American College of Embryology

1. American College of Embryology Orlando, Florida, 2011

2. Role of Embryology Practitioner Not every zygote becomes a human. But every human starts as a zygote. Embryology practitioner is literally standing at the point of human development, where we are setting the template for the entire life. We oversee telomeres resetting, which will determine the life span, methylation, which sets in epigenetic changes that control a host of human conditions, including quite possibly, an elusive autism and cancer. We oversee reparative DNA synthesis in a zygote – which is a template for every cell in the human body. Any errors at this stage will hunt an individual to the rest of his or her life. Today we don’t have the tools to make a directed impact at those levels (even though we are making an impact inadvertently), but there are no questions that it is only matter of time. We are also in a position to eliminate genetic disorders and who knows, perhaps create a kinder kind of people. I am not 100% sure that the later is possible, but if it is, it will be the work of an embryology practitioner.

3. AND! • Vast majority of advances in reproductive medicine are owed to embryology • Our tiny field has a Nobel prize winner

4. Therefore, the public has a huge stake in a strong Reproductive Embryology, which is in a position to compete for the best and brightest to advance our field. Because our field is very small, this means that we on average have to be better educated to move it forward.

5. ACE position on embryology derives from its view of pre-implantation human embryo as neither a human, nor a diagnostic specimen. But as a stage of human development – which has to be treated in a way that recognizes all unique aspects of this period in human life. This includes establishing ethical standards for handling human embryos.

6. We feel that the time has come to recognize embryology as a distinctive and separate field. • We need to distinguish Reproductive Embryologist in its level of knowledge and assure the actionable nature and uniformity of that knowledge. Actionable, I mean reproducible. Our knowledge has to be deep enough to be able to speak for itself, identifying us as specialized professionals. (I am not talking about management skills, but about the knowledge of Reproductive Embryology)

7. Why “Reproductive Embryologist” If there is new field in medicine, it needs a doctor for this field. Therefore, one of our ultimate goals has to create a ‘Doctor of Embryology” Embryologist and Clinical Embryologist have been already overused to identify anyone who works in IVF facility. “Reproductive Embryologist” has not been taken and since “Reproductive Endocrynologist” is always a doctor, we felt that “Reproductive Embryologist” will capture the same cache. N.B! Those participants, who do not have a PhD, please do not throw a cell phone at me, wait for the next slide!

8. Doctor of what? Or Where are we now? Overlapping of standardized portion of education is very small and varies greatly from an individual to individual. We have Continued education but no common specialized education. Therefore today, in the area of specialized, reproductive embryology education, there is no formal difference between individuals with or without Ph.D. Since there is no graduate overlapping in reproductive embryology, it is difficult to discern who has a rightful claim to being a Reproductive Embryologist (even though there are no questions that there are real “Reproductive Embryologists” among us).

9. What about graduate education in embryology? • Since none of the existing courses has been reviewed and accredited by a professional body overseeing the practice of embryology, there is no way of knowing how relevant and actionable is the education that is being provided.

10. Ambiguity of the “Embryologist” • Anybody from any field of biology or related, who walks into IVF laboratory. • Works in clinical setting, yet has no training in medical ethics or bedside manners (except for a handful of MDs embryologists) • We do not speak the same language and have no agreement on definition for things we see every day.

11. (what we have done so far) • Commitment to creating a profession • Came to agreement on what is required • Created the structure • Initiated the delivering high quality post-graduate level education • Increased visibility of an embryology • Patients are looking for ACE certified embryologist when choosing a IVF program • Market and brand embryology practitioner • Taking part in legislative activity

12. What do we need? Unified, vetted by independent experts and approved by American College of Embryology curriculum and syllabus, based on consensus. Accredited internship (residency programs)

13. What is required from you? • Become a member • Volunteer to fill a position in ACE • Use your ACE certification credentials in you signature • Apply for accreditation of your embryology facility

14. Acknowledgement of ACE contributors Peter Nagy, Ashok Agarwal, Doris Baker, Mina Alikani, Karen McDowell, Sarah Coe Atkinson, Jeannine Witmyer, Timothy Smith, Doris Baker, Meredith White, Vy Phan, Marlene Angle, Nanette Elster,  Sarah Coe Atkinson, Klaus Wiemer.D., EMB Wael Abdel Megid, Peter Nagy,  Michael Stahler, Alikani, Mina, Allon, Michael, Ball, David, Cohen, Jacques, De Jonge, Christopher, Gardner, David, Hughes, Mark, Keefe, David, Palermo, Gianpiero, Sakkas, Denny, Scott, Lynette, Silber, Sherman, Tucker, Michael, Van Blerkom, Jonathan, Vernon, Michael, Wiemer, Klaus, Yanagimachi, Ryuzo, Zhang, John, Lynda Huston, Michael Blight, BK, David Heinkel, BK Gangrade, Iqbal Khan, Liesl Nel-Themaat, and many others

15. Survey • I did not take the test because: • Did not see any benefits of doing it • Because I have a PhD and do not think I need any more exams • Was confused by the logic of the examination console