Reproductive Technology Jobs

New challenges, pioneering research, and the ability to make people's dreams come true. If these sound like great job perks, then a career in assisted reproductive technology (ART) may be the right path for you!

On July 25, 1978, Louise Brown, the first baby conceived by IVF, was born in the UK. Since that time, the field of assisted reproductive technology has grown exponentially. The 2004 Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) Report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) stated that 127,977 ART cycles were carried out in reporting clinics, which led to the birth of 49,458 infants. The number of fertility clinics has also increased dramatically. The CDC report included data from 411 US fertility clinics, while the Family Helper website lists 54 fertility clinics and hospitals in Canada.

Carole Craig is the clinic manager/administrator for IVF Canada, a leading fertility clinic in Toronto. She has worked in the IVF field since 1986, and provided us with an overview of the positions available in ART clinics.

Clinic Manager/Administrator

Job Description:

• Oversee all aspects of the fertility clinic's operations, including patient services, finances, accreditation, marketing, and research.

• Coordinate staff meetings and training.

• May provide patients with information, instructions, and counseling.

• Create and maintain procedural manuals.

• Must have a good understanding of all procedures performed in the clinic.

Educational and work experience requirements: BA or MBA in hospital administration or business management. Must have previous management experience in a healthcare setting.

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Physicians (Reproductive Endocrinologists, Gynecologists, Urologists, Surgeons)

Job Description:

• Diagnose and investigate the cause of infertility.

• Determine the course of treatment and oversee the entire treatment process.

• For patients undergoing IVF, physicians monitor the ovarian follicles by ultrasound, perform egg retrievals, and implant the blastocyst/embryo into the uterus.

• Treat patients for any adverse side effects, such as ovarian hyperstimulation.

• In clinics that are affiliated with a post-secondary teaching institution or hospital, physicians may have the opportunity to teach or conduct research.

Educational and work experience requirements: MD with training and specialty certification in reproductive endocrinology, gynecology, urology, or a related discipline. The majority of Canadian ART clinics are founded and owned by physicians, while some American clinics employ physicians as staff members. Previous training in microsurgery, IVF, ultrasonography, and other techniques used in ART are an asset. Some US clinics require a graduate degree for reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) positions. Certain clinics provide on-the-job training.

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Nurse Supervisor

Job Description: Job duties can vary widely from clinic to clinic. The nurse supervisor's role is determined by the size of the fertility clinic, the types of procedures offered, and the individual clinic's organizational structure. Nurse supervisors:

• Oversee the work of the entire nursing staff, and ensure that all nurses receive appropriate training and certification.

• Educate patients about their treatment processes, and teach patients how to give themselves hormone injections.

• Oversee the operating and recovery rooms, and assist physicians and anesthesiologists during egg retrieval, zygote/embryo implantation, and other surgical procedures.

• Develop policies and procedures, and maintain patient records.

Educational and work experience requirements: Registered nurse (RN) with previous supervisory experience. Experience in obstetrics, acute-care, or ambulatory care is an asset, but usually not necessary.

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Clinic Nurse

Job Description: Job duties vary from clinic to clinic. Clinic nurses:

• Provide day-to-day patient care (e.g., giving daily hormonal injections, assisting with ultrasounds) and patient teaching.

• Assist with surgical procedures and maintain patient records.

• Order medications and supplies.

Educational and work experience requirements: Registered nurse (RN) or licensed practical nurse (LPN) with several years of work experience. Experience in obstetrics, acute care, or ambulatory care is an asset, but usually not necessary.

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Laboratory Director

Job Description: Lab directors must have in-depth knowledge of all laboratory procedures. Lab directors:

• Ensure that the laboratory runs smoothly.

• Assess and refine protocols, and develop research programs.

• Oversee and train laboratory staff.

• Handle quality assurance.

• Evaluate and maintain statistical data on all procedures (e.g., implantation success rates).

• Report regularly to physicians and the clinic manager.

• Order laboratory equipment, reagents, and supplies.

• Stay up-to-date with all new developments in reproductive technology.

• Conduct research, publish findings, and give presentations at conferences and meetings.

Educational and work experience requirements: Master's or PhD degree in the biological sciences. Most laboratory directors have previous research experience with reproductive medicine in animal models.

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Embryologist

Job Description:

• Responsible for laboratory procedures such as embryo and blastocyst culturing, assisted hatching (opening the layer of cells surrounding a fertilized egg to improve the odds of implantation), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (injecting a single sperm into an egg), and the cryopreservation of embryos.

• Conduct quality assurance tests.

Educational and work experience requirements: Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Arts, or other undergraduate degree. Currently there are no IVF training programs in the US or Canada, so embryologists must learn the required techniques at a fertility clinic that offers on-the-job training. IVF Canada's training process for embryologists lasts 18 months. Many clinics will only hire embryologists with several years of prior IVF experience.

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Counselor

Job Description:

• Assist individuals and couples with psychological and emotional issues related to infertility and their treatment process.

Educational and work experience requirements: A counselor may be a psychiatrist, psychotherapist, or other mental health professional. Educational requirements and work experience may vary widely. Previous experience with reproductive issues and couples counseling would be an asset.

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In addition to technical skill and expertise, Craig stated that all employees working in ART need certain qualities to succeed:

• ART is a highly specialized and rapidly changing field. New staff must be committed to an extensive training process. At IVF Canada, the typical training period for new embryologists and nurses is 18 months. Medical staff must keep up with new ART developments around the world.

• Flexibility, maturity, and the ability to handle stressful situations.

• Fertility treatment is often an intensely emotional experience for patients, so all staff need to treat patients with sensitivity and tact.

• The ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Assisted reproductive technology is a field that offers many rewards, such as competitive compensation, constant change, and the joy of helping couples create a family!

Visit the following websites for more information:

• American Society for Reproductive Medicine

• Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART) (US)

• Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (US)

• Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society

Reproductive Technology Jobs

Clinic Manager/Administrator

Physicians (Reproductive Endocrinologists, Gynecologists, Urologists, Surgeons)

Nurse Supervisor

Clinic Nurse

Laboratory Director

Embryologist

Counselor

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Sheng Wang

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