MGH Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility Fellowship Program

Overview

The Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility (REI) Fellowship accepts one fellow every year, for a three-year training period. Training is divided into 12 months of research activities, 6 months of electives, and 18 months of clinical training Formal didactic sessions include enrollment in courses and attendance at weekly rounds and conferences. The clinical activities take place primarily in Division of Reproductive Medicine and In-Vitro Fertilization in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Massachusetts General Hospital.

The scientific research activities occur within MGH REI division research laboratory affiliates and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

Requirements

All candidates must have completed a four-year obstetrics and gynecology residency accredited by either the ACGME or RCPSC. The REI Fellowship Program is a member of the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and complies with the NRMP guidelines. Applicants must register with the NRMP.

Curriculum

Year 1 Focus: Research

The first year is devoted primarily to research with the faculty of either MGH REI division research laboratory affiliates and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to learn the basic research skills required to address important issues in reproductive biology and reproductive epidemiology.

The first year covers a wide breadth of topics:

• Investigation in MGH REI division research laboratory affiliates and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health covering all facets of reproduction and reproductive endocrinology.
• The utilization of in vitro and in vivo models.
• Practice on a full range of molecular techniques.

Notably, you will be given the opportunity to design, implement and critically review basic research projects with the potential for relevant clinical applications. In addition, graduate-level courses related to basic or clinical research will be completed.

Year 2 Focus: Research and Clinical Practice

During the second year, you will continue research projects initiated in Year 1, but now will focus on clinical activities.

As a second-year fellow, you will learn to evaluate and treat a variety of medical problems including:

• Infertility
• Polycystic ovarian syndrome
• Hirsutism
• Premature ovarian failure
• Endometriosis
• Dysfunctional uterine bleeding
• Issues related to menopause

Fellows participate daily in the Fertility Center, learning the skills of assisted reproduction including:

• Transvaginal ultrasonography
• Gonadotropin management
• Oocyte retrieval Intrauterine insemination
• Embryo transfer
• Office hysteroscopy
• Sonohysterogram

Fellows observe in the embryology laboratory as well, learning gamete biology and handling, including exposure to micromanipulation and attend several weekly clinical conferences.

Year 3 Focus: Surgical Techniques

During the third year, you will continue ongoing basic and clinical research projects, work in the bimonthly-supervised REI continuity clinic and assist with important REI inpatient consults. A major focus of this year is training in surgical techniques critical to the specialty. You will assist with surgical cases several days a week with progressive responsibility and independence.

In addition, rotations of approximately two months duration will be arranged in related fields:

• Pediatric endocrinology
• Medical and neuroendocrinology
• Male infertility
• Menopause
• Genetics

While on each subspecialty rotation, you will participate in relevant conferences, rounds and clinics. The third year also includes directed didactic teaching sessions in endocrine assays and reproductive pathology.

Third-year fellows are expected to assume a leadership role within the program and facilitate communication between the fellows and the rest of the team. Administrative responsibilities include coordinating the call schedule, M&M Grand Rounds and updating the shared fellow's network drive with important dates, call schedules, clinic schedules and any other appropriate educational or clinical items. During candidate interviews, the third-year fellow is responsible for coordinating the presentation, tour and other fellow activities for the day.

Our goal is to evolve the third-year fellow as a junior faculty member of academic practice with progressive responsibility clinically and administratively throughout the three-year fellowship.

Research Experience

Vincent Center for Reproductive Biology

The Vincent Center for Reproductive Medicine (VCRB) is a state-of-the-art research facility that was developed in 1995 to serve as a nucleus of scientific endeavors in the OB/GYN Department. Since its inception, the center has become the cornerstone for research related to reproductive health issues.

There are numerous projects ongoing within the VCRB, and at present, we are most focused on:

• Ovarian and uterine cancer
• Fetal/maternal interactions
• Menopause
• Infertility
• Ovarian cell signaling

Our overall research mission is to overcome infertility, improve healthcare both for non-pregnant and pregnant patients and ease the menopausal transition in patients, with basic, translational and clinical research.

While fellows are encouraged to be involved in multiple projects, you will design your own unique project to generate a publication, which will be defended at the end of your fellowship. Fellows work side by side with visiting scientists, postdoctoral fellows and students who are here to gain further knowledge in basic and clinical sciences related to reproduction. The VCRB provides a unique environment that exposes fellows to an integrated clinical and basic research program in preparation for future academic careers.

Work in the VCRB also includes weekly lectures designed to enhance understanding of molecular biological techniques and their application to clinical practice, along with attendance at weekly laboratory meetings to discuss VCRB projects.

The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health

Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health traces its roots to public health activism at the beginning of the last century, a time of energetic social reform. The Harvard School of Public Health has been successfully researching environmental chemicals and how they relate to reproductive health issues through the EARTH (Environment and Reproductive Health) Study. Our overall research mission is to explore how exposure to environmental chemicals and lifestyle choices (such as diet) affects reproductive health. We are specifically studying how environmental chemicals and diet impact the ability to get pregnant.]

Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories

The Pepin Laboratory housed within the Department of Surgery explores the basic biology of how hormones regulate female reproductive development with the goal of translating curiosity-driven research to the clinic to benefit women’s health.

How to Apply

Applications are accepted through Electronic Residency Application Service® (ERAS), an online application service. In addition, we require submission of CREOG scores directly to Jessica RoySmith: jroysmith@mgh.harvard.edu.

Please note when applying: There are two ACGME-accredited REI fellowship programs affiliated with the Brigham & Women’s Hospital/Massachusetts General Hospital Integrated Residency Program.

Our program (ACGME #2352422002) is located exclusively at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) site with Mass General teaching faculty.

Fellowships and Faculty Contacts

Fellowship Director:

Irene Souter, MD, Fellowship Director and Director of the MGH Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis Program, provides mentoring and support of our fellows through their clinical and research training. Her success in developing the MGH PGD program, her experience as an Associate Fellowship Director and her proven ability to collaborate with her colleagues across the institution provides necessary support of the fellowship program. Her clinical and research interests are in the effects of diet and environmental chemicals on reproductive outcomes, in PGD and in ovulation induction outcomes and in time-lapse technology.

Faculty:

Mark Hornstein, M.D, Division Chief, MGB Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility; Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Biology, Harvard Medical School provides mentoring support and guidance to our fellows through his extensive leadership experience and prolific research and clinical expertise. His clinical and research interests include medical treatment of endometriosis, the influence of economic conditions on assisted reproductive outcomes, and the predictors of ART success.

Jan Shifren, MD, Director, Vincent Menopause Program is a recognized authority in menopause. She provides the fellows with clinical research expertise as well as being an experienced mentor to the fellowship. She supervises the fellows’ participation in the REI resident clinic. Her clinical and research interests are in endocrinology of menopause including the effects of estrogens, androgens, and selective estrogen receptor modulators on cognitive function, bone remodeling, menopausal symptoms, and sexual function.

Charles Bormann, PhD, Director, MGH Fertility Center Laboratories is a skilled embryologist with special expertise in micromanipulation. He provides our fellows with cutting edge technology in the field of embryology and assisted reproductive technology. He provides training to our fellows in all laboratory aspects of ART.

Shruthi Mahalingaiah, M.D., Assistant Professor of Environment, Reproductive, and Women's Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health is a skilled physician with a clinical focus on ovulation disorders. Her research focuses on the links between environmental and modifiable risk factors on human reproduction and gynecological diseases, including the creation of the Ovulation and Menstruation Health (OM) Study and as a principal investigator of the Apple Women’s Health Study.

Russ Hauser M.D., M.P.H., Sc.D. Frederick Lee Hisaw Professor of Reproductive Physiology, Professor of Environmental and Occupational Epidemiology Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Biology at Harvard Medical School is a skilled physician and scientist with research interests in the effects of environmental exposures on fertility and pregnancy outcomes, with a specific interest in exposure to chemicals that are endocrine disruptors.

Mitch Rein, M.D. is an experienced mentor to the fellowship with a focus on quality improvement, physician leadership, and community medicine. His many leadership and teaching interests include improving community-based health care, promoting physician wellness, and advocating for progressive administrative and patient care policies.

Irene Dimitriadis, M.D., Director, Third Party Reproduction, MGH Fertility Clinic; Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical School is skilled clinician and dedicated scientist, researcher, and educator with clinical expertise in infertility, recurrent pregnancy loss, congenital uterine anomalies, polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), fibroids, uterine polyps, endometriosis, premature ovarian insufficiency, fertility preservation, preimplantation genetic testing, and third-party reproduction. She is extensively involved in assisted reproductive technologies, including ovulation induction and IVF. Her research interests include the implementation of machine learning to improve ART outcomes.

Victoria Fitz, M.D, M.S., Clinical Instructor, Harvard Medical School is a dedicated clinician, surgeon, and researcher. She conducts research in conjunction with the Clinical Expertise and Innovation track with a focus on premature ovarian failure and menopause, as well as fertility and quality of life outcomes after cancer treatment in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Her clinical interests include oncofertility and reproductive surgery, and she is contributing member of the Society of Reproductive Surgeons Surgical Track.

Evelyn Minis, M.D. is the most recent graduate of the MGH REI Fellowship and will be joining as faculty in October 2025. Her practice will include taking care of patients with infertility and performing complex reproductive surgery. She is excited to teach residents and fellows, and transition to the role of mentor. She will continue to collaborate with the Pepin lab on translational research.

David Pepin, PhD, Associate Professor of Surgery, Associate Director, Pediatric Surgical Research Laboratories directs a laboratory focused on investigating the role of AMH in women’s health. He carries out both basic research programs aimed at understanding the role of AMH in ovarian development and translational studies aimed at developing treatments that target AMH (biologics, antibodies, small molecules, gene therapy) for applications in contraception, ovarian stimulation, oncoferility, and ovarian aging. He supervises the REI fellows’ participation in wet laboratory research.

Frances High, M.D., PhD, Medical Geneticist has clinical expertise in reproductive genetics and general medical genetics, and research interests in birth defects and rare diseases. Fellows will learn the basics of genetic diagnosis, genetic test interpretation, and counseling and management for genetic disorders through patient-centered discussions, didactics, and the chance to participate in her general genetics clinic.

Daniel Pelzman, M.D is a fellowship-trained urologist specializing in male infertility and andrology His practice focuses on the medical and surgical treatment of infertility, sexual dysfunction, and general urologic conditions. He is experienced in microsurgical approaches to vasectomy reversal and varicocele repair.