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Dr. William Freije

Reproductive endocrinologist

Ember Fertility Center medical director, MD, PhD

Dr. William Freije, MD, PhD | Ember Fertility Center | Orange County, CA

Board certifications

  • Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility
  • Obstetrics & Gynecology, diplomate

Fertility specialties

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Doctor in mask with baby and mother

Care philosophy

My first goal is to understand my patients’ background, objective, available resources and timeline. From there, I create a customized plan for each patient. My priority is to treat everyone with respect and compassion. I consider each individual involved in someone’s journey toward parenthood, whether it be an intended parent, partner, egg donor or gestational carrier.

About Dr. William Freije

Dr. William Freije is double board certified in reproductive endocrinology & infertility (REI) and obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN), and also has his Ph.D. in human genetics from UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles. Dr. Freije’s extensive experience extends beyond his patient encounters, serving as an assistant clinical professor at UCLA’s department of obstetrics and gynecology since 2015. He has been involved in teaching and guiding medical students and fellows since 1999, and takes pride in educating the next generation of OB-GYNs in how to deliver excellent women’s healthcare.

Fertility doctor & geneticist

Dr. Freije’s background and doctorate in genetics enables him to personally meet with patients for genetic counseling. He is passionate about epigenetics, studying how behavior and environment impact the presentation of genes.

Reproductive endocrinology background & training

Dr. Freije’s post-secondary education started with a biology degree from Occidental College. He went on to pursue his medical degree from Tufts University in Boston. He completed his OB-GYN internship and residency at the Los Angeles County, University of Southern California Medical Center. Dr. Freije started his reproductive endocrinology fellowship at Johns Hopkins University and later transferred to the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas to complete his REI fellowship.

When pursuing his Ph.D. in human genetics at the David Geffen School of Medicine, he completed his dissertation on gene expression profiling of gliomas: survival, signaling and chromatin correlations.

Over Dr. Freije’s fertility career, he has led many research projects, been published in numerous medical journals, and delivered lectures on infertility, genetics, lab techniques and more.

What fertility patients have to say about Dr. William Freije

Light at the end of the tunnel

“Without Dr. Freije, I don’t know if my husband and I would have been able to conceive! After many years of pain and tears, we see the light at the end of the tunnel! I am happy to announce we are expecting!”

Customized plan

“I was referred to Dr. Freije by my OB and he was AMAZING! My husband and I focused on our careers throughout our 20s and 30s and once we decided to start trying for kids, we realized it was going to be a bigger struggle than expected. Dr. Freije knew exactly what he was doing, and he made a customized plan specific to my husband’s and my needs.”

My life wouldn’t be the same

“I want to thank Dr. Freije for all the time, care and work he put into my case. My husband and I had been trying to have a child for over 3 years. After many failed attempts my friend recommended Dr. Freije. My life wouldn’t be the same if they hadn’t! Thank you!”

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Did you know?

Dr. Freije was born and raised in South Pasadena. As the child of a physician, he grew up seeing his father helping people and saving lives, and knew he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps and become a physician.

Dr. Freije learned Spanish on the job through patient interactions while working in the Los Angeles County, University of Southern California Medical Center. He is now fluent in Spanish and can communicate with patients in either English or Spanish.

Education

Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA

  • AB Biology, 1987

Tufts University, Boston, MA

  • Medical doctorate, 1991

University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles County

  • Obstetrics and gynecology internship and residency, 1991-1995

Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD

  • Reproductive endocrinology & infertility fellowship, 1995

University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, TX

  • Reproductive endocrinology & infertility fellowship, 1996-1999

David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Ph.D. in human genetics, 1999 – 2005

University of California, Los Angeles

  • Scholar, Inter-Departmental Clinical Pharmacology Training Program, 2008-2010

  • Teaching of reproductive endocrinology fellows at UCLA Medical Center, 1999-2019
  • Teaching of medical students, interns and residents at UCLA Medical Center, 1999-2015
  • Group facilitator, Problem Based Learning for third year medical students rotating through obstetrics and gynecology, 2006-2015
    • Subjects: pubertal maturation, androgen excess and hormonal disorders such as hyperprolactinemia
  • Group facilitator, Problem Based Learning for second year medical students. Course: Gastrointestinal, Endocrine & Reproductive Medicine, Fall 2013
  • Supervision of interns and residents in their practice of obstetrics and gynecology at the Venice Family Clinic, 1999-2006
  • Teaching of medical students, interns and residents at the University of Texas, Southwestern Medical Center, 1996-1999

  • Outstanding Freshman Chemistry Student, Occidental College, 1984
  • Phi Beta Kappa, Cum Laude, Occidental College, 1987
  • Mildred Ann Myerson Memorial Scholarship, an award for demonstrating praiseworthy humanitarian qualities and strengths of character, Tufts University, 1991
  • Eli Lilly unrestricted travel award to attend the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, March 1998

  • American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

  • Women’s Health Research Scholar, University of California, Los Angeles. February 2000 to 2005 NIH/NICHHD 5-K12-HD0128 (2000-2005)
  • Scholar in the Inter-Departmental Clinical Pharmacology Training Program at the University of California, Los Angeles. 5T32GM075776:04 (2008-2010)

  • Freije, W.A., Pezzi V., Arici A., Carr B.R., Rainey W.E. Expression of 11 betahydroxylase (CYP11B1) and aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) in the human fetal adrenal. J Soc Gynecol Investig, 1997. 4(6): p. 305-9.
  • Suzuki, T., Sasano, H., Takeyama, J., Kaneko, C., Freije, W. A., Carr, B.R., and Rainey, W.E. Developmental changes in steroidogenic enzymes in human postnatal adrenal cortex: immunohistochemical studies. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf), 2000. 53(6): p. 739-47.
  • Pervin, S., Singh, R., Freije, W.A., and Chaudhuri, G. MKP-1-induced dephosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase is essential for triggering nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer cell lines: implications in breast cancer. Cancer Res, 2003. 63(24): p. 8853-60.
  • Freije W.A., Castro-Vargas F.E., Fang Z., Horvath S., Cloughesy T., Liau L.M., Mischel P.S., Nelson S.F. Gene expression profiling of gliomas strongly predicts survival. Cancer Res, 2004. 64(18): p. 6503-10.
  • Nakano, I., Paucar, A. A., Bajpai, R., Dougherty, J. D., Zewail, A., Kelly, T. K., Kim, K. J., Ou, J., Groszer, M., Imura, T., Freije, W. A., Nelson, S. F., Sofroniew, M. V., Wu, H., Liu, X., Terskikh, A. V., Geschwind, D. H., and Kornblum, H. I. Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase (MELK) regulates multipotent neural progenitor proliferation. J. Cell Biol., 2005. 170: p. 413-427.
  • Tso, C.L., Freije, W.A., Day, A., Chen, Z., Merricman, B., Perlina, A., Lee, Y., Dia E. Q., Yoshimoto, K., Mischel, P., Liau, LM., Cloughesy, T.F., Nelson, S.F. Distinct transcriptional profiles of primary and secondary glioblastoma subgroups, Cancer Res, 2006. 66(1): p.159-67.
  • Nakano, I., Matermnan-Smith, M., Saigusa, K., Paucar, A.A., Horvath, S., Shoemaker, L., Watanabe M., Negro, A., Bajpai, R., Howes, A., Howes, A., Lelievre, V., Waschek, J.A., Lazareff, J.A., Freije, W.A., Liau, L.M., Gilbertson, R.J., Cloughesy, T.F., Geschwind, D.H., Nelson, S.F., Mischel, P.S., Terskikh, A.V., Kornblum, H.I. Maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase is a key regulator of the proliferation of malignant brain tumors including brain tumor stem cells. J Neurosci Res, 2008. 86(1): p. 48-60.
  • Mandal, S., Freije, W.A., Guptan, P. and Banerjee, U. Metabolic control of G1-S transition: cyclin E degradation by p53-induced activation of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. J Cell Biol, 2010. 188(4): p. 473-9. PMCID 2828916
  • Freije, W.A., Mandal, S., Banerjee, U. Expression profiling of attenuated mitochondrial function identifies retrograde signals in Drosophila. G3 (Bethesda), 2012. 2(8): p. 843-51. PMCID 3411240
  • Freije, W.A., Thamotharan, S., Lee, R., Shin, B.C., and Devaskar, S.U. The hepatic transcriptome of young suckling and aging intrauterine growth restricted male rats. J Cell Biochem, 2015. 116(4): p. 566-579. PMCID 4565187
  • Gibson, L. C., Shin, B. C., Dai, Y., Freije, W., Kositamongkol, S., Cho, J., Devaskar, S. U. Early leptin intervention reverses perturbed energy balance regulating hypothalamic neuropeptides in the pre- and postnatal calorie-restricted female rat offspring. J Neurosci Res, 2015. 93(6): p. 902-12. PMCID 4533910
  • Devarajan A., Rajasekaran N.S., Valburg C., Ganapathy E., Bindra S., Freije W.A. Maternal Perinatal Calorie Restriction Temporally Regulates the Hepatic Autophagy and Redox Status in Male Rat. Free Radic Biol Med 2019.130: p.592-600. PMID: 30248445

  • Freije W.A., Pezzi V., Arici A., Carr B.R., and Rainey W.E. 1997 Expression of 11 hydroxylase (CYP11B1) and aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) in the human fetal adrenal. 44th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, San Diego, page 242A.
  • Freije W.A., Zhang Y., Carr B.R., and Rainey W.E. 1998 Expression of P450 oxidoreductase in the human adrenal gland. 45th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Atlanta, page 94A.
  • Freije W.A., Blankenship L., Weaver L.D., Lundquist L., Carr B.R., and Chantilis S.J. 1998 Oocyte donors may undergo controlled ovarian hyperstimulation for up to six cycles with successful pregnancy rates. American Society of Reproductive Medicine, 54th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, page S333.
  • Freije W.A., Carr B.R., Rainey W.E. 1999 Differential regulation of CYP17 and CYP11B1 by Protein Kinase A and Protein Kinase C in human adrenal cells. 46th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Williams S.C., Freije W.A., Lundquist L., Weaver L.D., Blankenship L., Carr B.R., Chantilis S.J. 1999 Oocyte donation: parent’s perspective on the creation of a national registry, parental satisfaction, and child disclosure. American Society of Reproductive Medicine, 55th Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, page S45.
  • Freije W.A., Carr B.R., Rainey W.E. 2001 Protein Kinase C inhibits steroidogenic factor 1 stimulation of CYP17 transcription. 48th Annual Meeting of the Society for Gynecologic Investigation, Toronto, Canada, Abstract #36.
  • Freije W.A., Castro-Vargas F.E., Fang Z., Horvath S., Cloughesy T., Liau L.M., Mischel P.S., Nelson S.F. 2003 Gene expression based classification of malignant gliomas provides more accurate prediction of survival than histologic grading. 53rd Annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Los Angeles, Abstract # 491.
  • Tso C.L., Shai R., Freije W.A., Castro E., Mitsouras K., Chen Z., Merriman B., Liau L., Mischel P., Horvath S., Nelson S. 2003 Identification and pathway mapping of brain tumor progression associated genes. 53rd Annual meeting of the American Society of Human Genetics, Los Angeles, Abstract # 499.
  • Freije W.A., Thamotharan S., Devaskar S.U. Perinatal Calorie Restriction with IUGR Perturbs Hepatic Circadian Cycling in Rat Male Offspring. 2012 Circadian Clocks and Metabolic Disease 2012 UCLA Symposium, Lake Arrowhead, CA.
  • Freije W.A., Thamotharan S., Devaskar S.U. 2012 Calorie Restriction with IUGR Perturbs Hepatic Circadian Cycling in Rat Male Offspring. 2012 Pediatric Academic Societies’ Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, Abstract #: 751752.
  • Devarajan A. and Freije W.A. 2013. Overexpression of RNA binding motif protein 3 alters mitochondrial respiration, superoxide generation, and ATP production. Free Radic Biol Med S45. Abstract #35.
  • Devarajan A., Thamotharan S., Thamotharan S., Valburg C., Devaskar S.U., Freije W.A. 2015 Perinatal Growth Restriction Decreases Hepatic RNA Editing Of Apolipoprotein B In Male Rat Offspring. Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology. Abstract #313.
  • Yalamanchi A., Yalamanchi M., Namakkal-Soorappan R., Irudayam M., Ganapathy E., Freije W.A., Devarajan A. 2019 Intrauterine Growth restriction increases the hepatic expression of ZBTB16 in male rat and its deficiency causes mitochondrial dysfunction and exacerbates Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease/steatohepatitis in an ex vivo model. Journal Free Radical Biology and Medicine Volume 145 Page S84.

  • Exploring cell cycle control using microarray analysis and RNAi in Drosophila S2 cells (Banerjee lab group), May 2006, November 2006
  • Sexually transmitted infections, infertility, and Assisted Reproductive Technology (UCLA undergraduates), April 2007
  • Expression profiling and model building in Drosophila (Banerjee lab group), June 2007
  • Expression profiling of CoVa RNAi, Toll/Dorsal mutants, and human embryonic stem cells (Banerjee lab group), November 2007
  • Research update 2008: Expression profiling of CoVa RNAi, and Toll/Dorsal mutants (Banerjee lab group), April 2008
  • Expression profiling of the lymph gland in dorsal and dorsal/dif mutants (Banerjee lab group), August 2008
  • Brain cancers, fruitflys, and mitochondrion (UCLA Interdepartmental Clinical Pharmacology Training Program), September 2008
  • The genomic implications of intra-uterine growth restriction (UCLA Interdepartmental Clinical Pharmacology Training Program), June 2009
  • The genomic implications of intra-uterine growth restriction (UCLA Interdepartmental Clinical Pharmacology Training Program), February 2010
  • Next generation sequencing (K30 UCLA Graduate Training Program in Translational and Clinical Investigation), November 2009
  • Pharmacologic agents in osteoporosis (UCLA Interdepartmental Clinical Pharmacology Training Program), April 2010
  • Pharmacology of statins (UCLA Interdepartmental Clinical Pharmacology Training Program), July 2010
  • The genomic implications of intra-uterine growth restriction (UCLA Interdepartmental Clinical Pharmacology Training Program), August 2010
  • The genomic and metabolic implications of intra-uterine growth restriction (CLOCK watchers Journal club), April 2012
  • Lipid processing in IUGR and the role of histone demethylases in controlling apolipoprotein b RNA editing (Devaskar Lab update), June 2013
  • Genetics in Reproductive Endocrinology (Reproductive Endocrinology Fellows Conference), July 2012
  • Perinatal calorie restriction with IUGR perturbs early life circadian cycling: The genomic and metabolic implications of intra-uterine growth restriction (UCLA Obstetrics and Gynecology Research Symposium), February 2013
  • Epigenetic disorders (Reproductive Endocrinology Fellows Conference), July 2013
  • Laboratory Techniques (Reproductive Endocrinology Fellows Conference), June 2014
  • Genetics in Reproductive Endocrinology (Reproductive Endocrinology Fellows Conference), August 2014
  • Laboratory Techniques (Reproductive Endocrinology Fellows Conference), September 2014
  • 11/9/2015 Laboratory Techniques (Reproductive Endocrinology Fellows Conference)
  • The Genetics of Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (California State University Northridge), January 2016
  • Laboratory Techniques (Reproductive Endocrinology Fellows Conference), March 2016
  • Laboratory Techniques (Reproductive Endocrinology Fellows Conference), January 2018
  • Laboratory Techniques (Reproductive Endocrinology Fellows Conference), March 2019
  • Third Party Reproduction: Ethical and Regulatory Guidelines (RSMC), February 2019
  • Genetics for Reproductive Endocrinologists (RSMC), December 2019