Brittany Izrailov

At Cofertility, our team makes all the difference in how we support our members. Each month, we introduce you to one of the dedicated people working behind the scenes to make your experience better.

This month, we're sitting down with Erin Graham, one of our Member Advocates. Erin brings a rare combination of personal and professional experience to her role. As a three-time gestational carrier, she understands firsthand the emotional and practical aspects of fertility care. Her background includes working at an online fertility marketplace where she matched patients with providers, and at a surrogacy and egg donation agency where she coordinated family-building journeys. With a Bachelor of Science in Social Work and certification as a lactation counselor through the ALPP, Erin combines professional training with lived experience to support our members.

Let's get to know Erin better through some questions about her role, her unique perspective, and what drives her work:

Q: What drew you to working at Cofertility? 

The first thing that really drew me to Cofertilty is the human-centered approach to building a family with third party reproduction. The journey to parenthood can be full of unexpected twists and turns which can really take its toll emotionally.  I believe it’s deeply important to meet each individual where they’re at and from my first conversation with the team, I felt a strong sense of alignment on that.

Q: How did your experience as a gestational carrier shape your approach to supporting members? 

The commitment it takes to complete three journeys as a gestational carrier (surrogate) is not for the faint of heart. It is a long road and requires time, dedication, a strong support system, diligent follow-through, and the proper mindset. 

I felt so passionately about helping people build the families they dreamed of, and that was the fuel for all three journeys, which now extends to every member I support. That is what fuels the work I do every day. Additionally, my experience with the surrogacy process helps guide conversations for those intended parents who will need the help of a gestational carrier to bring their baby (or babies!) home.

Q: Can you walk us through what a typical day looks like for you? 

Each day as a Member Advocate is different. I don’t always know exactly what will unfold. But one consistent thing is that it all starts with coffee! That’s my first stop of the day, and I allow it to work its magic while I organize my priorities for the day ahead and create my to-do list. I’m on the East Coast, so the mornings are a little quieter which allows me the time to set myself up for success and start each day organized and refreshed. From there, it’s about balancing meetings, high-priority match-related tasks, and consistently monitoring my messages in case anything urgent comes up. I try to step away for some short breaks to take my dog for a walk which really helps me stay focused and calm even when those unexpected twists and turns come up. I enjoy the flexibility of remote work and don’t feel a need to have a hard stop time, but I do prioritize time with my family in the evenings and on weekends. That said, I don’t have a hard stop to my day and sometimes the work necessitates jumping online on a weekend to help a Split Member with her cycle. I’ve learned how to balance that with time away to keep myself in the right mindset to stay at my best.

Q: What's the most rewarding part of supporting members through their family-building process? 

There is so much about this work that is rewarding. I love receiving updates from intended parents (especially when they share baby photos)! I love when a Split Member feels empowered by the egg freezing process and excited for their future. I love facilitating match meetings and watching the bond and commitment to one another strengthen throughout a match. The way they root for one another and the gratitude they feel toward each other is beautiful. 

Q: Is there a particular member story that has stuck with you? 

Each match leaves a unique fingerprint on my heart. General themes that have stood out to me are the moments that showcase perseverance, resilience and gratitude. Creative ways we’ve collaborated to overcome an unexpected challenge, moments where members express how much our support has meant to them and how it shaped their experience.   

Q: How do you approach supporting members who might be feeling anxious or uncertain? 

This goes back to the first question, where I mentioned the importance of meeting people where they’re at. Anxiety and uncertainty are perfectly normal feelings to have and my role is to provide clarity, information and resources in a compassionate way. I may not have every answer, but what I will do is be straightforward and help them navigate any ambiguity, fears, doubts and questions so that they come away feeling more confident and informed.

Q: What's one thing you wish more people knew about egg donation? 

The time and commitment required to see it through. There is a rigorous screening process to be cleared to donate. Some testing can take weeks to get results, some testing has to be completed on a specific cycle day, and there may be unexpected follow-up testing. The legal phase also requires careful consideration. I also wish there was a greater understanding that it’s not a perfect science. There are biomarkers and studies that can give us an idea of what to expect, but each individual cycle is different, and sometimes results fall outside of what is expected. I think it’s important to be emotionally prepared for the possibility that things may not go as expected. I guess that’s two things! I could fill a book with what I wish people knew and I’m learning more every day. 

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting their family-building process, what would it be? 

Prioritize self-care - whether that means setting boundaries, taking time to focus on a hobby, going to a spa, hiking  - anything that brings balance and helps you focus on your overall well-being. Consider joining a support group (online or in person) to avoid feeling isolated. While every journey is unique, sharing experiences can help manage your expectations. Trust your path, be patient with yourself, and know that you’re not alone in this process.

Q: Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing? 

I love cooking and trying new foods, a good binge-worthy show snuggled up with my dog, and quality time with my family. One of my favorite things we do is each picking out a Lego set and sitting around the table assembling them together.

Q: How do you practice self-care while supporting members through emotional moments? 

This probably sounds simplistic, but quiet time to step away and process. I make time for myself every day to go for a walk with my dog. I find it really helpful to have those quiet moments to evaluate my state of mind and examine anything that feels off so I can re-frame it. The act of walking and the fresh air and natural light seem to help that process for me.

Q: What's one of your proudest moments as a Member Advocate? 

Moments where members have expressed that I’ve made them feel heard, validated, and supported. There is so much that is out of our control which can create worry, stress, and frustration. Any time I’m able to ease or prevent that feels like a win. Sometimes it’s navigating a really tricky timeline, lending an ear when life necessitates a last-minute change in plans, or facilitating a change in care team to ensure the member feels comfortable with their care team and treatment plan. Whatever the challenge or scenario, everyone deserves to feel heard and have their concerns taken seriously.

At Cofertility, our team makes all the difference in how we support our members. Each month, we'll introduce you to one of the dedicated people working behind the scenes to make your experience better.

This month, we're sitting down with Coco Searcy, our Clinical Operations Manager. With over nine years of experience in fertility care, Coco brings valuable insights from her time at leading New York City fertility clinics. Her work coordinating treatment cycles and helping patients understand their reproductive health options has given her a unique perspective on supporting members through their fertility experiences.

Let's get to know Coco better:

Q: What drew you to working at Cofertility?

I had previously donated my eggs before joining Cofertility, and it was such a special experience. I loved being an egg donor, and it showed me that I wanted to shift gears in my career to help others learn about egg donation and understand what the experience could be like.

I first heard about Cofertility from the amazing and lovely Member Advocate, Rachel, and I felt a strong connection to the Split Program. I loved that it allows our members to freeze their own eggs while helping others grow their families.

I’ve worked with both intended parents who struggled to conceive and young people who wanted to freeze their eggs for their own future fertility. These experiences gave me a firsthand look at the unique challenges each person faces. I also heard many stories of egg donors feeling like just a number rather than a patient at a clinic, which really stuck with me.

I wanted to change that narrative. I wanted to use my knowledge to empower our Split members, helping them navigate the donation and freezing process with confidence and agency over their fertility journey.

Q: Can you walk us through what a typical day looks like for you?

A typical day starts with me snoozing my alarm for no less than 2 times. I’m not the biggest morning person but there are a limited number of things that can get me up early like my Pilates classes and my morning matcha. I’m in my Pilates Princess era so I go 2-3 times a week and it helps me get out of the house in the winter time. Twice a week, I work West Coast hours so I have a little more free time to run errands in the morning and in the Spring, I’ll usually walk through Central Park. Once I’m back home, I’ll hop online to  check my emails and Slack messages to prioritize any immediate follow-ups with Split members or our clinic partners. From there, I’m hopping in and out of meetings, taking calls from Split members who are setting up their cycle or currently in cycle, scheduling outside monitoring appointments, completing Split Program consent calls with new members, and answering any questions from the team about all things IVF and egg freezing.

Every day is different, but the one constant is that I’m always connecting with and supporting our members on their fertility journey.

Q: What's the most rewarding part of supporting members through their family-building process?

The most rewarding part is when a Split member talks to me after their cycle and shares that they learned something new about their body or felt comfortable coming to me with any questions or concerns—even if it’s about a hardship they faced during the process. Just like my teammate Pomi always says—“feedback is a gift.” When a member trusts me enough to share their experiences, whether positive or challenging, it means they feel truly supported and understood.

Building that level of trust and connection allows me to not only help them address any concerns but also empower them to better advocate for themselves throughout their journey. It’s an incredible feeling to know I’ve made a positive impact in their experience.

Q: Is there a particular member story that has stuck with you?

Honestly, so many of our members’ stories stick with me. Everyone’s journey is so personal, and they all have different reasons for wanting to preserve their fertility. What really stands out to me, though, is just how generous and kind our Split members are. Their willingness to help others grow their families while planning for their own future is honestly inspiring. It’s a beautiful reminder of how selfless people can be. I feel lucky to be a small part of their journey, and they inspire me every day.

Q: How do you approach supporting members who might be feeling anxious or uncertain?

I think a lot of anxiety or uncertainty around egg freezing, donation, or anything medical is due to a lack of information. I try to remember that much of the knowledge I have about the egg freezing and fertility process comes from years of working in this field, and many of the members I work with don’t have that background. 

I often ask what their most pressing questions are. If I don't know the answer, I make sure to find the right information or connect them with someone who does. This could mean searching through our learn article database to share relevant resources, encouraging them to join our online community, or reaching out to our medical advisors for expert guidance. By building that foundation of trust and showing them that they can lean on me for support, we can start to ease their anxieties and empower them through the process.

Q: What's one thing you wish more people knew about egg donation?

I wish people knew that they have control over how much or how little they share with the intended parents they match with. Disclosure is truly a spectrum, and there is a right match out there for both Split members and intended parents.

Personally, I’ve loved having a disclosed match because it allowed me to build a meaningful connection with the intended parents. We share a common goal of ensuring their future child has the support and information they need, but we also maintain mutual respect for each other’s boundaries.

Q: If you could give one piece of advice to someone just starting their family-building process, what would it be?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions—no question is too big or too small. You deserve to feel empowered and informed every step of the way. And if you’re someone who feels hesitant to speak up, lean on a trusted friend or family member who can advocate for you.

Q: Outside of work, what do you enjoy doing?

Outside of work, you can find me diving into a new fantasy series, building Legos (shout out to Erin & Emily @Co for our Lego-building Slack channel!), exploring new omakase spots, or spending time with friends.

Q: How do you practice self-care while supporting members through emotional moments?

Supporting members through their emotional journeys can be challenging, so I prioritize my mental well-being to show up as my best self for them. If I’m feeling overwhelmed, I take a quick walk to clear my head or reach out to one of my fellow member advocates for a fresh perspective.

I remind myself that I can’t pour from an empty cup, so taking those moments to recharge helps me continue to provide compassionate support to our members.

Q: What's one of your proudest moments as a Member Advocate?

I had a member recently who was dealing with a lot of personal hardships while trying to schedule her cycle. It was clear that everything was becoming too much for her, so I had an honest conversation where I encouraged her to pause and take a break.

We often focus on moving things along as quickly and smoothly as possible, but in her case, rushing might have caused more harm than good. I encouraged her to consider what she could immediately handle and what was most important for her at that moment, which was being there for herself and her family.

Once we established that, we made a plan to check in a month later to see if the timing would be better suited for her cycle once she had a little breathing room. During our check-in call, she became emotional and told me that my approach made her feel seen. She said that beyond being her Member Advocate, she considered me a friend, which is the highest compliment I could receive from any member.

What made this connection even more special was that we bonded over our shared love of books. We exchanged recommendations and connected on a personal level beyond her cycle planning. It was a reminder that sometimes the best support isn’t just about solving a problem—it’s about showing up as a whole person and meeting someone where they are.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to connect with members not just as an advocate but as a human being who genuinely cares about their well-being. Moments like these remind me why I love what I do.