Dr. Cary Dicken, United States

I am very cautious about writing negative reviews, but I feel this is important so I can help other women making major decisions about egg retrieval/freezing. My gynecologist discussed egg freezing with me because a health condition could affect my fertility. She recommended RMA in Melville. I had an excellent consultation with Dr. Deakin and felt well informed and confident about proceeding. Because I have several other health factors, my doctor wanted medical clearance, and the staff gave me what I thought were clear instructions. I completed the necessary steps, including an appointment with my PCP for clearance. After my initial consultation, I heard nothing from RMA, although I had been told the team would immediately request insurance authorization for coverage. I called the office 3 times and left voicemails/messages with the front desk, but no one responded. It took nearly three months to reach someone by email. In short, the administrative staff did not do what they were supposed to do or follow up with me. This was stressful because much of the paperwork and testing was time-sensitive. The staff took no accountability and tried to impose unnecessary and unreasonable requirements that would delay the process further, seemingly to offset their own delay. After much unprofessional back-and-forth by email, I was told the following week that insurance would not cover the procedure. My situation is not unusual and is often why people decide to freeze their eggs. I was not surprised by the initial insurance denial, given the unfortunate nature of our healthcare system. But RMA did not even suggest a peer-to-peer review and instead immediately asked whether I would pay out of pocket, making me feel they were unwilling to advocate for me. The entire experience was emotionally overwhelming and stressful, and I would not recommend them.

I took time to fully process my experience donating eggs at this location before writing a review. I want to warn other donors to proceed carefully before making this decision. During approval, a blood sample was lost and had to be redrawn. I was told it was an error that normally does not happen. I continued, thinking it was a fluke. Once approved, I was quickly selected as a fresh egg donor. They expect you to be very independent when learning injections, which was fine. Surprisingly, the needles were my smallest concern, although I expected them to be the worst part. I tried to be diligent and ask questions before signing documents. They assured me the procedure required almost no downtime and that a nurse was always on call. I was told over-the-counter pain medication would be enough, with other medication available if pain persisted. When I requested my medical records, they repeatedly sent other people's records along with mine. The medical waste container they gave me also had someone else's name on it. This is a privacy concern that should be addressed. During injections, I experienced side effects including tenderness and pain. The egg donor contact dismissed them and said they were unrelated to fertility medication. I insisted they began after the injections, and she reluctantly scheduled me with a nurse. The nurse said these symptoms were normal with fertility medication, contradicting the donor program. She told me this was what I had signed up for and that stopping would mean I could not help a family or be paid. Overall, the egg donor program seemed irritated when I raised concerns and tried to gaslight me. Then came the actual donation. You essentially feel like you are on an assembly line. The doctor and anesthesiologist were kind, but the nurses seemed trained to dismiss concerns to keep procedures moving. They had me call my husband to pick me up the moment I opened my eyes after anesthesia. I woke in extreme pain and told the nurse on duty several times. Among other rude comments, she said, "Get up and get dressed. I'm not going to get you." My contract stated that I would remain in recovery until I could eat and urinate. I could do neither, yet they effectively escorted me out before I could even speak full sentences because of the pain. Most importantly, the procedure was scheduled on a weekend, when the main office was unstaffed except for an on-call nurse. I took the prescribed medication as directed, but it provided no relief. I was in so much pain that I sometimes could not speak. I called the "on-call" nurse number, but no one answered or called back. When staff returned the next week, they refused to believe the severity of my pain and said my symptoms were atypical. From my online research, they were very typical of ovarian hyperstimulation, which the clinic refused to recognize or treat after giving me medication intended to retrieve as many eggs as possible. I told them my weight had changed by more than 10 pounds within a week after the procedure. After reviewing my chart and weighing me again, they simply dismissed it and documented that I complained of weight gain rather than listing it as a confirmed finding. I still have not lost the weight since the procedure. Finally, I asked to speak with my doctor because my contract stated that I could and should seek treatment at an RMA facility for side effects. Instead of connecting me with the doctor who performed the procedure, they referred me to a doctor at another location whose secretary repeatedly rescheduled me until I finally gave up. I have nothing else to say about this experience except that I hope no one else goes through it.

I had the worst experience with the doctor there. Do not waste your money here. I had fibroids that they failed to diagnose. I had only a day-6 embryo, and on transfer day the doctor could not complete the transfer. I repeatedly asked him to stop, but he did not and said he could not. He also knew my age and that I was overweight from day one, yet when I asked why the transfer failed, he cited my weight and age. Please do not go here. I had a terrible experience with billing, nurses, and doctors.

Honestly, their IVF coordinators do not seem educated about how the process works or the rules/regulations that should be discussed. I am an RN and my partner is a PA, yet we still had many unanswered medical questions. We received poorly written email instructions about medication administration. Despite calling two weeks earlier about this exact issue, we were given incorrect information about whose name should be used to purchase sperm. My partner needed an HSG, but we were not correctly instructed about arrival time or taking ibuprofen beforehand. It was disorganized and lacked professional coordination. Our doctor was wonderful, but I did not like the rest of the experience. I know all healthcare organizations are busy, especially on Long Island, but greater transparency and communication would be ideal during such an intimate process. My advice: proceed cautiously and stay on top of your treatment, because they may not.

Starting in 2021, I spent about 2.5 years at RMA Melville. My doctor and all the staff were very kind. After 4 failed IVF rounds, I ultimately switched because of a misdiagnosis. I was told I had endometriosis, then testing indicated I did not, yet they continued to insist on it. Frustrated, I sought a second opinion. It turned out that my fallopian tubes were blocked, which may have caused my miscarriages/prevented pregnancy. For some reason, testing for blocked tubes with an HSG X-ray was never part of the discussion at RMA, even though it is not an uncommon or difficult test. Regardless of clinic, if you are having trouble with transfer cycles or continue to miscarry even when trying naturally, I strongly recommend considering an HSG X-ray. I have heard that RMA doctors do not usually investigate this.

This could easily become a novel, but I will try to keep it brief. Dr. Deacon is knowledgeable, compassionate, and personable, and thanks to her we now have our miracle daughter. From the beginning, Dr. Deacon genuinely listened to our thoughts and concerns. She was always willing to explore other treatments I suggested, when reasonable, and consistently went above and beyond to reassure us throughout the journey. Her responsiveness was exceptional—she even answered my email while away on a family vacation. During early-morning monitoring, sitting in a crowded waiting room, I was struck by how many people from all walks of life faced the same painful struggle with infertility. It reminded me how important it is to have a doctor like Dr. Deacon, who treats not only the medical issues but also provides emotional support at every step. After a long journey requiring patience, emotion, and unwavering dedication, Dr. Deacon made my lifelong dream come true. I am truly grateful to her and her wonderful team. As I hold my sweet 9-week-old baby girl, what once felt like forever now feels like the blink of an eye. To those still struggling: see Dr. Deacon, and do not stop believing. Your dream can come true too.

My experience with Dr. Zinger and all the clinical staff was excellent. I cannot speak highly enough of them in that regard. I deducted one star because of the billing department, though I wish I could give it zero. If you do not have fertility coverage, they seem to stamp “self-pay” across your chart and make no attempt to bill your insurance. They charge excessive amounts as though you have no insurance. I eventually received reimbursement for several procedures and appointments because my insurance did cover some services for which they charged the full amount. They charged $500 for my initial visit, which ultimately cost only $60 through insurance. They also charged $800 for a saline ultrasound that was fully covered. I had to call and request reimbursement myself. I have worked in healthcare for more than ten years and have never seen anything like this. Worse, when I wanted another embryo transfer, they required another visit as a new patient and wanted another $500. Are you kidding? I had given birth to my son less than a year earlier but was considered a “new patient.” I refused to pay and asked them to bill my new insurance; the appointment then cost only $30. Ironically, my new job covered IVF at another practice in full. After transferring my embryos there, I still received emails from RMA trying to charge storage fees for embryos that were no longer there! It is shameful that they tried to take advantage of us when we were vulnerable. The financial burden is already heavy, but failing even to bill our insurance seems criminal to me. I am glad I no longer have to endure this. Although I succeeded at RMA and had a positive clinical experience, for the reasons above I would advise anyone without IVF coverage to avoid it, or at least call your insurance company before coming here.

This place operates like a machine, with no emotion or connection to your fertility journey. The phlebotomist was kind to me, so I gave two stars instead of one.

We are immensely grateful to and respectful of Dr. Deakin for helping us through our fertility journey! Her kindness, expertise, and support made our dream come true! The entire team was welcoming, supportive, and kind. Thank you all for everything!

Extremely disappointing experience—not recommended My wife and I came to RMA hoping for support and compassion during in vitro fertilization (IVF), but instead felt isolated and disrespected. From beginning to end, I was not allowed to accompany my wife for anything, not even basic appointments. At first we tried to accept it, but eventually realized they did not want us to experience the process together as a couple. Even during egg retrieval, I was not allowed in the recovery room. I had to wait outside, feeling like an Uber driver rather than a partner. If I could give zero stars, I would.

The staff are rude and the team is terribly managed. Getting help is like pulling teeth.

I previously donated eggs and the overall experience was acceptable. However, Colleen Birkin, if she is still there, could be rude. When explaining the process, she sometimes spoke condescendingly, and her injection instructions were unclear. This was unprofessional and inconsiderate, especially toward someone willing to donate eggs to the organization.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review of RMA Long Island, Patchogue and Melville, NY: Dr. Pena and his team are absolutely amazing! It was a difficult, anxious day with a storm approaching and a packed waiting room, but the RMA Long Island staff kept everything calm, friendly, and organized. I was originally scheduled for bloodwork and an ultrasound on Sunday, 2/22. Because of the storm, the clinic proactively moved my Monday appointment to Sunday for patient safety, which I greatly appreciated. I was greeted with warm smiles even though the waiting room became so crowded that there was nowhere to stand. An excellent staff member named Mary Lou came out and kindly asked the men to give their seats to patients or wait in their cars. She spoke warmly and respectfully, and they complied immediately. She handled it perfectly. I was then called for bloodwork and greeted by Jessie, who is always friendly and smiling. Eliza clearly explained the blood draw, told me how many tubes were needed, and asked how I was feeling, which was very reassuring. Although no ultrasound room was available then, she calmly arranged the next steps and helped me relax. Angela drew my blood so gently that I could hardly believe it—it did not hurt at all. She was thoughtful and even asked how my day was going and whether I was ready for the storm. That small gesture meant a great deal. From the front desk, including the soft-spoken woman with long locs who always warmly greets my husband and me, through the ultrasound, I was treated with patience and care. Despite the crowd, I completed everything in only 39 minutes, showing how efficient and coordinated the team was. IVF can be very stressful, but the communication, warmth, and professionalism of Dr. Pena and his team made it much easier. My coordinator, Nicole A., responds to emails outside business hours, and Jessie consistently stays in touch. Thank you, Dr. Pena, Jessie, Mary Lou, Eliza, Angela, and everyone at the RMA Patchogue and Melville offices. You go far beyond your duties, and your kindness truly matters.

Do not go to this clinic. Appointments are nearly impossible to obtain, and the front desk staff are rude and unhelpful. I had to follow up for almost three weeks before they reviewed my report and sent it to my doctor. A clinic should be welcoming and friendly, but this one was awful.

Exactly one year ago, we had our second intrauterine insemination (IUI) with Dr. Deacon, and we now have a 14-and-a-half-week-old baby girl. We are very grateful. Dr. Deacon is thorough, calm, and professional. Before that, I dealt with Dr. Pena, who was very dismissive and cold. His IVF coordinator was the rudest and most unprofessional person I have ever encountered in a professional setting.

Dr. Deacon is not only knowledgeable and professional, but also kind, warm, compassionate, understanding, and has an excellent bedside manner—qualities I find many doctors lack today. She is the ideal doctor! She explained everything thoroughly and answered every question we asked, making us feel very comfortable. We are excited to begin our fertility journey with her and the rest of the RMA staff, who have also been wonderful, from billing and the front desk to scheduling. The entire experience was excellent. I highly recommend them!

Dr. Dickson is wonderful and the first truly caring doctor I have met who genuinely cared about our fertility success. Highly recommended; her staff is very kind and professional. Update: After 4 IUIs, I finally conceived my baby girl. She is now two months old, and I will always be grateful that I found Dr. Deacon!