Dr. Kim Lenice Thornton, MD

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Get to know Reproductive Endocrinologist Dr. Kim Lenice Thornton, who serves patients throughout the State of Massachusetts. 

Dr. Thornton is a fellowship-trained reproductive endocrinologist specializing in all aspects of fertility care. She is the Clinical Director of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis at Boston IVF, seeing patients at The Framingham Fertility Center, The Waltham Fertility Center, and The Worcester Fertility Center.

“I truly enjoy the ability to make a difference in the lives of people who wish to build a family. While the theme of family building is common among the patients that I see, the journey of an individual or a couple is very different. There is a certain degree of satisfaction knowing that the care that I provide will make a positive impact on the lives of families. I love the impact that I have been able to make in the lives of my patients, helping them achieve their dreams, seeing the children that are conceived, and the joy that patients feel when they are successful” expressed the doctor. 

Among her other appointments, Dr. Thornton is the Division Director of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and an Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School. She is also on staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, MetroWest Medical Center, and Newton-Wellesley Hospital.

Prior to joining Boston IVF, she was an Associate Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Connecticut Health Center.

Academically, Dr. Thornton received her medical degree from Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. She then completed her residency in obstetrics/gynecology at the Wayne State University School of Medicine, and her fellowship in reproductive endocrinology and infertility at Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Having been in practice for nearly four decades, she is double board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology & reproductive endocrinology and infertility by the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ABOG). The ABOG is a non-profit organization that provides board certification for practicing obstetricians and gynecologists in the United States and Canada.

Inspired by her parents, Dr. Thornton was encouraged to work hard and pursue the dreams she had of becoming a physician. “All of the patients I care for present for care with unique stories. That being said, I truly admire those patients who have unwavering resilience and are able to continue with care despite often serious medical conditions, unsuccessful cycles, family tragedies and other life circumstances as they pursue their goal of building a family” she stated. 

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 outside after the reproductive years.

Having served on numerous committees, Dr. Thornton is an active member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, the New England Fertility Society, and the Obstetrical Society of Boston. She has written numerous chapters, articles and abstracts, is a reviewer for Fertility and Sterility, and is a co-investigator in the NIH funded trials of “Conventional Infertility Therapy versus FAST Track to IVF” and “Optimal Infertility Therapy RCT: Women 40 and Older”. She also serves on the Board of the Robert F Kennedy Children’s Action Corps, a leader in child welfare and juvenile justice.

In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, fine dining, traveling, reading, as well as spending time with her daughter and friends. She loves jazz, rhythm, and blues, and is looking forward to traveling someday to South Africa.

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