In this episode, we’re talking to some incredibly passionate people who absolutely love their jobs. Let’s meet the Embryologists and learn about the highs and lows of their work. We’re going to talk to 3 female and one male embryologist. Embryology is a field that is over 75% female. We’re hearing from Alease Daniel, Victoria Wigley, Dani Smale, and Giles Palmer about what makes them happy and sad in their work.
What was discussed:
- Why Alease chose to share her work on social media to dispel the mystery about the lab and the way it can empower patients
- The way Labs can be understaffed and embryologists are undervalued and their opinions aren’t valued.
- Burnout but it’s still a job they don’t want to be worked to death and the human aspect of the embryologist isn’t considered.
- The lack of training in delivering bad news
- When Victoria was working as a lab manager meant she could spend more time with patients. She has not been able to do that previously, so she didn’t have the opportunity to build rapport.
- Victoria’s point of realizing there was a gap in the info from the lab side – eg. lots of questions from patients about add-ons that make patients feel vulnerable.
- The benefit of having someone impartial to go through them to make an informed decision to go back to the clinic and feel more in control.
- How being an embryologist is always a topic of conversation at dinner parties and always fascinates people.
- How you go on the journey with patients so when it doesn’t work or they lose the baby, it’s heartbreaking
- Embryologists are scientists and aren’t trained in the emotional side
- Talks about a study of over 1k embryologists and looking at mental health and presented as a poster at Fertility 2022
- Being an embryologist needs a lot of skills, as there is little automation.
- Need good hand and eye coordination
- Often work alone but often don’t do the whole cycle
- It can be very stressful
- Daily appraisal – why didn’t this person get pregnant
- Time Commitment – every weekend, on a rota, often on call – mission-critical equipment is on alarms
- Job changes all the time
- About 75% are female to male in embryology
- The embryology population is aging out
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