Mission
The mission of the PhD program in Reproductive Clinical Science specializing in Embryology and Andrology at EVMS and the Jones Institute for Reproductive Medicine is to provide excellent graduate education in the preparation of individuals who will direct and manage reproductive laboratories and/or conduct independent research.
Goals
The graduates of the PhD in Reproductive Clinical Science Program will:
- Establish a focused knowledge base and competencies using evidence-based practices in the reproductive clinical sciences: gamete biology, reproductive medicine techniques (insemination, fertilization, and transfer), semen analysis, embryo development, and gamete/embryo cryopreservation.
- Command interdisciplinary scientific knowledge and skills including comparative reproductive anatomy and physiology, developmental biology, toxicology and infertility, molecular biology, advanced statistics and experimental design.
- Be able to apply scientific methodology to independently investigate complex research problems that meet the ever-changing demands of assisted reproductive medicine.
- Command interdisciplinary scientific knowledge and skills related to comparative reproductive anatomy and physiology, developmental biology, toxicology and infertility, molecular biology, advanced statistics and experimental design.
- Have gained various competencies for leading an interprofessional clinical team which prepare them for the challenges of directing and managing a laboratory.
Objectives
- Evaluate advances in molecular biology, comparative reproductive anatomy and physiology, developmental biology and laboratory management as they apply to the clinical reproductive sciences.
- Direct and manage all aspect of clinical reproductive sciences laboratories: in vitro fertilization (IVF), andrology, endocrinology and gamete cryobanking laboratories.
- Critically evaluate and interpret the current literature as well as federal regulations.
- Develop and implement laboratory processes and procedures to ensure clinical lab best practices, outcomes and compliance.
- Establish and maintain protocol records and data for practice performance quality control and continuous quality improvement as well as for laboratory inspection and accreditation with state and federal regulatory agencies.
- Design, implement and evaluate laboratory research and practice improvement projects through the development of a dissertation research project.
- Create educational and training procedures for clinical staff, physicians and laboratory technicians regarding current methods of assisted reproductive laboratory technologies.
- As a member of an interprofessional clinical team, evaluate ethical and legal aspects of assisted reproductive technology; design procedures and protocols to address clinic- and patient-related concerns - privacy, safety and proper legal guidelines.
