Mark Sauer
Encyclopedia
Mark V. Sauer, MD is an American physician who has been responsible for advancing the field of reproductive medicine through several of his projects. He is principally known for his work in the field of donor oocyte and embryo transfer
and achieved the world's first donor egg pregnancies in older menopausal women while serving as an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Dr. Sauer's other projects included the introduction of methotrexate
for the nonsurgical treatment of ectopic pregnancies, and most recently the use of semen washing techniques to prevent the transmission of HIV in couples wishing to conceive when the wife is uninfected. He currently has developed a program for procuring eggs for stem cell therapy from paid donors.
Dr. Sauer is the Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at Columbia University Medical Center in Manhattan. He is a tenured Professor at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University
. He has served on the editorial board of several medical journals, and also worked as consulting editor or ad hoc member on the editorial boards of numerous scientific journals. He has authored more than 300 peer review articles related to Reproductive Endocrinology and infertility. He is currently the Program and Laboratory Director for Center for Women's Reproductive Care at Columbia University and the Vice Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University.
and gynecology at the University of Illinois Hospital in 1984 and then chose sub-specialty training in reproductive endocrinology at the University of California in Los Angeles, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
, under the mentorship of John Buster
, M.D. While there he became actively involved in developing the original protocols and refining the techniques used in embryo
and egg donation.
. While an associate professor at the University of Southern California (USC), he headed the egg donation program that established the first pregnancies in women who were in their 40s, 50s and 60s. His series of experiments and work were published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association and the Lancet. He was credited as being a pioneer in reproductive medical research and has been interviewed by leading newspapers and magazines including Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and People, as well as television programs such as “Dateline,” “Charlie Rose
,” “20/20,” “Nightline,” “The CBS Sunday Morning Show,” “Good Morning America,” “Today” and many others.
As a researcher, professor and clinician, Sauer has trained many young physicians in reproductive medicine. He has made hundreds of presentations at medical meetings and conferences throughout the world, authored over 50 medical textbook chapters, and written two medical textbooks. He serves as a board examiner for both obstetrics and gynecology and the sub-specialty of reproductive endocrinology for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In the past he has served as a medical consultant to the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
Embryo transfer
Embryo transfer refers to a step in the process of assisted reproduction in which embryos are placed into the uterus of a female with the intent to establish a pregnancy...
and achieved the world's first donor egg pregnancies in older menopausal women while serving as an Associate Professor at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. Dr. Sauer's other projects included the introduction of methotrexate
Methotrexate
Methotrexate , abbreviated MTX and formerly known as amethopterin, is an antimetabolite and antifolate drug. It is used in treatment of cancer, autoimmune diseases, ectopic pregnancy, and for the induction of medical abortions. It acts by inhibiting the metabolism of folic acid. Methotrexate...
for the nonsurgical treatment of ectopic pregnancies, and most recently the use of semen washing techniques to prevent the transmission of HIV in couples wishing to conceive when the wife is uninfected. He currently has developed a program for procuring eggs for stem cell therapy from paid donors.
Dr. Sauer is the Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at Columbia University Medical Center in Manhattan. He is a tenured Professor at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. He has served on the editorial board of several medical journals, and also worked as consulting editor or ad hoc member on the editorial boards of numerous scientific journals. He has authored more than 300 peer review articles related to Reproductive Endocrinology and infertility. He is currently the Program and Laboratory Director for Center for Women's Reproductive Care at Columbia University and the Vice Chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University.
Education
Dr. Sauer graduated Phi Beta Kappa with an A.B. degree in biology from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1976. In 1980 Dr. Sauer received his medical degree, graduating with honors and named to the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society from the University of Illinois School of Medicine. He completed his residency in obstetricsObstetrics
Obstetrics is the medical specialty dealing with the care of all women's reproductive tracts and their children during pregnancy , childbirth and the postnatal period...
and gynecology at the University of Illinois Hospital in 1984 and then chose sub-specialty training in reproductive endocrinology at the University of California in Los Angeles, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Harbor–UCLA Medical Center is a 570-bed public teaching hospital located at 1000 West Carson Street within the unincorporated Los Angeles County area of West Carson, California...
, under the mentorship of John Buster
John Buster
John Edmond Buster, M.D., working at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, directed the research team that performed history's first embryo transfer from one woman to another resulting in a live birth...
, M.D. While there he became actively involved in developing the original protocols and refining the techniques used in embryo
Embryo
An embryo is a multicellular diploid eukaryote in its earliest stage of development, from the time of first cell division until birth, hatching, or germination...
and egg donation.
Career
Dr. Sauer is known for his work in establishing pregnancies in women following natural menopauseMenopause
Menopause is a term used to describe the permanent cessation of the primary functions of the human ovaries: the ripening and release of ova and the release of hormones that cause both the creation of the uterine lining and the subsequent shedding of the uterine lining...
. While an associate professor at the University of Southern California (USC), he headed the egg donation program that established the first pregnancies in women who were in their 40s, 50s and 60s. His series of experiments and work were published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the Journal of the American Medical Association and the Lancet. He was credited as being a pioneer in reproductive medical research and has been interviewed by leading newspapers and magazines including Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times and People, as well as television programs such as “Dateline,” “Charlie Rose
Charlie Rose
Charles Peete "Charlie" Rose, Jr. is an American television talk show host and journalist. Since 1991 he has hosted Charlie Rose, an interview show distributed nationally by PBS since 1993...
,” “20/20,” “Nightline,” “The CBS Sunday Morning Show,” “Good Morning America,” “Today” and many others.
As a researcher, professor and clinician, Sauer has trained many young physicians in reproductive medicine. He has made hundreds of presentations at medical meetings and conferences throughout the world, authored over 50 medical textbook chapters, and written two medical textbooks. He serves as a board examiner for both obstetrics and gynecology and the sub-specialty of reproductive endocrinology for the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In the past he has served as a medical consultant to the New York State Department of Health, the New York State Task Force on Life and the Law and the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine.