MADISON, Wis. – The first fellowship program of its kind in Wisconsin is helping improve access to care for reproduction-related conditions and in vitro fertilization, or IVF, treatment at UW Health.
The program is designed to train physicians and help existing providers deliver infertility care and reproductive endocrinology care, which is a medical specialty that focuses on hormonal issues related to reproduction and infertility. Together these are referred to as REI care.
Wisconsin’s first REI fellowship is one of only about 52 in the country according to Dr. Bala Bhagavath, infertility physician, reproductive surgeon and director of the REI program at UW Health.
“This fellowship is crucial to expanding our training opportunities and improving access to fertility care services,” Bhagavath said.
UW Health welcomed the first REI program fellow, Dr. Jayapriya Jayakumaran, late in 2024. She has been working within the REI program providing fertility preservation for patients facing cancer and other health issues, and treating infertility, polycystic ovary syndrome, endometriosis, uterine fibroids and developmental anomalies of the uterus and vagina.
After several months in the role, the experience has been deeply rewarding, Jayakumaran said.
“The fellowship has allowed me to train in a rigorous academic and clinical environment,” she said. “It offers me exposure to diverse cases, cutting-edge research and exceptional mentorship in an environment where I have been treated like family.”
Working with medical students and residents has been especially rewarding, according to Jayakumaran.
“The collaborative environment and unwavering mentorship have been truly transformative, making this experience both enriching and deeply fulfilling,” she said
There is currently a nationwide shortage of trained REI physicians, according to Dr. Ellen Hartenbach, chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, and gynecologic oncologist, UW Health.
“This program is crucial to help develop skilled REI physicians and recruit them to stay within Wisconsin,” Hartenbach said.
The REI Fellowship Program received initial accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education in early 2024.
