Practices in In Vitro Fertilization

Richard S. Legro, MD

We are honored to have as our guest editor, Dr. Brad Van Voorhis, the Vice Chair of Gynecology and Director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology at the University of Iowa College of Medicine in Iowa City, IA. This issue builds on Dr. Van Voorhis's long-standing interest on what constitutes best practices in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and how we determine them.[1] He has enlisted a stellar cast of experts in the field to cover nearly all aspects of an IVF cycle to ascertain what the best methods are.

Dr. Van Voorhis completed his undergraduate education at Iowa State University and his medical degree at the University of Iowa (thus as a legendary football fan, he is always happy with the outcome of the annual Iowa-Iowa State football game!). He completed his residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Medical College of Virginia (now Virginia Commonwealth University) and his fellowship in Reproductive Endocrinology at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA. He then joined the University of Iowa in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology where he rose through the academic ranks to become a Full Professor with Tenure, Head of the IVF program, and Director of the Reproductive Endocrinology Fellowship Program, among his other responsibilities.

Dr. Van Voorhis has had a storied career, and his many accolades and awards include being elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha, winning a scholarship to study at Oxford University, receiving a named chair at the University (he is the F.K. “Ted” Chapler Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology), and is the recipient of multiple prize paper awards at national meetings. He has been named a Best Doctor and Top Doctor in the United States. Dr. Van Voorhis has published extensively in evaluation and treatment of infertility, with a focus on assisted reproduction, and has also recently explored early embryonic function in several novel studies. He has consistently focused on outcomes that provide safe and effective results for patients with infertility, including being a true advocate for eSET in his program and in the nation. As all who know Dr. Van Voorhis will attest, he is a professional of exceptional integrity and conscience. We thank him for editing this outstanding series of articles outlining best practices in IVF.

• Reference

• 1 Van Voorhis BJ, Thomas M, Surrey ES, Sparks A. What do consistently high-performing in vitro fertilization programs in the U.S. do?. Fertil Steril 2010; 94 (4) 1346-1349