emotional and ethical issues that can be encountered. Specific treatment for conditions such as needle phobias is also available. she is also a resource for locating similar therapists in your geographic area.

Mary Casey Jacob received her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and then completed a Health Psychology Internship at Veterans Administration Medical Center in West Haven, CT.

She is a Professor of Psychiatry and Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Associate Dean for Facutly Affairs at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She sees patients at our Farmington location in the Dowling South Building.

In addition to her work with infertility patients, Dr. Jacob has expertise in chronic pain management, coping with symptoms of PMS and menopause, and smoking cessation.