SPOTLIGHT: HEAD OF EMBRYOLOGY


A DAY’S WORK


ALL IN


“Discussing fertility treatments with patients is the most rewarding part of my job”


Marta Jansa Perez is head of embryology at Hammersmith Hospital’s Wolfson Fertility Centre. Established by Professor Lord Robert Winston in 1982, the unit provides one of the largest fertility services in the UK.


MY ALARM GOES OFF…


at 6.30am. I either drive or get the tube from Finchley and I get to work around 8.30am. I’m better in the mornings than the evenings!


I AM RESPONSIBLE FOR… a team that includes clinical scientists, a lab technician and an admin assistant. I lead them in providing fertility treatments at the Trust. I report to Dr Rehan Salim, the head of reproductive medicine, and lead healthcare scientist Emma Walker.


I GOT MY JOB…


in 2012, when the service was privately run. Two years ago the service transitioned fully into the NHS. I previously had a similar role elsewhere but I was attracted to the Wolfson’s dynamic team and larger service and the chance to use new technologies.


18 /Pulse


“We use the latest technology and techniques available to keep our embryos


safe and healthy.” Marta Jansa Perez, head of embryology at Hammersmith Hospital’s Wolfson Fertility Centre


MY TYPICAL DAY…


my role is a mix of management and clinical. I spend time discussing fertility treatments with patients – that’s the most rewarding part of the job. I also lead my team and try to encourage everyone to grow to their full potential.


MY MOST MEMORABLE MOMENT… was obtaining the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority licence to open our unit as a full NHS service. The team worked very hard to set up the lab with all new equipment to ensure we could provide a top service to our NHS patients.


THE HARDEST PART OF MY JOB… is seeing patients suffer emotionally


THE BEST PART OF MY JOB… is giving patients the optimum chance of having a baby by providing the best conditions for embryos to grow. Fertility treatment is still a very young field – only 40 years – so it’s constantly changing. We use the latest technology and techniques available to keep our embryos safe and healthy.


OUTSIDE WORK YOU WILL FIND ME…


spending time with my two boys who were conceived through fertility treatment. I count myself very lucky that I succeeded with treatment. If I feel that it would help them, I sometimes tell patients I know how it feels.


www.imperial.nhs.uk


and struggle financially. We can often provide only one fresh IVF cycle to NHS patients so if the treatment is not successful on the first round, patients have to fund any further rounds privately.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20