Many of the professors and lecturers at MUL left a permanent imprint in me, inspiring me to become the doctor and scientist I am today.
My name is Andres Reig, and I graduated from the 6-year MD program at MUL in 2012. Born and raised in Valencia, Spain, I moved to Poland to pursue my dream of becoming a doctor in 2006, and the 6 years I spent in Łódź can be best described as interesting, filled with learning and curiosity, and were also very fun! Many of the professors and lecturers at MUL left a permanent imprint in me, inspiring me to become the doctor and scientist I am today.
Earning my MD degree at MUL was an excellent foundation upon which to build my career. I had always wanted to become an obstetrician-gynecologist and, more specifically, my goal had always been to specialize in human reproduction and infertility treatment. After graduation, I moved to the United States to further this objective. I was offered a position as a post-doctoral researcher at Yale University School of Medicine in the department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences in Dr. Hugh Taylor’s laboratory, where I carried out basic science research in mice, involving endometrial stem cells as a potential treatment for ovarian injury resulting from chemotherapy.
After two years in the lab, I joined the Obstetrics and Gynecology residency program at Yale University – Bridgeport Hospital. During my 4-year residency, I served as administrative chief resident and I was happy to pay back what I received as a student at MUL by teaching the medical students of Yale University during their OBGYN rotations. I also continued to advance my research goals, studying the effect of aging on reproduction beyond the impact of embryonic aneuploidy.
Once I had completed my specialty in Obstetrics and Gynecology, I applied for a fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, and was humbled to be accepted at IVIRMA New Jersey, one of the world leaders in fertility treatment and research. While in fellowship, I have had the privilege of helping many patients fulfill their dreams of starting or completing their families, and to be a clinical instructor for the medical students and residents at Sidney Kimmel School of Medicine and Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine. I have also remained involved in research in the field of reproductive medicine, investigating in areas such as reproductive outcomes in patients with diminished ovarian reserve, the impact of pre-implantation genetic testing, and neonatal outcomes after IVF.
During this journey, I have authored several peer-reviewed publications, continued to teach and mentor medical students and residents, served as a reviewer for several journals in the field of reproductive medicine such as Fertility & Sterility, Reproductive Sciences, and the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, and obtained several awards for medical teaching and research, including the 2019 Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology prize paper – not to mention I helped deliver hundreds of babies!
Having now fulfilled my dream of becoming a board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and dedicating my professional life to advancing the field of reproductive medicine, I look back and realize that none of this would have been possible without my time in Łódź. As for all future doctors who will graduate from MUL, I applaud your decision of training here. Keep your goals in sight and strive to be the best you can, but don’t forget to have fun in the process!