Fernando Reis, MD, PhD
Fernando Reis, MD, PhD
Regular SRI Member
Professor
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Career Journey
Dr. Reis is a full professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, where he instructs first-year students in a scientific methodology course and oversees a research group specializing in reproductive sciences. With an academic background in physiology and molecular biology, he supervises undergraduate and graduate students from the schools of Medicine and Pharmacy and has chaired the Ob/Gyn department, the medical school program, and the master program in Women’s Health. Dr Reis’s primary research interests reside in the endocrine and paracrine mechanisms of PCOS, endometriosis and uterine fibroids.
Questions
1. What inspired you to choose reproductive sciences?
As a second-year medical student I applied for a teaching assistant position at the Department of Physiology and ended up in the Laboratory of Neuroendocrinology and Metabolism. My supervisor, Adelina M. Reis, Ph.D., was an expert in the hormonal regulation of female puberty and I was immediately fascinated by the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis. This led me to choose Ob/Gyn for my medical residence and I to start my own research in reproductive sciences.
2. Favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of the job is analyzing experimental results, creating illustrations, and writing manuscripts.
3. How did you hear about SRI?
My post-doctoral supervisor, Felice Petraglia, M.D., told me about SRI (formerly SGI) and introduced me to the society.
4. What makes SRI your scientific home and how has it helped your career?
SRI is a unique gathering of basic, translational, and clinical scientists that integrates all aspects of reproduction, in particular mammal and human reproduction, from basic embryology to obstetric complications. This is the perfect home for benchmarking my career choices and getting inspiration for new projects and collaborations.
5. What would you say to someone considering going into the reproductive sciences field?
This is a magical field because its mission is to uncover the mysteries of life creation and answer very fundamental questions posed by humankind, such us what makes an early pregnancy to endure and succeed and what determines the timing of birth.
6. Favorite benefit of SRI?
Meeting wonderful people and becoming part of a great community.