The Jones Institute ( JI ) for Reproductive Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School's Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility ( REI ) Fellowship Program was established in 1982. Many of the successful infertility programs throughout the world are staffed by reproductive endocrinologists trained in our program.

In 1979, Dr. Howard Jones and the late Dr. Georgeanna Jones came to the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Eastern Virginia Medical School to accept the challenge of starting an in vitro fertilization, IVF, program. Their work led to the birth of the first IVF baby in the United States, Elizabeth Carr, on December 28, 1981. That birth, the subsequent pregnancy successes, and research innovations at the Jones Institute, have attracted a legion of bright and talented scientists and physicians to our program.

Program Description

The JI REI fellowship program has a structured, comprehensive, and intensive 3 - year postgraduate training format, covering both the clinical and laboratory aspects of reproductive endocrinology. This program is approved by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Taking advantage of our large clinical and research faculty, this program provides both basic and clinical research experience, as well as intensive training in infertility, assisted reproduction techniques, and the full range of surgical treatment approaches.

These disorders which affect the reproductive tract include operative endoscopy, tubal reconstruction, congenital anomalies of the reproductive tract, and others. The program spans three continuous years, beginning on July 1 of each year. The first year consists of 95% clinical work and 5% lab and clinical investigation. The second year is comprised of 90% basic laboratory techniques, clinical and animal investigation, and 10% clinical reproductive endocrinology. The third year includes 80% clinical and basic research in the fellow's focused area and 20% in the clinic.

The following sections demonstrate the breadth and depth of the clinical and research training resources currently in place.

Current Activities at the Jones Institute:

Reproductive Medicine Division

• Oocyte freezing
• Robotic surgery
• In vitro oocyte maturation
• Blastocyst culture / transfer
• ICSI using frozen eggs
• Preimplantation genetic diagnosis: new diagnostic modalities
• Endometrial receptivity studies
• Sperm function tests
• Sperm apoptosis

Reproductive Science Division

• Sperm function and physiology
• Oocyte freezing and chromosomal analysis
  
• Gene regulation of the endometrium
  
• Biomarkers of embryo developmental potential

Contraceptive Research and Development

• Large - scale research sponsored by the Agency for International Development targeted to develop new contraceptives.
  Note: The fellows have access to a full - time technician who is experienced in many laboratory methods, including molecular techniques as well as standard assay methods ( including RIA ).
• Molecular mechanisms of endometrial bleeding
• Phase l and Phase 2 clinical testing of new spermicides, microbicides, and virucidal compounds
• New treatment modalities for endometriosis and menopause

Educational Objectives

• To provide comprehensive postgraduate training in all clinical aspects of reproductive endocrinology and infertility to make graduates fully competent to practice modern reproductive medicine, particular training in genital tract surgery, assisted reproduction techniques, cost - effective management of routine infertility, and general reproductive endocrinology
  
• To provide training in allied disciplines ( medical and pediatric endocrinology )
• To provide intensive training in research methodologies, including experimental design, epidemiology, statistical evaluation, assay methodology, techniques of molecular biology, and other methods pertinent to research efforts
• To provide training in grant writing and budget development
• To provide training in effective teaching methods

Curriculum

Fellows, residents, and attending physicians participate in these regularly scheduled conferences:

• Reproductive medicine lectures ( by attendings ) - weekly, one hour, Monday noon
• Reproductive medicine case reviews ( by attendings ) - weekly, one hour, Tuesday noon
• IVF case review - twice monthly, one hour, Wednesday noon
• Departmental grand rounds - 3 times a month, 3 hours, Thursday morning
• Reproductive medicine chapter reviews ( by fellows ) - 3 times a month, one hour, Friday noon
• Reproductive Medicine Journal Club ( by fellows ) - once monthly, one hour, Friday noon
• IVF Journal Club - monthly over dinner

Other major activities of fellows particular to their year of training are summarized as follows:

Year 1: Full - time in clinic, seeing patients with attending physicians, doing surgery, assisted reproduction, and management of reproductive endocrine problems. Course work: statistics and physiology

• Several clinical projects undertaken
• SGI conference
  
• Fellows' Conference sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development ( NICHD ) and Ferring Laboratories

Year 2: Full - time in research ( except to cover vacations, etc. )

• Research experience for thesis
• Attendance at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine ( ASRM ) annual meeting and one other scientific meeting

Year 3: Finish research, write and publish thesis. ½ day "continuity clinic" all year

• Day Donor Egg program all year
• Practice in Embryology, Andrology, and Endocrine laboratories ( usually 1 week each )
• ASRM and one other meeting
  
• Pediatric Endocrine and Medical Endocrine clinics ( ½ day each week - 6 months on each clinic )

Contact us:

Interested applicants may contact us at ( 757 ) 446 - 7444.