Dr. Roohi Jeelani has always been clear that her journey as a patient has made her a more capable and compassionate physician. From a young age, Dr. Jeelani spent countless hours in doctor’s offices with her mother as they tried to get a handle on her medical conditions. With each new visit, she drew closer to the career path, but it was when she met with her first reproductive endocrinologist at 14 that she knew exactly what she would do for the rest of her life. She asked the physician, “What do you do?” The doctor replied, “I make babies… I can make a baby in a lab.” That was it. She knew then—and is even more certain now—that supporting and advancing fertility care was the only path for her. Yet this care remains deeply flawed, and she is determined to leave a legacy of making it better.

Read Roohi’s full Pioneer Spotlight here

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The key takeaways from Roohi's spotlight are:

1. Fertility care must become preventative, not reactive. Dr. Jeelani emphasizes educating patients early—both online and through primary care—to counter misinformation and set them up for smoother, more informed IVF journeys.
2. Technology and expanded clinical roles are essential to solving the workforce shortage in REI. Automation, AI-enabled embryo assessment, and trained support clinicians will be critical to increasing access and reducing the manual burden on fertility systems.
3. The best fertility innovations start with real patient pain points. Founders who deeply listen to and validate patient needs—before and after launch—stand the greatest chance of delivering truly transformative solutions.
4. Scaling meaningful change requires aligned capital partners. Dr. Jeelani believes visionary investors who prioritize mission, clinical insight, and long-term impact are key to advancing women’s health and expanding access to fertility care.