Session 156: Everyware
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Session 156: Everyware
Tuesday June 24th, 3pm EST / 8pm BST/ 9pm CET
Moderators:
Dr. Tricia Adams, Quentin Cantu, Oriol Oliana
Presenters:
Dr. Tex VerMilyea with Jim Graham: Speed of Thought: How Data Can Transform Your Practice
This talk is kindly sponsored by Cercle
Matt Pettit: Mind the Gap: Safeguarding Patients and Staff through Comprehensiveness of Error Prevention
This talk is kindly sponsored by IMT Matcher
Peter Braad Larsen: The New Normal: How Technology is Decentralizing Sperm and Egg Donation
This talk is kindly sponsored by The Donor Network
Q and A
Synopsis
The webinar featured insightful discussions led by moderators Dr. Tricia Adams, Quentin Cantu, and Oriol Oliana. Dr. Tex VerMilyea, joined by Jim Graham, delivered a presentation titled *Speed of Thought: How Data Can Transform Your Practice*, in which they explored how real-time data integration and analytics had the potential to improve clinical decision-making and operational efficiency in fertility practices. Their session, sponsored by Cercle, emphasized the transformative power of data in modern medicine.
Matt Pettit presented *Mind the Gap: Safeguarding Patients and Staff through Comprehensiveness of Error Prevention*, sponsored by IMT Matcher. He addressed the importance of closing systemic gaps in laboratory processes, emphasizing how thorough error prevention strategies had proven essential for ensuring patient safety and maintaining staff confidence.
Peter Braad Larsen concluded the session with *The New Normal: How Technology is Decentralizing Sperm and Egg Donation*, a talk sponsored by The Donor Network. He discussed how emerging technologies had begun to shift donor services away from centralized institutions, allowing for greater accessibility and flexibility in fertility treatments. His talk highlighted how this decentralization was reshaping the landscape of reproductive care.
Throughout the webinar, speakers engaged the audience with thought-provoking content on data-driven decision-making, safety protocols, and the evolving role of technology in assisted reproduction.
Dr. Tricia Adams
Tricia L. Adams, PhD, TS (ABB), is an Associate Laboratory Director at Ovation Fertility in Central Louisiana. She helps oversee two neighboring laboratories that contribute to important research for the Ovation Network and support families on their reproductive journeys. With several years of experience as an embryologist, Tricia has earned her Technical Supervisor Certification and advanced her career within the Ovation Network. She is now on track to obtain her HCLD certification to expand coverage to additional laboratories.
A native of Louisiana, Tricia earned her Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from Southeastern Louisiana University. As an undergraduate, she engaged in transgenic research at the Louisiana State University Reproductive Biology Center in St. Gabriel, which paved the way for her acceptance into the LSU Graduate School. She completed her Master of Science in Animal Sciences, focusing on Reproductive Physiology and Biotechnology. Her research included projects on bovine fetal fibroblasts and cellular transfection using synthetic mRNA, aiming to induce pluripotent stem cells from somatic cells. Tricia later earned her PhD in Biomedical and Veterinary Clinical Sciences from the Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine in Baton Rouge. During her doctoral studies, she and her team worked on enhancing equine oocyte vitrification by assessing developmental competence, chromatin configurations, and microtubule distribution through various modifications to the vitrification process.
Before finishing her education, Tricia and her husband, Eric, moved numerous times around the country due to his military service. Their wonderful children were born during this time, and after his service ended, the family decided to return to Louisiana.
Quentin Cantu
Quentin has been VP of Revenue at Cercle since 2024. Prior to this he led several companies and projects in consumer, artificial intelligence, and government affairs consulting. Quentin has an MBA from the University of Texas.
Oriol Oliana
Oriol Oliana is currently Laboratory Manager at Concept Fertility Clinic in London. He is a State Registered Clinical Scientist and an ESHRE certified Senior Embryologist. Oriol began his fascination with reproductive biology during his biotechnology degree and, shortly after, began his embryology career in 2006 where he completed his post graduate studies and embryology training. He holds an MSc in Cytogenetics and an MSc in Assisted Reproduction Biology and ART. He has been working in London since 2010 and has been involved with the management of different IVF laboratories since then, including the role of Deputy Head of Laboratories from a large international group of IVF clinics where he led the pre-implantation genetic testing program. During his career, Oriol has contributed towards national and international IVF congresses and courses with several publications, he has become a Cambridge author, lead embryo biopsy workshops and has provided training for other embryologists.
Dr. Tex VerMilyea
Born in Laredo, Texas, Matthew earned his Bachelor of Science degree at Cornell University in Animal Science, Cum Laude with Distinction in Research, and the nickname ‘Tex’.
Tex received his PhD in Epigenetics from The University of Birmingham. He completed his first post-doctoral fellowship in the chromatin and gene expression laboratories at the Institute of Biomedical Research in Birmingham, UK. He completed a second fellowship in the Laboratory of Mammalian Molecular Embryology at the RIKEN institute in Kobe, Japan.
He returned to the United States as an embryologist at Shady Grove Fertility in Maryland. He then became the Director of Assisted Reproductive Technologies and Andrology laboratories at The University of Pennsylvania Fertility Care. From there, Tex moved to Auckland to serve as Scientific Director at Fertility Associates of New Zealand.
After 17 years, Matthew was recruited to return to Texas as the Scientific Director of Texas Fertility Centers. He is currently the Vice President of Scientific Advancement for Ovation Fertility and remains the Laboratory and Operations Director of Ovation’s Austin and San Antonio IVF laboratories. Matthew remains active on multiple professional committees and scientific advisory boards. He is VP of Scientific Advancement for US Fertility responsible for innovation implementation and best-practice identification.
Jim Graham
Jim is the VP of laboratory Operations for US Fertility, prior to that he was Sr Director of Laboratory Operations for Shady Grove Fertility. His areas of interest are embryo culture, vitrification and using data to drive process improvement in the IVF laboratory.
Matt Pettit
Matt is Chief Scientific Officer for Matcher Technologies Ltd, responsible for development and implementation of ‘Matcher’, a barcode-based electronic witnessing, labelling, scheduling and traceability system with interactive dashboards for visualisation, analysis and reporting of Matcher data Insights.
Since gaining a degree in Biology at the University of Wales in 1990, Matt has worked in the field of Assisted Reproductive Technology, including roles managing laboratories, R&D and quality control at the UK’s leading bovine breeding companies and cryo-storage facilities.
Matt’s primary focus is now on developing simple-to-implement, practical solutions to error prevention, traceability and cryo-stores management in human IVF clinics, donor banks and genetics Labs. This role involves designing systems that can be easily integrated and fitted around existing SOPs and advising on the validation required for electronic witnessing systems.
Matt is also a Trustee and scientific advisor to ‘Nature’s Safe’, a new initiative working in collaboration with the world’s zoos for the long-term storage of live cells from animal species that are at the greatest risk of extinction
Peter Braad Larsen
Peter Braad Larsen is a seasoned expert in the sperm and egg donation industry, with nearly 17 years of experience. He currently serves as the Chief Product Officer at Donor Network, a Danish sperm bank and gamete tech developer known for its high standards and innovative approach to fertility services.
Prior to his role at Donor Network, Peter held various positions at Cryos International, including Chief Operating Officer, Laboratory Director, and Quality Manager.
Peter's extensive background encompasses quality management, andrology, laboratory supervision, and regulatory compliance.
His commitment to excellence and innovation has significantly contributed to advancements in gamete donation programs, ensuring the highest standards in donor screening and fertility services.
