Meet the team

Dr Joo Thong

Consultant Subspecialist in Reproductive Medicine

Dr Thong has been Consultant in Charge of the Assisted Conception Unit at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for over 11 years and has been active in the field of IVF for nearly 20 years.

Dr Thong has lectured nationally and internationally on IVF and Assisted Reproductive Technology and has also been an inspector for the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA).

Dr Thong has trained subspecialists in Reproductive Medicine over the last 11 years, and is also a referee for Fertility and Contraception journals and for research grants. He has an MD (Doctor of Medicine) from his research work and has published widely in international fertility journals.

He is a fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Health, as well as a member of the British Fertility Society, the American Society for Reproductive Medicine and the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology.

Lead Clinician at IVF Scotland

Dr Maria Queenie Menezes

Consultant Gynaecologist with special interest in IVF

Dr Menezes is an experienced IVF practitioner and has been working in IVF for the last eight years. She is a member of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Endocrinology and also a Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Dr Menezes works as a Consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Borders General Hospital and undertakes regular consultant sessions at IVF Scotland.

To learn more about Dr Menezes, click here to visit her Consultant profile on Spire Shawfair Park Hospital's website.

Dr Faye Rodger

Consultant Gynaecologist with special interest in IVF

Dr Rodger is an experienced consultant in Obstetrics and Gynaecology and has worked in IVF since 2004. She is a registered subspecialist in reproductive medicine and has broad experience of infertility and endocrine problems. 

Dr Rodger's other interests include outpatient gynaecology and medical education. She offers a sympathetic, constructive approach to infertility and gynaecological problems.

To learn more about Dr Rodger, click here to visit her Consultant profile on Spire Shawfair Park Hospital's website.

Dr Nirmala Mary

Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist

Dr Nirmala Mary is an experienced IVF practitioner and had her postgraduate training in Edinburgh.

She is a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and her other main interest is in the field of obstetrics.

Dr M. A. Raja

Consultant Gynaecologist

Dr Raja trained in Obstetrics and Gyanecology in England and Scotland. He is an experienced IVF practitioner and did five years postgraduate training in IVF at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. He has vast experience in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and is a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. He joined the Consultant team at IVF Scotland in 2011.

Dr Mike Steele

Lead Embryologist

Mike has over 12 years experience as a Clinical Embryologist and has previously worked in clinics in Manchester, the Wirral, and Edinburgh. He is a full member of the Association of Clinical Embryologists (ACE), is registered with the Health Professions Council as a Clinical Scientist, and is a Diplomate of the Royal College of Pathologists. He is an experienced ICSI and embryo biopsy practitioner and has also supervised trainees undertaking the ACE Certificate in Clinical Embryology.

Mike also holds a PhD in reproductive biology and has several years experience as a researcher in reproductive biology, cardiac physiology and immunology. His aim for IVF Scotland is to maintain optimal laboratory outcomes via evidence-based practice to give every patient the best opportunity of succeeding in their IVF journey.

Alison Kennedy

Lead IVF Nurse

Alison trained as a Registered General Nurse in Glasgow Royal Infirmary in 1984. An interest in gynaecology and women’s health took Alison to work as a Sister in Community Nursing until 1993. Alison was then offered a position with the Assisted Conception Team in Glasgow, one of the first IVF units in the country. This is where Alison committed and dedicated her work in this specialist field for 18 years using her specialist nursing skills in IVF, ICSI, donor treatments, IUI, ultrasound scanning, counselling and supporting those trying to achieve their dream of having a baby.

We at IVF Scotland are delighted Alison has joined us as the Sister of the unit bringing to us a wealth of skills and knowledge. Alison and her team of specialist nurses will provide you with the excellent care and treatment you deserve and they hope that you will become one of our success stories which will make this state-of-the-art unit one of the most successful units in the Country.

Click here to meet the rest of our IVF Scotland nursing team.

Helen Wilson and Maureen Graham

IVF Scotland Counsellors

Helen Wilson
Helen trained as a general nurse in 1979, and then qualified in 1980 as a psychiatric nurse. She spent many years working in sexual health and then moved on to relationship work. Most of the areas Helen worked in involved working with people in crisis who had to make major and difficult decisions. She progressed on to working with addictions and has worked in both a rehabilitation centre and in the community.

In 2006 Helen completed her training as a person-centred counsellor, receiving a postgraduate diploma from Strathclyde University. She became an accredited member of The British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists in November 2009. Helen has worked in the Erskine Crisis Centre since 2005 working both with couples and with single clients. She also has her own counselling and supervision practice. Helen has worked in IVF Scotland at Spire Shawfair Park Hospital since August 2011.