Bengaluru: 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.
