Meet Our Fertility Experts 

Kathleen Yao, DNP, APRN
Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner, NCC Board Certified

Dr. Yao received her Bachelor’s degrees in both biology and nursing from Creighton University, followed by a Master’s Degree as a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner from the College of Nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. She then joined the faculty at the College of Nursing at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where she served as the Continuing Nursing Education nurse planner and clinical instructor in obstetrics and gynecology. During Dr. Yao’s appointment as the nurse planner, she collaborated with numerous medical and professional disciplines to develop and implement continuing education programs for healthcare providers. In 2017, Dr. Yao received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.

She is now one of the Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioners at Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine, focusing on general gynecological care and evaluation of infertile couples, and serving as the patient care coordinator for couples undergoing fertility treatment.

Dr. Yao and her husband, Josh, have two daughters and one son.

Tiffany Vasa, NP 
Women’s Health Care Nurse Practitioner, Board Certified

Tiffany Vasa is a board-certified Women's Health Nurse Practitioner.  She has been with Heartland Center for Reproductive since 2022.  She has an additional 5 years of experience in OBGYN and fertility care.  Tiffany initially got into the fertility industry after experiencing the infertility journey herself.  She started as a registered nurse on a labor & delivery unit for 5 years before obtaining her Master's in Nursing degree in Women's Health from the University of Nebraska Medical Center.  She is a member of the American Society of Reproductive Medicine, Sigma Theta Tau International Honors Society and National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health.   

At the office, she enjoys seeing and interacting with patients, getting to be a part of their personalized fertility journey, and has special interest in the impact infertility has on mental health. 

Outside of work, Tiffany enjoys spending time with her three children, attending sporting events,  traveling, and oil painting.

Barry R. Behr, PhD, HCLD
Director of Laboratories

Professor Behr graduated from University of Nevada-Reno with honors and earned his Ph.D. with emphasis in Reproductive Physiology in 1991, board certified as High Complexity Laboratory Director in 1994, and board certified as Embryology Laboratory Director in 2003.

He is a nationally and internationally renowned clinical and scientific leader in the research and advances of human reproduction. As a world-renown scientist and lecturer, he is highly sought after to chair scientific programs and conferences, is the first non MD President of the Pacific Coast Reproductive Society and has been appointed as program chairman of several professional meetings. Dr. Behr was the former President of the American Association for Bioanalysts for 2015-2016. He is the director of the IVF/ART laboratory at Stanford University and is the Faculty Advisor for the Transgenic, Knockout and Tumor Model Center.

In the 90’s Dr. Behr developed a culture medium for embryo culture to the blastocyst stage, which has improved pregnancy rates, implantation rates and reduced the risks of multiple gestation in IVF. He was also the co-inventor of an embryo selection technology that was featured in Time Magazine's Best of Everything as 8th place in the top 10 Medical Breakthroughs of 2010. Dr. Behr has been widely recognized for his research nationally and internationally. He has published over 200 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.

Contact Us Today to Schedule an Appointment

If you'd like to learn about any of the services offered at the Heartland Center for Reproductive Medicine, PC, or to schedule a consultation with a member of our staff, please do not hesitate to contact us today.