EP44: Alternative Careers in Reproductive Biology: Dr. Eglė Ortega, Senior Embryologist at Fertility Institute of Hawaii

In this episode of The Future Conceived we begin a new series, Alternative Careers in Reproductive Biology, which explores jobs for reproductive biologist outside of academia. Dr. Victor Ruthig from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus interviews Dr. Eglė Ortega about Dr. Ortega’s non-academic career as a reproductive biologist. Dr. Ortega is a Senior Embryologist on the In Vitro Fertilization team in Advanced Reproductive Medicine & Gynecology at the Fertility Institute of Hawaii.

Transcript

Welcome to another episode of The Future Conceived, the official podcast of the society for the Study of Reproduction. This is Victor Ruthig joining you from the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. Today's episode is our first in a new series we're calling Alternative Careers in Reproductive Biology, where we explore careers outside of academia with reproductive biologist in the field. My guest today is Doctor Egle Ortega, a senior embryologist on the in Vitro fertilization team in advanced reproductive medicine and gynecology at the Fertility Institute of Hawaii. All right. Well, welcome, Doctor Ortega, to our inaugural episode of Alternative Careers and Reproduction. We're super excited to have you. Um, and so what I'm really interested in learning about from you is kind of what it's like to be a senior embryologist. And in your case, you're a senior embryologist at the Advanced Reproductive Medicine and Gynecology of Hawaii Center. Um, and so if you could just sort of start off by giving us a sense of what the job is, what what what is the purpose of a senior embryologist? Mhm. So, um, I have I become an embryologist right after I graduated from developmental and Reproductive biology um, program at University of Hawaii. And I stepped in as um as a novice embryologist as a junior, even though I had a doctoral, just acquired a doctoral degree. So and then as a novice, I had a lot to learn and grew in my skill and my understanding and then eventually became a senior embryologist. So my role right now is a senior embryologist is to perform all, um, simple and advanced, uh, art procedures. So procedures of assisted reproductive technology, which include everything from the moment the oocytes enter the lab. So the the medical providers would, you know, they work more directly with the patient. They the patient gets stimulated and then the eggs are retrieved. So once the eggs are retrieved then they enter the lab. And this is where the work of embryologist begins. So the eggs are fertilized and then the eggs are we check fertilization. We document and control their growth. And once they reach the blastocyst stage, then the task is to freeze or to transfer. And so the embryologist also assists with that. And then with the transfer of course, like this is where the job of embryology ends. Okay. So my daily daily work in the IVF lab is basically to oversee everything that's happening with the embryos and gametes as well as quality control, so that that growth and development happens. Um, well, and we have good outcomes for our patients. And kind of adding on to that about your typical day. Is your typical day usually sort of the same activities every day, or is there sort of a longer timeline where each day looks a little different? So yes and no. It's um, there is there is predictability, but there's also things that come up that we don't foresee. And then, you know, we have to like, um, troubleshoot and work on it and, um, kind of adapt. So there's, there's a dynamic element in that too, in terms of predictability. We do know that there are procedures that are coming. And typically our mornings are you know, they begin with um, oocyte retrievals followed by embryo transfers. Then maybe later in the afternoon we have um, Icsi, uh, and then after that maybe some biopsies follow vitrification. So there's predictability in that. But also there is things that um that happened. You know, like, maybe certain incubator needs to be adjusted. So then we respond to that. Maybe there is, um, there's a lot of environmental things that we control on a daily basis. And I think, like, you know, like when I, before I became an embryologist, I think my, my understanding was just solely mostly focused on, you know, like oocytes and embryos. But now I'm aware like that just as much important is actually quality assurance and quality control and all of that. And, you know, like it's just as much part of our job as, as the actual technical, technical, um, assisted reproductive techniques. Yeah. A lot going on. Yeah. Maybe things that are potentially different than what you were doing in, in graduate school. I know you mentioned that you kind of transitioned into senior embryologist or embryologist role generally right out of right out of graduate school. Um, but sort of what led to that? Can you tell me a little more about how you got there? Were there were there things that were really appealing about being an embryologist that, um, that what kind of led you towards that? I think I was always, always interested in reproduction. And, you know, like I've been trying to trace the root of that interest. And I don't know, I just I just find it fascinating. So even my graduate degree, you know, was in reproductive biology with the and I was at that in the lab while we both were that, um, you know, like we studied, you know, like it was with a focus on assisted reproduction. So there was that interest again. And then, you know, like embryology was a it was a natural extension, you know, like of what, um, what my, my graduate work set me up for. So, um. A natural extension, but also very fulfilling extension because this was really, you know, like it brought the science kind of to the bedside and, you know, like it's it's really it's it's really good to feel like part of even though embryologists might not always be visible to the patient, you know, like, we're kind of, like in the background. Some clinics do have their embryologists communicate directly, but not all. And so, you know, it's kind of fulfilling to know that even though maybe they don't see us all the time or as much as and maybe they're not a the patients might not be aware fully how involved we are, but it's just good to know that we're part of their journey. You know they can and that we give these opportunities to the families to grow. I don't know if I just went off track completely, but. No, no, I think that's exactly what I'm looking for. Yeah. Kind of, you know, there were external things that sort of made this a really appealing career trajectory for you. No. It's great. Great. Um, my next question is, what do you like most about being a senior embryologist. Now, um, and maybe if you could kind of contextualize that into the things you really liked about being a novice embryologist versus like, now that you, you've sort of continued to advance along that that track, it already sounds like there's a number of things generally about the work that you're pretty passionate about. Um, so what I like about being senior versus junior embryologist, I think, like the challenges are much different. You know, the thing that, um, as a junior embryologist, it was just about learning, getting really good at the technical aspect of IVF. And I think that I'm still, you know, like even though I'm a senior embryologist, but I am always still working on honing those skills, and I never really settle into the mindset where, okay, I'm done now, I'm good, I'm senior. Like I think like if anything, I learned that it's almost like I have this, I don't know, like this analogy. Like, imagine like I have a black belt in taekwondo, which I don't, but I in my head I have a white belt. So I'm still like learning and I'm always, always, you know, like, I think this this was a big school actually stepping into embryology. You know, they kind of, um, put a cap on the ego and just know that you will always have to get better no matter what. But now, you know, like, um, so again, like jumping like from, from junior into becoming a senior, like, yes, it's fulfilling because I can do much more. I can I can do all of those, you know, like advanced procedures but also involved in like lab management aspect of it, involved in training, junior embryologists and um, you know, they can kind of um, overseeing like on the one hand, like in terms of like lab management aspect overseeing like the process as a whole, you know, they're getting a little bit picture of how the clinic operates, how the lab operates. You know, like there's many there are many more components than, you know, like just a hood or or or an incubator. Like there's some like air filtration systems that are generators. There's like, you know, like a whole different bigger like there's there's a lot of elements to think about. And it's a new challenge and it's a new learning opportunity. And I think I'm really enjoying that additional challenge. I guess that's that's new that I didn't see, you know, like, um, that was not such an immediate concern of mine before as a junior. Um, and then training, I've always enjoyed teaching and I think it's, it's, um, it's really good to see eager, aspiring embryologists wanting to grow and, you know, like, I see myself in that and I'm, you know, like, I'm glad to give back. Okay. So a lot of joy from getting new challenges and new kind of having to learn new things while also reaching, reaching back and teaching people who are learning the things and facing the challenges you were doing previously, and that now you're more of an expert in. Yeah, I think that's a good way to put it. Oh, cool. Um, for, uh, you know, aspiring reproductive biologist or or or trainees who are interested in becoming an embryologist or aspiring to become a senior embryologist. Um, curious if you have any sort of recommendations or advice? I think also something that you've done specifically is after, you know, leaving formal graduate school and starting your career, you've pursued, um, certificates and added training. And I think a lot of um trainees and graduate school, especially right now, might not be aware or part of something that happens in, in, in some of these alternative careers, for instance, you have a high complexity clinical lab director certificate from the American Board of Bio Analysts. And, um, could you sort of put is that something that surprised you when you started? Would you recommend that people start thinking about those sort of things if they're interested in embryology career early on or. Yeah. So I think like, you know, like I knew about these possibilities, like, um, I knew about these steps, like becoming a technical supervisor and embryology or acquiring a high complexity clinical lab director certificate. I knew of these things. And I think it's really important to know these things. It's it's almost like, um, you know, like when you're playing chess, you're typically thinking not just about one step, but you're thinking about like three steps down the road. And this is like where I found myself. So, like, right after getting, um, the PhD I started as a junior. And those certificates, they, they they were they were not the they were always in my trajectory, like I always had them on my mind because I knew that this is what I, where I wanted to grow. But at first it was, um, Uh. Pardon me. The first things first. Let me become an embryologist. Let me just put my head down. It doesn't matter. I have a PhD or Masters or whatever degree I have. I don't have any skill in embryology. Okay. Even after graduate school, maybe you've done some work with mice. That's not a clinical embryology. That's clinical embryology is something entirely different. It's it's not entirely different. Yes. There can be Icsi in a in a research lab and there can be Icsi in a clinical setting, but it's different. It's um, like the impacts of it are different. And so so where I was going with this is um, I think like especially coming after graduate school, you know, like, you may feel like you've done so much work and you just got your PhD and now you're switching, you're coming to embryology. I think, like what I realized, like, I really need to focus on getting that technical skill first, getting really good at something, and that meant maybe like lowering my head down and just really getting good at art of assisted reproductive technology. Okay. It's just like this. This is what I'm going to be doing now. I'm going to get good at that. And so once once you get good at that, then those, um, further certifications they become, they make sense. You know, like so first you know, like the technical supervisor in embryology. So this is a designation and every IVF lab requires to have a technical supervisor on, on board or otherwise available like, like physically or otherwise available for consultation. So that certification, you know, like it does open doors. But you can only get that after you have that experience under your belt and that technical know how and ability to troubleshoot. And similarly like the the high complexity clinical lab director. So this is um, So, uh, every IVF lab that has, uh, andrology and endocrinology component needs to have a clinical, like, high complexity lab director being part of, um, part of the clinic, because that's literally a complex operation that someone needs to be overseeing. All labs, all labs are kind of rated in terms of complexity. There can be moderate complexity, there can be high complexity. And so IVF labs would fall under high complexity. So that that certified uh director has to be part of the team and so does certification. You know, it's it's available for somebody who has, um, medical degree or PhD. And so, you know, like, in a way, this is a, you know, like an, a possibility to become a lab director, you know, like for for folks who are PhD graduates and so but that again, like I think it's important to understand that this position comes with a lot of responsibility and requires a lot of knowledge. So naturally, you know, like there is the training component that is needed. So, you know, it's not just a title, but there is merit to that title. And so, you know, like where I found myself like I did acquire, I took the examination, I qualified for it, and I took examination and I, I passed it and, you know, like after that, like I took some time off, like I was a little bit humbled by it. I was like, how did how did I pass it, you know, congratulations. But also at the same time, like, I there's a lot more that I need to learn. And, um, and, and also my baby was born in that year, so I took a little bit of time off in actually pursuing that path further. Um, because there is so much to learn and because it comes with such a, such a big responsibility. So that was my experience. So right now, like I am an aspiring lab director and things will happen in time. But I think like something that I learned in embryology that there's, um, you and maybe this is just my personal experience, but it's that that, you know, like, people need to give themselves time to really grow into their roles and responsibilities. And some of these things, they they should not be rushed. You know, like it's because we do have that responsibility to the process, to our patient, to these families. So I think that, um, that that's what I believe in. And that also sounds like it's really going back to your idea of focusing down and working on where you are currently, but also still thinking, you know, three, five steps ahead like a chess game. Cool. Yeah. Cool. Well, I think this is really great. Thank you. Um, I think we're going to have some trainees that are very interested and inspired about embryology. Um, you sort of alluded that we were in the same lab for graduate school, and so we've also been SSR members for a while. As a bonus question, um, do you have any favorite SSR memories or favorite, um, favorite conferences or anything you want to also share? Yeah. So my favorite SSR conference that I attended was in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Um, I think it's like twenty thirteen or or. Yeah, actually, what year was that? I think somewhere around there. Yeah. So I graduated in twenty eighteen. So maybe that was twenty fifteen. Yeah, that was a great conference I think like I as a trainee, like it was amazing to see the research, to be part of it, to present, you know, like I think it's a great conference in terms of like how how complex and how many different aspects of reproductive research were actually touched. So I really enjoyed that and I missed that component. I think, you know, like there is like I'm I'm very interested and glad, you know, like, um, that I have much more exposure to clinical aspects of it. But just like, you know, like maybe seeing more of basic research and how. Like those mechanistic studies, you know, like that were so, so well presented in that, that symposium. Like, I could go there are some favorites of mine that but but I think I'm going to just for the consideration of time like not mention them I just missed missed that um, that dedicated look at the basic research and mechanistic studies. Yeah. And this is in San Juan was really great. All right. Well, thank you again for making time to chat with me and share. Share your alternative career and reproduction with our Our Listener group. I think again, I think there's going to be a lot of people who are suddenly inspired by, oh, this is something that I could do when I'm done graduate school. Yeah. Yeah. So any junior embryologist like I or aspiring, you know, like, you know, like, actually I don't want to I think like, we kind of focus. Junior embryologist. Senior embryologist is an embryology. It's like I'm an embryologist, you know, like the the designation of the level is kind of like secondary. So if you're aspiring to become an embryologist, I think it's a it's a great career path. There's a lot of need for embryologists because IVF is a is a growing field, and there's a lot of couples that are seeking reproductive treatment and increasingly, increasingly more and more. It's a growing field. Um, there is no one straight path of how people get into embryology. So, you know, like, it's, um, There are a few graduate schools that are embryology dedicated. But again, it seems like in my experience, everybody just finds their own path. Uh, seek and seek, you know, like reach out to other embryologists that you see, you see maybe contacts on LinkedIn, don't hesitate because everybody was in the same shoes, you know, like they became an embryologist because they were passionate about this. And then they found their way and they needed support along the way. So I would I would encourage everybody to reach out. Yeah. Wonderful. Wonderful. Thank you so much for for inviting me. Yeah. Yeah. Again, glad to have you. As our inaugural interview, oh, the Future Conceived podcast is sponsored by the Virtual Education Committee of the society for the Study of Reproduction, dedicated to education, highlighting member careers and sharing the latest scientific advancements in reproductive biology. Thank you for listening.