Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility Fellowship
The three-year fellowship program in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at the University of Pennsylvania is designed for candidates who project for themselves a career in academic Obstetrics and Gynecology.
There is a significant research emphasis and at least 18 months are set
aside for research free of clinical responsibilities. The remainder of
the time is used for training in the clinical discipline of reproductive
endocrinology and infertility, along with clinical research and/or continuation
of bench research as appropriate.
There are two formal fellowship tracks (see
figures below): the physician-scientist track [with at
least 18 months of bench research training – 24 months if the fellow
is selected to be part of the NIH-funded T32 National Training Program
in Reproductive Medicine] and the clinician-investigator track [which
includes formal training in clinical epidemiology and biostatistics
leading to a Master of Science degree in Clinical Epidemiology (MSCE) – this
program is also funded by an NIH T32 training grant in Reproductive
Epidemiology].
Fellows interested to obtain the qualifications necessary for eligibility to become IVF laboratory directors can enroll in the physician-scientist track and start their program with 18 months of gamete research, including specific training in the laboratory procedures utilized in a clinical IVF laboratory such as ICSI, microinjection and assisted hatching. This training component should prepare the fellow adequately for participation in the clinical IVF laboratory activities during the second half of the fellowship.
During the clinical training time there is a heavy practice component with emphasis on the surgical aspects of the discipline, assisted reproductive technologies and office diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. Through the Endocrine Sections of the Departments of Medicine and Pediatrics, supplemental clinical experience is available in adult as well as pediatric endocrinology. This is provided as elective rotations, although fellows are encouraged to participate. The use of the General Clinical Research Center of the Hospital complements the investigative aspects of the program. Supplementing the clinical facilities are the clinical research facilities of the Reproductive Research Unit of the Division and the laboratories of the Center for Research in Reproduction and Women’s Health. These are Departmental research facilities located adjacent to the clinical REI Program, at the Hospital and at the Medical School. In addition, fellows have the opportunity to be exposed to the clinical endocrinology laboratories of the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, the reproductive genetics program of the Department of Ob/Gyn and the male infertility program in the Department of Urology.
Courses: Graduate courses in Statistics and Human Genetics are required. Fellows in the clinician-investigator track who are part of the Penn MSCE program do not take the basic statistics course, but their curriculum includes multiple other biostatistics and quantitative courses designed to prepare them for an investigative career in reproductive medicine. A typical course curriculum for this track is outlined below:
Courses |
EPID 502
|
Fundamentals of Medical Research II: Introduction to Biostatistics |
| This course is a series of lectures designed to provide an overview of the fundamental concepts of biostatistics.
|
EPID 510
|
Introductory Epidemiology |
| This course is a series of lectures and workshops, designed to teach basic principles of epidemiologic research design. The course provides an overview of the types of research questions that can be addressed by epidemiologic methods.
|
EPID 521
|
Statistical Methods for Epidemiologic Research
|
| This seminar focuses on statistical methods for analyzing case-control, cross-sectional, and cohort studies, and clinical trials. |
EPID 532
|
Database Management for Clinical Epidemiology
|
| This course provides students with an introduction to the techniques of database management as they apply to clinical research. |
EPID 542
|
Measurement of Health in Epidemiology
|
| This course is a series of lectures and discussion sessions designed to introduce the student to the concepts of health measurement as applied to epidemiologic studies. |
EPID 550
|
Clinical Economics and Clinical Deicision Making
|
| This course focuses on the application of decision analysis and economic analysis to clinical and policy research. |
EPID 560
|
Issues in Research Protocol Development
|
| This is a seminar that focuses on major issues in research protocol development, including methodological issues regarding different research designs, development of research questions, and plans for analysis. Each student will present his or her research proposal for open discussion during one of the seminar sessions. |
EPID 570
|
Critical Appraisal of the Medical Literature
|
| This seminar focuses on techniques for critical appraisal of the medical literature. |
EPID 610
|
Tutorial in Epidemiologic Research
|
| This is a tutorial given by each student's advisor. Advisor and student meet regularly, usually weekly, throughout the first year of study. Topics include: discussion and review of epidemiologic concepts and principles, guided readings in the epidemiology of a specific health area, and the development of the research protocol. Credit for this course is awarded upon completion of a research project proposal, the one to be used to fulfill the MSCE thesis requirement, which must be approved by the student's advisor. Evaluation is based on the grade received for the proposal. |
EPID 646
|
Reproductive Epidemiology
|
| This is an advanced course that addresses epidemiological research issues as they apply to important clinical topics in obstetrics and gynecology and related clinical disciplines. |
EPID 640
|
Advanced Topics in clinical Epidemiology
|
| This course is designed to introduce students to advanced epidemiologic methods through a series of readings and discussions. |
EPID 634
|
Clinical Trial Outcomes: Measurements, Analysis, and Interpretation
|
| This course is intended to teach students the skills necessary to select and/or design appropriate outcomes for a clinical trial. Participating Faculty |
|
Conferences and Seminars
Throughout the three years of training, fellows are required to attend didactic, research and clinical conferences, which include the ABOG Learning Objectives didactic conference, the Director’s Rounds and Journal Club, the (WWD)2 – Why We Do What We Do - conference, a divisional research conference, Ob/Gyn Grand Rounds and the Reproductive Biology Seminar Series.
Evaluation of Fellows
Given the small number of fellows and close one to one interaction with faculty, performance feedback on clinical matters and on research occurs continuously. However, fellows are also evaluated formally by the faculty through an institutional computerized evaluation system for housestaff that automatically triggers faculty reviews of each trainee every six months.
In summary, the REI fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania provides both broad and in depth opportunities for training in all the clinical, educational and research aspects of the discipline. Fellows continue to take advantage of this rich academic environment and, upon graduation, have excelled in either the clinical or research aspects of the field. Some have achieved both.
Participating Faculty
The core of the fellowship program participating faculty and their primary academic interests are listed below. In addition, their specific roles in the fellowship are described. Collectively, the participating faculty reflect expertise in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Clinical Epidemiology, Reproductive Biology, Genetics, Internal Medicine (andrology and endocrinology), Psychiatry, and Urology.
Participating Faculty |
Christos Coutifaris, MD, PhD
The Nancy and Richard Wolfson Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Chief, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility |
Human embryo implantation, oogenesis and in vitro fertilization;
effects of IVF on epigenetic marks in the human
Fellowship:
Responsible for the overall administration of the program,
oversees the fellows training in ART and is one of the primary
teachers for the didactic sessions through a weekly Director's
Rounds conference. Mentor for research project(s). |
Samantha Butts, MD, MSCE
Assistant Professor of
Obstetrics and Gynecology
BIRCWH Scholar |
Telomere length and telomerase activity of human egg quality and ovarian aging; effects of as markders oxidative stress on the human egg and embryo
Fellowship: Partiipates in the clinical training of fellows in the office and in the operating room. Coordinates the Friday divisional research converences. Serves as advisor for the fellows in MSCE programs. |
Kurt Barnhart, MD, MSCE
Associate Professor of Obstetrics
and Gynecology and Director,
Clinical Research Unit, Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility |
Ectopic pregnancy; contraception; DHEA in gynecology; biochemical predictors of reprodcutive performance
Fellowship: Associate Director of the Division and of the fellowship program. His primary responsibility is in the education of fellows for the conduct of meritorious clinical research. He serves as mentor for fellows' clinical research projects and as an advisor for the MSCE program. |
Clarisa Gracia, MD, MSCE
Assistant Professor of Obstetrics
and Gynecology
WRHR Scholar |
Endocrinology of the perimenopausal transition; mechanism(s) of environmental causes of gonadal toxicity, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy
Fellowship: Participates in the clinical training of fellows in the office and in the operating room. Serves as advisor for the fellows in MSCE program. Fellow project research mentor. |
Samantha M. Pfeifer, MD
Associate Professor of Obstetrics
and Gynecology and Director of
Reproductive Surgery |
Adolescent gynecology; pathophysiology of endometriosis; surgical management of infertility and Mullerian anomalies
Fellowship: Participates in the clinical training of fellows in the office and in the operating room. Mentor for clinical research projects in the Behavior and Reproduction Program. Participates in fellows' didactic conferences. |
Steven Sondheimer, MD
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and
Director of Family Planning |
Physiology of exercise and reproduction; physiologic and behavioral influences on reproduction; premenstrual syndrome; endometriosis
Fellowship: Participates in the clinical training of fellows in the office and in the operating room. Mentor for clinical research projects in the Behavior and Reproduction Program. Participates in fellows' didactic conferences. |
|
Associated Faculty
Associated Faculty |
Marisa Bartolomei, PhD
Professor of Cell and Developmental Biology |
Regulation of expression of imprinted genes
Fellowship: Research mentor |
Deborah A. Driscoll, MD
Professor and Chair of Obstetrics and
Gynecology |
Genetics of PCOS; genetics of congenital heart disease
Fellowship: Genetics education of fellows |
Ellen Freeman, PhD
Research Professor of Obstetrics
and Gynecology and Co-Director,
Mudd Center |
Social and behavioral aspects of human reproduction; PMS; perimenopause
Fellowship: Research mentor |
George Gerton, PhD
Professor of Reproductive
Biology in Obstetrics and Gynecology |
Spermatogenesis: biosynthesis, assembly and structure of cell components
Fellowship: Research mentor |
Susan Mandel, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine and
Director, Medical Endocrinology Fellowship Program |
Thyroid and effects on reproductive function
Fellowship: Education of fellows in adult medical endocrinology |
Richard Schultz, MD
Professor of Biology |
Gene expression during pre-implantation embryo development; effect of ART techniques and culture on mouse embryo development
Fellowship: Research mentor |
Peter J. Snyder, MD
Professor, Department of Medicine and
Director of Andrology,
Division of Endocrinology |
Hormonal control of spermatogenesis; gonadotropin secreting pituitary adenomas; androgen replacement
Fellowship: Education of fellows in adult medical endocrinology and andrology (elective) |
Charles Stanley, MD
Professor of Pediatrics and Director of
Pediatric Endocrinology, Children's
Hospital of Philadelphia |
Fellowship: Coordinates education of fellows in pediatric endocrinology (elective) |
Keith VanArsdalen, MD
Professor of Urology,
Director of Andrology |
Male infertility, surgical treatment of infertile males, impotence, sperm function
Fellowship: Education of fellows in surgical sperm procurement techniques |
Donald Young, MD, PhD
Professor of Pathology and Laboratory
Medicine, Director of Endocrine Laboratories |
Fellowship: Coordinates education of fellows in techniques of the endocrine laboratory (elective) |
|
|
Dr. Christos Coutifaris and REI Fellows
at the 2011 Annual Dinner
|
Current Fellows
- Diana Chavkin, MD
- Lauren Johnson, MD
- Janet McLaren, MD
- Lauren Milman, MD
- Suneeta Senapati, MD
- Emelia Bachman, MD
Number of First Year Position: 2
Application Requirements
Please note that we only accept standardized online applications through the Society for Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (SREI).
Application Deadline is July 1st
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