May 22, 2018
By Jilea Hemmings
I had the pleasure of interviewing Mark Payson, MD at CCRM Northern Virginia. CCRM works with the most knowledgeable and trusted physicians and medical professionals in the industry. CCRM specializes in fertility care and infertility treatments.
What is your “backstory”?
I grew up in small town Maine, started out as an astrophysics major in college, and ended up with a degree in film and literature. I did various crazy things during college including hitchhiking from coast to coast, and working on a fishing boat in the Bering Sea. After college I lived overseas for several years (Italy, Czech Republic) and then went back to school to for pre-med coursework. I joined the Navy and went to medical school, followed by residency, and a fellowship at the NIH. I completed my Navy career as a Navy Commander and director of IVF for the military.
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that happened to you since you began leading your practice?
I have been gratified by the number of former patients of mine who have made the effort to track me down and come back under my care. As for funny stories — I have to maintain patient privacy!
What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?
At CCRM, our single minded devotion to increasing pregnancy rates through developing ever better laboratory techniques and genetic testing, all in the context of a patient focused practice that understands the individual needs and stresses of each of our patients. We match our national leading success rates with respect and care for individual patients.
Are you working on any new or exciting projects now?
I have many ongoing projects include teaching medical students and residents, staff education, and ensuring that quality and success stays high. I am very interested in the new opportunities and ethical issues presented by our ability to diagnose and treat genetic diseases.
What advice would you give to other physicians to help their employees to thrive?
Ensure that they are given the opportunity to give input to patient care decisions, often the non-physician personnel will be aware of issues/circumstances that may not be presented to the doctor. Incorporating the entire staff into the patient experience creates meaning and value for the employees. What we do is a very special job, and should never feel like ordinary employment.
None of us are able to achieve success without some help along the way. Is there a particular person who you are grateful towards who helped get you to where you are?
The support of my family, especially my wife who has put up with the rigors and demands of medical training. And my children who are a constant source of joy, and remind me how important my work is.
How have you used your success to bring goodness to the world?
Having children is one of the most fundamental human needs and drives. Being able to help individuals navigate this process, and help them through the successes and failures is my greatest contribution to “goodness.”
Can you please give us your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”?
Life takes us in many unexpected places, but there is always hope and opportunity, it just often comes where we do not expect it.
Some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? He or she might just see this :-).
In the business world I would love to meet Elon Musk and discuss some of his projects related to Space X and space exploration and colonization. There are many artists I would love to sit down with, but I think a meeting with Tom Waits would be particularly fun.