It’s no longer a question of if surrogacy agencies need technology—it’s which technology is right and how to use it without losing the human touch.

In this episode of The Future of Surrogacy, host Erin Quick sits down with Jim Vandagrift, COO of Heart to Hands Surrogacy in Oregon, to explore where technology truly belongs in this deeply personal field.

Jim brings a unique dual perspective: he runs operations at one of the country’s most trusted agencies—and co-founded a medical records startup later acquired by Gather, part of the SeedTrust family. From that vantage point, Jim sees both the promise and the pitfalls of technology in surrogacy.

Together, Erin and Jim unpack how technology can amplify empathy, streamline complexity, and bring clarity to 300-step journeys—without ever replacing the human relationships that make surrogacy possible.

Jim’s “magic-wand wish”? One integrated platform that unifies the dozens of disconnected systems agencies rely on—from intake to escrow to medical record management—so professionals can focus less on logistics, and more on lives.

Key Takeaways

• It’s not about more tech—it’s about the right tech. Tools should amplify connection, not replace it.
• Integration is the holy grail. Agencies need one system that unites intake, journey management, escrow, and records.
• Data integrity matters. Protecting sensitive information builds trust at every level.
• Human touch scales trust. Technology should make it easier for agencies to stay connected, not more distant.
• Organic growth still wins. Heart to Hands’ success comes from reputation and empathy—not paid ads or automation.

Episode Chapters

00:00 – Introduction: The Tech-Human Balancing Act
How surrogacy’s future depends on blending empathy with innovation.

05:00 – Meet Jim Vandagrift
His personal connection to surrogacy, and how being married to a four-time surrogate shapes his leadership.

10:00 – Technology’s Role in Surrogacy Today
Where tech helps most: screening, records, communication—and where it falls short.

18:00 – Lessons from Gather
What building and selling a medical-records company taught Jim about data, compliance, and innovation.

27:00 – The Integration Challenge
Why agencies struggle with too many disconnected tools—and how one system could change everything.

35:00 – The Human Element
Stories from Heart to Hands on keeping trust, compassion, and humanity at the center.

44:00 – Looking Ahead
How surrogacy will evolve over the next decade—and what professionals should prepare for now.

50:00 – Magic Wand Question
If Jim could build one tool tomorrow, it would integrate every data point into one intuitive platform.

Guest Spotlight

Jim Vandagrift
Chief Operating Officer, Heart to Hands Surrogacy
[email protected]

Jim blends operational expertise with compassion-driven leadership. As COO of Heart to Hands—founded by his wife, Adrienne Black, a four-time surrogate—he manages complex surrogacy journeys with precision and heart. His background as co-founder of a medical records company (acquired by Gather) gives him rare insight into how technology can transform, and sometimes complicate, deeply human industries.