Career Development Workshop

1:00 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.

Welcome and Introduction

Dorothy Sojka, PhD
Loyola University, Chicago, IL, USA

1:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Illuminating Opportunities: Careers in Reproductive Sciences

This session features a diverse panel of professionals who trained as reproductive scientists but ventured beyond traditional academic roles. Panelists will share insights from careers in biotechnology, non-profits, education, scientific publishing, and other innovative pathways, showcasing the vast opportunities available within the field.

Moderators:
Emily Hamburg-Shields, MD, PhD
Case Western Reserve University

Virgina Cheung
University of California, San Diego

Panelists:

• Scott Purcell, PhD, HCLD
  Vice President, Society for Reproductive Biologists and Technologists (SRBT)
  Laboratory Director, Virginia Fertility & IVF

• Jay Chang, MD
  Director of Medical Partnerships, BillionToOne
  Board Certified OB/GYN

• Erin Reinl, PhD
  Instructor, Center for Reproductive Health Sciences
  Program Director, MSRS Program
  Washington University School of Medicine

• Jonathan Cherry
  Senior Director of Research Operations
  March of Dimes

2:45 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Seizing the Moment: Recognizing Opportunities and Transforming Challenges into Milestones

This session will highlight strategies for identifying opportunities even in the face of adversity and leveraging them to achieve meaningful milestones. Through the experiences of our speakers, participants will gain actionable insights on turning obstacles into stepping stones for career advancement and personal growth.

Moderators:
Stella Goulopoulou, PhD
Loma Linda University

Alessandra Ainsworth, MD
Mayo Clinic

Speakers:

• Irene Aninye, PhD
  Chief Science Officer
  Society for Women's Health Research 
   
• Hilary OD Critchley, MD, DSc
  Professor of Reproductive Medicine
  Centre for Reproductive Health
  Institute for Regeneration and Repair
  University of Edinburgh

3:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.

Networking Break

Refreshments and an opportunity to connect with peers and speakers.

3:45 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Beyond Discovery: Using Your Research to Shape a Better World

Moderator:
Kaela Varberg, PhD
Children's Mercy Kansas City

Newborns with PFAS Exposure: A new generation of health effects ahead
Sue Fenton, PhD MS
Director, Center for Human Health and the Environment
Professor, Biological Sciences
RTC, Superfund Research Program on PFAS
NC State University

4:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Closing Remarks

Dorothy Sojka, PhD
Loyola University, USA

Stella Goulopoulou, PhD
Loma Linda University, USA