~Programme combines one year of online learning with up to three months of hands-on IVF
training, enabling doctors to upskill without taking a career break~
Bengaluru/Chandigarh: In a move aimed at addressing the shortage of formally trained
fertility specialists in India, Milann Academy has launched a one-year hybrid fellowship
programme in Infertility and Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), allowing practicing
obstetricians and gynaecologists to pursue specialised training without taking a break from
their clinical practice.

The fellowship combines online learning with hands-on clinical training, allowing practicing
gynaecologists to continue their medical practice while pursuing specialised education in
reproductive medicine. Open to candidates with MD, MS, DNB (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)
and DGO qualifications, the programme offers extended clinical exposure that goes beyond
the short observerships commonly available in many training courses.

The academy has trained more than 1,300 doctors in reproductive medicine and fertility care
over the years, including 282 through its flagship full-time fellowship programmes.
A key feature of the fellowship is its practical training component, which ranges from one to
three months and is conducted at Milann centres in Bengaluru and Chandigarh. The academy
said this is significantly longer than the short observership-based exposure offered by many
online fertility courses.

Participants will receive training in various aspects of infertility management and assisted
reproduction, including pre-treatment evaluation, IVF cycle management, andrology,
embryology, ultrasonology, oocyte pick-up (OPU) and embryo transfer procedures. The
programme also includes simulator-based learning modules and exposure to advanced IVF
laboratory infrastructure.

Speaking about the initiative, Anjali Ajaikumar, Director, Milann Fertility and Birthing
Hospital, said the objective was to make advanced fertility training more accessible to doctors
who are unable to step away from their practice for an extended period.

"India's fertility sector is expanding rapidly, but there remains a significant need for
structured and accessible specialist training. This programme has been designed to bridge
that gap by combining academic rigour with meaningful clinical exposure," she said.

The fellowship will be delivered by a distinguished faculty comprising ART specialists and
embryologists, with weekly live interactive sessions conducted throughout the year. While
the academy aims to produce top-tier fertility specialists, it notes that it will not be directly
hiring the fellows upon graduation.

Fellows will undergo periodic assessments and will be required to clear a final institutional
examination consisting of written, viva, and clinical evaluations to receive certification.

Founded over two decades ago, Milann Academy is recognised by the National Board of
Examinations and Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) for its post doctoral
fellowship programs in Reproductive Medicine. In addition to offering post doctoral
fellowship degrees in Reproductive Medicine, Milann Academy offers PhD programs in
Reproductive Biology affiliated with NITTE University, RGUHS, and VIT University, as
well as an MSc in Clinical Embryology affiliated with JSS AHER, Mysore.

The academy also provides short and medium term training programs, ranging from one
week to six months, for clinicians and embryologists. These programs cover specialisations
such as Male Infertility, Andrology, Gynaecological Endoscopy, Basic Infertility, Advanced
Infertility, Clinical Embryology, and Preimplantation Genetic Testing. To date, over 1,500
clinicians and embryologists have been trained at Milann and are placed across premier
fertility centres throughout India.