Dr. Maya Barsky wants anyone facing challenges starting or growing a family that they are not alone. This Ridgefield mom of two is a Lead Physician at The Center for Reproductive Services (CARS) and now the primary provider at its brand new Danbury office. She is an award-winning researcher, double board-certified in OB/GYN and Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI), an Assistant Professor at the UConn School of Medicine and a proud community member. Ridgefield and Newtown Moms caught up with Dr. Barsky who is thrilled to be opening the new Danbury office where patient support, individual care, and consistency is paramount.
How old are your kids, and how long have you lived in Ridgefield?
My daughter is seven and my son is five. We’ve lived here for two and a half years, and they’re finally in elementary school together, which is really nice.
Of all the places you could choose to live, why Ridgefield?
Ridgefield is really well situated for our life. I grew up in New York, and a lot of my family is in Westchester and New York City. My husband’s family is in Rhode Island. We were looking for a community with charm—somewhere people support each other, with an arts and theater scene—but also with strong resources for children with special needs. We wanted something close to everything, but still quiet. Ridgefield really checked all those boxes.
I also wanted to open a fertility practice in this area, so it worked out that both my professional and personal life aligned after moving from Texas.
The Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, where you are a Fertility Doctor, has some very exciting news for the Ridgefield and Danbury area. What is it?:
We’re opening a new office for a fertility practice that’s part of the Center for Advanced Reproductive Services, which is affiliated with UConn. It’s an incredible, long-standing practice with a great lab and strong success rates, but we haven’t had an office in this area until now.
Being able to serve the Ridgefield and Danbury communities—and nearby towns—and to be available daily is really meaningful. I’ll be the physician in this office, and helping patients on their fertility journey is something I’ve been looking forward to ever since moving here two years ago.
It sounds like you really value the interaction and consistency with your patients. What else do you love about your job?
It’s being part of something so deeply personal and emotional. This is an incredibly rewarding field. There’s nothing quite like helping someone move from uncertainty, to hope, and ultimately—hopefully—to holding a baby.
The field is always evolving, too. The science is constantly advancing, so it really feels like a place where science meets miracles. It’s amazing.
That’s a great phrase—where science meets miracles. What makes your practice unique? What do you say to patients during their first visit?
Of course, we go over their medical history and what brings them in. But the most important thing I want them to understand is that they’re not alone.
Many patients feel isolated when they come in for a fertility evaluation. Even though infertility is common—affecting up to one in six couples—people often feel like they’re the only ones going through it. We work together as a team to navigate their journey and figure out how I can best support them.
For someone just starting to struggle with fertility, what would you want them to know early on?
First, they are not alone. Second, they are not to blame. Many people—especially women—feel responsible, like they did something wrong. That’s not true.
Infertility is a medical condition. It’s not a personal failure, and it’s not due to something they did or didn’t do. There are options, and while the journey can take time, there are paths forward to help them achieve their goals.
It’s just hard to see that when you’re in the middle of it.
When someone comes into the Danbury office, will they see you consistently? What’s the structure like?
That’s actually what makes the Danbury office special. I’ll be the only physician there, so patients will see me throughout their journey.
Of course, it takes a team—they’ll interact with nurses and ultrasonographers—but I will be their primary doctor every step of the way. That consistency is really important. Patients often feel like a number in larger systems, but here there’s a strong emphasis on personalized care.
What else should potential future patients know about your practice?
The personalized approach is key. Most fertility services can be done right in the Danbury office—ultrasounds, bloodwork, semen analysis, and evaluations like HSGs.
The only exception is that we don’t have an embryology lab on-site. So for procedures like egg retrieval or embryo transfer, patients would go to the main office in Farmington. But those visits are relatively infrequent.
Overall, it’s much more convenient than traveling into the city, which can be stressful and time-consuming.
You’ve done a lot of work with PCOS. Can you explain what that is?
PCOS—polycystic ovarian syndrome—affects up to 10% of women and is one of the most common reproductive disorders.
The name is actually misleading. Many people think it means cysts on the ovaries, but it’s really about having many follicles—essentially eggs—that aren’t maturing or ovulating properly.
PCOS can affect fertility, metabolism, cardiovascular health, and mental health. It looks different in every woman, so there’s no one-size-fits-all presentation.
If you weren’t a doctor, what would you be?
That’s a tough question. I’ve been on this path for so long—I entered a combined program from high school—so medicine is all I’ve ever really known.
But I love traveling and meeting new people, so maybe something in that world.
Do you see traits in your children that remind you of yourself?
Yes—and it’s both wonderful and challenging. They ask endless questions, especially at bedtime. Thoughtful, complex questions that just keep going.
I was the same way as a kid, and I love seeing that curiosity—but it definitely makes parenting more interesting!
What’s your greatest indulgence?
Fine dining. I love experiencing a beautifully curated meal—something artistic and unique that I couldn’t create myself—and sharing that with good company.
Any favorite local spots?
Luc’s is wonderful, and I also like Bailey’s Backyard. Corner Cafe is new and really great. I’m still exploring, though.
If you didn’t live in Ridgefield, where would you live?
Somewhere warm, by the ocean. This winter has been tough! We went to Mexico in February, and my kids begged to move there.
But realistically, our family is here, and this is where we belong—even if I dream about the warmth.
Tell me about your background.
I was born in Ukraine, grew up in Israel, and then moved to Brooklyn. I later lived in New York City before leaving for college and beyond.
What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?
I speak Russian, and I grew up with very humble beginnings. It took a lot of grit to get where I am, and that’s something I bring to my work. I won’t give up easily, and I’ll work hard for my patients.
This or That?
Introvert or extrovert?
Extrovert
Candy or popcorn?
Popcorn
Cook in or order in?
Cook in—by my husband
Afraid or embarrassed?
Afraid
Camping or glamping?
Glamping… ideally a hotel
Broadway or TV?
Broadway—because it’s a treat
Text or call?
Call
Beach or mountains?
Beach
