In an industry that sits at the intersection of hope, heartbreak, and science, the stakes are always high. For Derek Larkin, CEO of The Fertility Partners (TFP), the clearest path to sustainable growth and innovation is paved with something both profoundly simple and deeply challenging: "People first."
With 14 fertility clinics across North America, including the U.S.-based Illume Fertility in Connecticut, Derek is no stranger to complexity. But whether he's navigating cross-border operations, building senior leadership teams, or meeting with an understandably distraught patient, his approach is the same: empathy, authenticity, and a steady hand.
Empathy is Strategy
"People First is about establishing a culture where you prioritize the needs of others; employees, patients, anyone you work with. It's about mutual respect and psychological safety."
That means creating a workplace where staff feel comfortable sharing ideas, owning their mistakes, and being themselves. It's a cultural value that Derek sees as central to innovation and momentum. "If you're moving in the wrong direction but you have alignment and trust, you can pivot. But if you're not moving at all? You're dead in the water."
“There's a cost to always putting people first. But when you do that, you always end up on the right side of history.”
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Finding His Voice as a Leader
Derek didn't take a traditional path into fertility. He began his career in hematology research at Boston Children's Hospital before a series of unexpected turns, including being let go during a round of research technician layoffs, led him to Serono and then into reproductive health.
"It was kind of a happy accident," he says. "I ended up in the business of fertility, got my JD and MBA, and stayed."
But even with advanced degrees, Derek found that leadership had to be earned in practice. One defining moment came during a complex business issue with little legal precedent. Senior leadership had conflicting views, which became increasingly entrenched.
"Finally, I found my voice as CEO. I listened, considered every perspective, and then said, 'Here is the direction we're going. This is the end of the discussion.' And everyone got on board."
That moment taught him an essential leadership truth: consensus is valuable, but clarity is critical.
Building Teams That Trust and Thrive
Ask Derek about his leadership "secret sauce," and he doesn't talk about hiring algorithms or elaborate org charts. He talks about honesty.
"If I talk about my shortcomings, my teams will feel safe doing the same. That allows us to identify gaps, challenge each other's ideas, and make better decisions."
Trust, he says, is the foundation of high-performing teams. And trust requires culture. A culture where people are curious, where ideas are challenged (not people), and where the default setting is not blame but curiosity: "Let's dig into this. Let's figure out what went wrong and how we can improve."
Innovation at Scale, Care at the Core
Managing a continent-spanning network of clinics is akin to running air traffic control. And Derek knows that scale can easily swamp culture if you're not careful.
To keep innovation thriving without losing the local, human feel of care, he encourages what he calls a "think tank culture." Currently, TFP is piloting a cross-functional AI team that explores how technology can enhance the patient experience and improve clinic efficiency.
"If you align around a vision and create a culture where there are no crazy ideas, where everyone is pulling toward improving access and outcomes, innovation happens."
That North Star? The patient.
Derek also credits his ability to steward this next chapter to the leadership that came before him. “I want to give Dr. Andrew Meikle credit for building such a strong foundation,” he says. “He’s been an incredible partner and leader, and I’m grateful for the trust he’s placed in me to help guide The Fertility Partners through our next phase of growth.”
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Mentors, Music, and Multidimensionality
Derek credits much of his growth to the doctors and mentors who guided him, especially during his time at Boston IVF. One in particular stands out: Dr. Michael Alper.
"He taught me how to lead through tough times and how to be unflappable. That stuck with me."
What might surprise colleagues is Derek's background in music. A piano prodigy who learned to play by ear, he once earned a scholarship to the Manhattan School of Music and dreamed of a career in film scoring. "But I loved science and the arts. I didn't want to be too narrowly focused."
Instead, he pursued a double major in biology and English before moving into law and business—a blend of logic, communication, and creativity that now serves him in every boardroom.
“If you ask, 'How will this impact our patients?' you'll make the right decision every time.”
Rituals to Remain Grounded
Ask Derek what ritual keeps him grounded amid the pressures of leading a multi-clinic network, and he smiles. "I do weekly lunch or date night with my wife. I try to stay present with my kids, play Fortnite with them, and talk about their lives. I watch what I eat. I play pickleball."
He also knows that in leadership, some balls are made of glass, and some are made of plastic. "You get better over time at knowing which plates are wobbling. Which ones need your attention?"
His biggest advice to the next generation of fertility leaders? “If you ask, 'How will this impact our patients?' you'll make the right decision every time."
He adds, "Every interaction matters. The words you use with a patient going through IVF stay with them. And when you improve their experience, they tell their friends, their outcomes improve, your organization grows."
It all comes back to empathy: to be the kind of leader people want to follow.
Improve Patient Experience. Reduce Doctor Burnout.
See Why Other Fertility Doctors Love These CRNAs
Fertility doctors from across the country are getting support from this one anesthesia firm.
Fertility doctors across the US are using Kaleidoscope Anesthesia
Kaleidoscope Anesthesia’s CRNAs are known for clinical excellence, their calm bedside manner, and enhancing patient care experience. .
Avoid burnout by offloading this responsibility to professionals you trust.
Scalable, agile staffing, from daily coverage to full perioperative system design.
200+ seasoned CRNAs. Nationwide reach. Fast onboarding.
We’ll show you how other fertility centers are improving patient experience, reducing doctor and staff burnout, reducing cancelations, and improving workflow.
The advertiser does not have full editorial control over the content of this article. As a brought-to-you-by sponsor of IRH In Scope, the advertiser only has editorial control over what is mentioned about their company. Inside Reproductive Health maintains full editorial independence over the remainder of the article. The views and opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of the Advertiser or of Inside Reproductive Health.
