Where are they now? – Shan Wilkinson, Embryologist.

Departmental alum Shan Wilkinson uses her biology expertise to help other people start families

Shan C. Stookey Wilkinson graduated from MUW in 1995 with a B.A. in Biology.

As of Fall 2024, she is Laboratory Manager and Senior Embryologist at Hudson Valley Fertility in Fishkill, NY.

Here is how Ms Wilkinson describes her current work, “I am an embryologist at an IVF clinic. The doctor stimulates the patients and retrieves the oocytes and then I take over to combine gametes (using ICSI, intracytoplasmic sperm injection) to create embryos. They are then cultured for up to 7 days before being frozen/vitrified. Most patients choose to have preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy screening (PGT-A) in which case I biopsy the embryos prior to vitrification and send the cells to a reference laboratory for a chromosomal analysis. I also perform semen analyses, sperm preps for IVF and intrauterine semen analysis (IUI), sperm freezing and thawing, embryo thawing/warming for frozen embryo transfers, etc.”

While a Bachelor’s degree is sufficient to start in Shan’s field, to move to more advanced or managerial positions, like the one Shan is in now, higher degrees are necessary. Shan earned an M.S. in Animal & Dairy Science specializing in Reproductive Physiology at Mississippi State University.

Shan says that embryology is a high-demand field, and she can pick and choose where and for whom she will work. She started out as a Bovine Embryologist at a cattle cloning company in Elizabethtown, PA. She handled ~10,000 bovine embryos in her first position before transitioning into human IVF where she says was able to move more quickly and confidently in her training. She has worked as a Human Embryologist ever since, working in Chattanooga, TN, and Charlotte, NC, before moving to her current position in New York state.

While she was at MUW, Shan says, two professors in particular had a big impact on her. Both have since moved on, but Shan has fond memories of Dr. John Wierengo, who taught organic chemistry, for his kindness, and Dr. Lani Lyman-Henley, who taught biology, for her challenges.

Shan did research on snake behavior with Dr. Lyman-Henley while an undergraduate in the department. She wrote up her research, titled “Aggregation behavior in the Mexican aquatic garter snake, Thamnophis melanogaster”, and presented at a meeting of The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles in August 1995.

Shan also remembers that Dr. Wierengo volunteered to let her swab between his toes to check for bacterial growth as a project for her Microbiology course.

For students who might be interested in becoming Embryologists themselves, Shan says that one of the most important attributes you will need to bring to the table is to be keenly attentive to details. And because you will be dealing with stressed and anxious patients, being empathetic is, in Shan’s words, “huge! Yes, you need to be technically skilled, but patients appreciate knowing that you care.” Finally, Shan suggests that you, regardless of career path, be confident, be flexible, and apply to more places than you think you should.

If you would like more information about becoming an Embryologist like Ms. Wilkinson, contact one of the departmental faculty members, and they can relay your questions or put you in touch with her.

Are you an alum of the Sciences and Mathematics program at MUW? We’d love to hear from you and tell our current students all about you. Contact Dr. Dionne Fortenberry or Dr. Ross Whitwam to tell us your story since graduation.

Last updated: 11/4/2024.