Hey friends! Let me share a little bit about my journey from Italy to the U.S. and how I became an embryologist. It all kicked off in the spring of 2000 when I first laid eyes on an oocyte during my PhD interview in Rome. I was instantly captivated by these tiny round cells and dedicated the next four years to studying their physiology. But it wasn’t until 2002 that I stumbled upon something even more enchanting: the embryo. Watching embryos develop is truly a magical experience, and I feel incredibly lucky to be part of that process.
My passion for embryos is something I owe a lot to my wonderful wife, Anna. We met at a research conference in northern Italy in 2001, where she was diving into embryogenesis with genetically engineered mice. Back then, we didn’t have fancy microscopes to observe developing embryos, so we spent countless nights together in the lab, watching them grow under the microscope. Anna taught me how to use a micromanipulator, and to this day, I still turn to her for advice, especially when I encounter tricky ICSI techniques. The PhD journey was thrilling—I got to publish some great work—but the highlight was definitely spending six months at Stanford University in California. It’s one of the top labs for studying oocyte maturation and embryo development.
By late 2004, I had completed my PhD and returned to Stanford as a postdoc in the Center for Reproductive Health. Anna was one year behind me in her program, so we decided to wait until the end of 2005 to work together there. My time in the postdoc role was enriching, and I got to collaborate with some brilliant folks, which opened my eyes to the world of human IVF. Our principal investigator moved to UCSF in 2007, and we followed him. By the end of that year, Anna had completed her project and transitioned into a full-time role as an embryologist at UCSF, where she volunteered under Dr. Shehua Shen.
In 2008, I helped set up an IVF lab at CARE Fertility Center in Los Angeles while working part-time on weekends. By 2012, I was named the off-site Laboratory Director there. I also joined Anna in her lab at UCSF, focusing on clinical research projects. Later that year, I saw a chance to move to Orange County, where we ran the laboratory for LIFE IVF Center, specializing in IVF with minimal stimulation. While we enjoyed the experience, Orange County never felt like home, and we missed the Bay Area.
So how did we end up back in San Francisco? Before moving to Orange County, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the team members at a local fertility clinic and stayed in touch. In 2011, I reached out for help in finding an embryologist for my lab. To my surprise, they were also looking for new team members and offered Anna and me the chance to return. Within a week, we were interviewing with their medical team and, a month later, we were back in San Francisco, excited to join the lab.
Now, two years later, I’m still amazed at how much I learn every day at this new place. The combination of professionalism and dedication here is something I couldn’t find anywhere else and I feel grateful to help people on their fertility journeys. If you’re exploring options, check out this guide on budgeting for family planning. Also, if you’re looking for more resources, this site offers great information on home insemination kits.
In summary, my journey from Italy to the U.S. has been filled with remarkable experiences, incredible people, and a deepening love for embryology. I’m thrilled to be where I am today, helping others build their families in the best way possible.