World's largest IVF training facility teaches students in Rocky Mount
Inside ArtLab, you'll find microscopes, incubators, test tubes, and more. The laboratory is the world's largest in vitro training facility at Rocky Mount Mills.
Between 80 and 100 students travel from across the world to eastern North Carolina to train as embryologists under Dr. Eva Schenkman.
"The students who come through here will have a major impact on the field in general," Schenkman said.
Right in the heart of Rocky Mount, Schenkman trains students in the best practices of using animal embryos, preparing them to work in a clinic one day.
"There's been tremendous growth in the IVF industry in the last ten years. It's been increasing year after year, and it's projected to increase for the foreseeable future," she said.
Schenkman said she was looking for a location near the Research Triangle where she could offer affordable classes for her students.
Rocky Mount Mills was the answer. She said she's been operating here for two years.
"Each one of our students does about 500 hours of hands-on, dedicated training, so once they get to the clinic, they should be able to be fully trained in well under a year," she said.
Not only does the lab operate as a classroom, but it also is a place to conduct research and exists to inform people about the industry.
"We've had a significant shortage of embryologists in the field. We are trying to notify people that this field exists. Many people hear the word IVF but don't know what it takes to work in it," she said.
Addison Furr is about to graduate from one of ArtLab's training programs and, like many students, already has a job lined up.
"I went to a career fair at NC State [where I was introduced to Art Lab.] It was my first time hearing about embryology and what an embryologist does in general," Furr said.
After more than 30 years of career experience, Schenkman said teaching students is some of her most fulfilling moments.
"The point of IVF is to help people create families. Instilling that passion in students is so rewarding, knowing that they are going to make an impact on patients' lives," she said.
