May 2016

Oncofertility Consortium-Scientific Help Agreement for Research Endeavors (OC-SHAREs) Program

The Oncofertility Consortium (OC) is committed to explore and expand reproductive options for those who face fertility threatening conditions and/or medical treatments.  To this end, the OC has created several resources, available through the OC-Scientific Help Agreement for Research Endeavors or OC-SHAREs program, to help the scientific community carry out basic research in support of this mission.

Currently there are three resources available to OC collaborators through OC-SHAREs: 1) access to the NPC Human Research Tissue Repository, 2) use of the Stadie Riggs Tissue Slicer, and 3) request for Follicle Culture Kits. 

Patient Navigator, Kristin Smith, Delivers Excellent VGR Talk

At today's Virtual Grand Rounds, Oncofertility Patient Navigator, Kristin Smith, delivered an excellent talk about fertility preservation program development. Kristin discussed the role of the patient navaigator and explained how she guides patients through the fertility preservation process. She discussed how she handles referrals, how she processes intake forms, how she bills insurance, and most importantly, how she effectively communicates with patients. She also discussed strategies for implementing a fertility preservation program at other institutions, including what partnerships are needed to ensure a thriving practice. To view this outstanding talk in its entirety, click here.

Chile, the Newest Member of the Latin America Oncofertility Network, Receives Updates on Fertility Preservation Techniques

We are happy to announce more exciting news from the Oncofertility Global Partners Network! Dr. Jhenifer Rodrigues, founder of the Brazilian Oncofertility Consortium, has been working to expand the Latin America Oncofertility Network and will be traveling to Chile to work with Drs. Anibal Scarella and Sebastian Sanmartin, both of Valparaiso University, on developing their own oncofertility program.  Below is some more information from Dr. Anibal Scarella about the goals of their meeting and future directions of their program.

Presentations from the 2015 Conference- Brandon Hayes-Lattin, MD

The final talk at the 2015 Oncofertility Conference was delivered by Dr. Brandon Hayes-Lattin, MD, who is the Medical Director of the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology Program at the Knight Cancer Institute at Oregon Health & Science University. Dr. Hayes-Lattin gave an informative talk on insurance coverage and fertility preservation. Covering the costs of fertility preservation procedures is an extremely important topic and Dr. Hayes-Lattin's talk addresses these issues in his talk.

To watch this outstanding keynote lecture, click here.

This is the final lecture in the 2015 Oncofertility Consortium Conference Series. We hope you enjoyed all of these fantastic talks.

Bioethics Today Series: Ethical concerns raised by "3 person embryos"

Today we continue our series highlighting reproductive medicine blog posts written by Lisa Campo-Engelstein, PhD, from the Alden March Bioethics Institute at Albany Medical College for BIOETHICS TODAY.  Dr. Campo-Engelstein's main research areas include reproductive ethics (particularly contraception, oncofertility, birth, and embry and parthenote research), gender and medicine, cancer ethics, and international bioethics (especially Costa Rica).  

Presentations from the 2015 Conference- Lillian Meacham, MD

Dr. Lillian Meacham, MD, Medical Director, Cancer Survivor Program, The Kathelen V. Amos Children's Chair for Cancer Survivorship, and Pediatric Endocrinologist at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, followed up the female sexuality talk with a talk on male sexuality in childhood cancer survivors. Dr. Meacham shared with the audience what she's learned about sexual health in male pediatric cancer survivors.

Click here to watch her talk at the 2015 Oncofertility Consortium Conference.

In anticipation of next year's conference, we will be featuring one of the 2015 lectures each week. You can receive our blog and other oncofertility updates directly to your inbox by signing up!

Bioethics Today Series: The Need for Patient Navigators for Fertility Preservation

Today we continue our series highlighting reproductive medicine blog posts written by Lisa Campo-Engelstein, PhD, from the Alden March Bioethics Institute at Albany Medical College for BIOETHICS TODAY.  Dr. Campo-Engelstein's main research areas include reproductive ethics (particularly contraception, oncofertility, birth, and embry and parthenote research), gender and medicine, cancer ethics, and international bioethics (especially Costa Rica).