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Abstract
Clinical Embryologists are responsible for the handling, evaluation, and care of human gametes and preimplantation embryos within the context of an assisted reproductive technology (ART) laboratory. They are integral members of a team of professionals who provide care for fertility patients. Despite the increasing recognition of Clinical Embryologists as professionals, training requirements, continuing professional development, and appropriate credentialing have lagged in many countries. In many cases, individuals enter the profession with training limited to technical aspects provided by individual laboratory directors through an apprenticeship model. In this article, we present the rationale for rigorous formal training in clinical embryology, introduce CanEMB competencies for practicing professional Clinical Embryologists that are founded on CanMEDs role principles, and present a nascent Masters of Health Sciences (MHSc) degree program in Laboratory Medicine with a specialization in clinical embryology. This 2-year program has unique features including a Clinical Embryology Skills Development Lab, a research capstone project, and a 200-hour placement within a practicing ART laboratory. Importantly, this program is delivered through a university-based Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology in partnership with a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. This program thus represents a formal acceptance of clinical embryology as a clinical laboratory science. It can be adopted elsewhere to provide a relevant, robust education that will meet current and future needs of the profession.
Keywords
Abbreviations:
ART (assisted reproductive technology), CFAS (Canadian Fertility and Andrology Society), CESDL (Clinical embryology skills development laboratory), FCE (full course equivalents), IVF (in vitro fertilization), LMP (Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology), MHSc (Masters of Health Science)Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
March 1,
2023
Received in revised form:
February 28,
2023
Received:
December 9,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Accepted ManuscriptFootnotes
HS ([email protected]); TJB ([email protected]); PCB ([email protected]) GSH ([email protected]); DCB ([email protected]); RK ([email protected]); AIG ([email protected])
Identification
Copyright
© 2023 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of American Society for Reproductive Medicine.
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