The paradox of the Italian clinical embryologist in the national public health system: hints towards harmonization of a postgraduate educational curriculum COMMENT

Clinical embryologists are highly trained laboratory professionals with multiple roles, including laboratory, clinical, biobanking and quality system management. In most European countries, clinical embryologists are trained to work in Medically Assisted Reproduction (MAR) centres without a specifically dedicated educational path. The criteria required for employment vary according to the educational structure and the public or private nature of the centre. We have herein described the educational profile required by Italian clinical embryologists to work in MAR centres of the National Health System (NHS). Public centres currently represent 36% of all the Italian MAR clinics. According to the Italian law, a future clinical embryologist must achieve a 3-4 year unpaid post-graduate specialization in a different field, choosing from Genetics, Microbiology, Clinical Pathology or Nutrition. Accesses to the above-mentioned post-graduate courses are themselves very limited. Clinical embryologists are basically trained by senior colleagues. This situation makes inevitably difficult to recruit laboratory staff in NHS centres. Moreover, it represents an emblematic example of the need for an equal training curriculum, possibly ensuring a comparable education quality, mobility of trainees and dissemination of skills for clinical embryologists all over Europe.

Automated summary

Clinical embryologists play multiple roles in laboratory, clinical, biobanking, and quality system management. In Italy, they are required to complete a 3-4 year post-graduate specialization in fields like Genetics, Microbiology, Clinical Pathology, or Nutrition. Public health centers account for 36% of all Italian MAR clinics, but limited training opportunities make recruitment of laboratory staff challenging.