Embryology

Professionals working within the field of assisted reproductive technology are constantly striving to make the in vitro environment for human embryos as close as possible to the conditions inside the fallopian tubes and the uterus. We achieve this constant environment for embryos in our care by using the most sophisticated media and incubation equipment available.

When embryos are growing inside the uterus they are protected from potentially toxic compounds in the air by the body surrounding them. When an embryo is growing in a culture dish in the laboratory, it does not have the level of protection to external hazards offered by the human body. With this in mind, in 1999, we built The Reproductive Medicine Laboratory here at Oregon Reproductive Medicine with low emission construction materials and installed a large air handling unit to purify the air before it enters the laboratory. We utilized the expertise of engineers who design clean room facilities at Intel. Clean rooms are used by laboratories and manufacturers of products which require an environment free of dust and chemicals.

With all the new ideas and technologies around IVF today we have been able to achieve excellent results in our embryology laboratory.

The Reproductive Medicine Laboratory is accredited by the Joint Commission of Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations and is a member of the Society of Assisted Reproductive Technology.

We are always willing to listen... 

We’d enjoy hearing your feedback about your experience at Oregon Reproductive Medicine. Your opinions are extremely important to us. So no matter what is on your mind, even the negative stuff, we hope you’ll share it with someone on our staff. Feel free to speak to one of our physicians, nurses, laboratory personnel, business office, or front office staff any time. We will be happy to listen. Or you can share your praises or concerns with Neill Fishman, our chief executive officer. Making sure our patients are well taken care of is his top priority.

Should you have concerns about our laboratory that don’t get resolved within our practice you may contact The Joint Commission’s Office of Quality Monitoring to register a complaint about a Joint Commission-accredited health care organization by either calling 1-800-994-6610 or emailing complaint @ jcaho . org.

We feel privileged that we have the opportunity to care for you and we know listening is an important part of that care.  We are always willing and just a phone call away.

Laboratory Director

Alison Coates, BSc, joined Oregon Reproductive Medicine in 1999 and directs the day-to-day operations of the Reproductive Medicine Laboratory. She has many years of experience in the field of clinical embryology and has had hands-on experience with over 6000 In Vitro Fertilization cases. Alison is also highly specialized in micromanipulation techniques such as ICSI. Alison worked at one of the most prestigious in vitro fertilization clinics in Europe at the Hammersmith Hospital, London. In 1991, Alison moved to Leeds in the north of England where she established and directed one of the largest in vitro fertilization laboratories in Great Britain, carrying out over 1500 cycles of in vitro fertilization per year.

Alison was born in Nottingham, England, and received a Bachelor of Science degree in Zoology from Hull University in 1987 where she specialized in reproductive physiology.

Embryologist

Courtney Sheehan, BSc, joined Oregon Reproductive Medicine in May 2007. Courtney grew up in Colorado and received her Bachelor of Science degree in biological sciences from Colorado State University. Following graduation she studied reproductive physiology at the Colorado Center for Reproductive Medicine with some of the leading researchers in the field. Her research focused on improving techniques for the cryopreservation of embryos and oocytes.