Dr. Rachel A Mcconnell M.D.

Media Releases

Get to know Reproductive Endocrinologist & Infertility Specialist Dr. Rachel A. McConnell, who serves patients in New York, New York.

A committed reproductive endocrinology & infertility specialist, Dr. McConnell is an attending physician at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center, and serves as an Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Columbia University. She has a special interest in ovulatory disorders, tubal disease, fibroid disorders, male factor problems, ovarian aging, fertility preservation, In Vitro Fertilization and egg donation.

Columbia University Irving Medical Center’s Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology has long been a leader in advancing women’s reproductive health care. They are the birthplace of the Apgar score for assessing newborn health, the first institution in the country to perform an amniocentesis test, and the center that created RhoGAM, which has virtually eradicated Rh-incompatibility reactions that once accounted for hundreds of fetal and neonatal deaths and illnesses each year.

In regards to her educational background, Dr. McConnell received her medical degree from the Louisiana State University Medical School in 1986. After completing her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Tulane University Medical Center, she successfully completed a fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at the University of Southern California, School of Medicine in 1992. 

Subsequently, she served as Chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las Vegas, beginning in 1992. As Division Chief, she was instrumental in the successful development of the University Institute for Fertility, and served as its Medical Director. She joined Columbia University as an Associate Professor in 2012.

An expert in her field, the doctor is board-certified in reproductive endocrinology and infertility & obstetrics and gynecology by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG). The mission of the ABOG is to define specialty standards, certify obstetricians and gynecologists, and facilitate continuous learning to advance knowledge, practice, and professionalism in women’s health.

Reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) is a surgical subspecialty of obstetrics and gynecology that trains physicians in reproductive medicine addressing hormonal functioning as it pertains to the reproduction, as well as the issue of infertility. While most REI specialists primarily focus on the treatment of infertility, reproductive endocrinologists are trained to also evaluate and treat hormonal dysfunctions in females and males after the reproductive years.

Recommended Articles

• What Are The Causes of Miscarriages?

  Spontaneous end of pregnancy before the fetus reaches its 20th week of growth is known as a miscarriage. It is also referred to as spontaneous abortion caused by natural events. Studies show that about 15% of the reported pregnancies lead to miscarriages, and most of them are within the first...

• Does My Heavy Menstruation Mean I Have Fibroids?

  Heavy periods are very common, and for most cases, the real cause is unknown. However, fibroids and endometriosis have proven to be the primary contributors. There are multiple ways to alleviate heavy periods and effectively managing them. Options include surgical operations, IUD, and the use of...

• Braxton-Hicks Contractions

  What are Braxton-Hicks?A woman's body experiences a number of changes during pregnancy. Our bodies are similar to the most sophisticated machines in performing many complicated processes without us knowing. In the later stages of pregnancy, many processes begin to prepare the mother for the upcoming...

• The Difference Between Gastric Bypass Surgery and Gastric Sleeve

  Weight loss surgeries, which are also collectively referred to as bariatric surgery are done when dietary and exercise treatment plans fail to work. More often, patients undergo this kind of surgery if their health is at risk due to their heavy weight. A bariatric operation can be done to obese...

• Are You at Risk for Developing Gestational Diabetes?

  Diabetes is a very complex condition, which may occur at any age, in any point of our lives, even during pregnancy.Gestational diabetes is a disease acquired by pregnant women who have high blood glucose levels during pregnancy. This condition is usually developed around the 24th week of pregnancy,...

• How Sex Ed Can Prevent Genital Herpes

  Genital herpes is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) that affects people as young as 12. It is a common disease that is mostly transmitted through sexual intercourse, although other forms of direct contact can also lead to transmission. Despite genital herpes being common, more than half of...