About Dr. Shelly
Dr. Shelly earned a Bachelor of Science in biology from Pennsylvania State University and then her Medical Doctorate at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at Pennsylvania State University. She then completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Virginia. From there, Dr. Shelly completed a reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco.
Before joining Fertility Specialist Medical Group in 2011, Dr. Shelly worked at Fertility Physicians of Northern California in San Jose and Palo Alto, CA. Dr. Shelly is the surgical director at Fertility Specialist Medical Group’s in-house surgery center, the San Diego Center for Reproductive Surgery. She has also been named as one of San Diego Magazine’s Top Doctors.
Dr. Shelly provides a full range of fertility services to individuals and couples, including low-tech and high-tech treatments, as well as fertility preservation. She has a special interest in providing services to the LGBTQIA community. She enjoys the emotional bonds that form while caring for individuals and couples going through fertility treatments.
Dr. Shelly spent more than a decade learning from textbooks, and while she uses that knowledge daily, she recognizes that no patient fits neatly into a textbook profile. Dr. Shelly works with the patient to tailor her approach and individualizes her care based on that individual person or couple’s needs and goals.
She chose reproductive endocrinology because of the unique, deep relationship it allows her to form with her patients. She approaches caring for patients with openness, acceptance, and trust. Because of the frequency of the visits and emotional nature of fertility treatment, Dr. Shelly believes this allows her to truly take care of and get to know people.
As a mother and member of an all-female physician team at Fertility Specialist Medical Group, she is most proud of her ability to connect and provide comfort to those struggling with infertility. She understands the desire to have a child and the effect this has on a woman’s sense of self, her concept of herself as a woman, how she relates to her partner, and the lengths she will go to achieve this particular dream.
Education & Training
- Bachelor of Science in biology from Pennsylvania State University
- Medical Doctorate at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center at Pennsylvania State University
- Residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Virginia
- Reproductive endocrinology and infertility fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco
Infertility Together
Our philosophy of care
Fertility treatment isn’t about making miracles. It’s about expertise, cutting edge science, perseverance, and hard work. It is also about compassion, understanding, and acceptance. We treat people, not numbers.
A lot of practices aren’t philosophically aligned. FSMG is a whole team of pros behind one philosophy, believing strongly that patients should choose a fertility practice because its philosophy aligns with theirs.
Every FSMG physician practices by this philosophy daily: Infertility Together.
Outside of the office
Dr. Shelly is from the East Coast but fell in love with the West Coast after arriving. She also fell in love with her husband shortly after coming to the West Coast. When not in the office, Dr. Shelly spends most of her time with her two children, whom she says is a testament to the wonders of genetics as they are tall, skinny, blue-eyed blonds while she herself is short, with brown hair and eyes and on the plump side.
Dr. Shelly is a voracious reader, interested in all topics like history, mystery, romance, non-fiction, and memoirs. She is addicted to crossword puzzles. She is also a lover of the arts, despite having no artistic ability whatsoever herself!