A Christian IVF doctor upended his life and found a new way to practice – Image for illustrative purposes only (Image credits: Unsplash)
Knoxville, Tenn. – Dr. John Gordon spent three decades as a reproductive endocrinologist helping patients overcome infertility. Over time, advances in genetic testing and embryo storage created choices that clashed with his deepening Christian convictions about the sanctity of human life. At 55, he left a comfortable suburban Washington practice and bought a clinic in Tennessee to align his medical work with those beliefs.
Embryo Ethics Spark a Career Shift
Gordon had long viewed his role as one of service. Yet surplus embryos created during standard IVF cycles often remained frozen indefinitely or were discarded, a reality that grew more troubling as preimplantation genetic testing expanded. Couples could now select embryos based on sex or screen for conditions ranging from fatal diseases to milder traits such as hearing loss. The line between medical necessity and elective selection became harder to draw. Gordon concluded that continuing under the old model was no longer sustainable for his conscience. His wife, Allison, reinforced the decision after reflecting on the life their family had built. The couple sold their home and relocated to Knoxville, where Gordon reopened the clinic under the name Rejoice Fertility.
A Clinic Designed Around Fewer Embryos
Rejoice Fertility operates with clear restrictions. It creates only the number of embryos a couple intends to use, avoids genetic testing for selection purposes, and refuses to discard viable ones. Unused embryos are offered for adoption rather than research or disposal. The approach draws patients from across the country who share similar convictions. Some travel hours for care that matches their view of embryos as human life from the start. The clinic’s waiting room features evangelical materials and a cross, while a Bible verse hangs near the recovery area. Staff members are not required to share Gordon’s faith, yet they support the mission of giving every embryo a chance at development.
Patients Weigh Faith Against Fertility Goals
Couples such as Maggie and Cade Lichfield, members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, chose Rejoice after previous transfers failed elsewhere. They appreciate that the clinic does not test or discard embryos, allowing them to view the process as leaving outcomes in divine hands. Domenic and Olivia D’Agostino, who live nearly two hours away, had considered skipping IVF entirely until they learned a non-discard option existed. They now see the clinic’s methods as consistent with their understanding that discarding an embryo carries the same moral weight as ending a pregnancy. Gordon often prays with patients before transfers, emphasizing submission to God’s will.
Personal Conversion Shapes Professional Choices
Gordon grew up in a Jewish family outside Boston and trained at Princeton, Duke, and Stanford. His wife introduced him to Christianity, and a serious illness in their oldest son prompted a conversion experience in the late 1990s. The family joined a conservative Presbyterian congregation, where elders now back the clinic’s direction. Gordon acknowledges the financial and professional risks of starting over. Other Christians and anti-abortion advocates have criticized any form of IVF, while some patients from his previous practice questioned the change. Still, he reports no regret and plans to expand the practice with additional physicians.
Record Birth Highlights Long-Term Storage Realities
Rejoice recently cared for a donated embryo frozen for nearly 31 years, resulting in a birth that set a record for the longest storage period leading to a live delivery. The clinic also launched an embryo adoption program called Rejoice Embryo Rescue to place unused embryos with families who view them as children awaiting a chance at life. One couple from Georgia adopted an 11-year-old frozen embryo they named Gloria. When the transfer did not result in pregnancy, they grieved yet remained grateful that the embryo had been given an opportunity rather than remaining in storage. They have since adopted two more. Four weeks after a recent transfer at the clinic, a North Carolina couple received confirmation of pregnancy. The outcome reinforced Gordon’s conviction that his revised approach allows him to continue the work he loves while remaining at peace with the decisions involved.