Doctor to talk on medical ethics of in vitro fertilization

A doctor will discuss the medical ethics of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and reproductive technologies during the annual Schirber Lecture.

Dr. Jani Jensen will speak on “IVF: We Can, But Should We?” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 23, at the Founders Room (room 170), Quadrangle Building, Saint John’s University.

Her lecture, while intended for students and professionals in the health sciences, is free and open to the public.

Jensen, the director of Third Party Reproduction at Reproductive Medicine and Infertility Associates (RMIA) in Woodbury, Minnesota, will discuss ethical questions related to egg retrieval, fertilization of eggs, embryo transfer, freezing embryos and evolving technologies to support ethical decision-making.

Prior to coming to RMIA, Jensen was the IVF director at Mayo Clinic, where she was an assistant professor with joint appointments in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Endocrinology. She also served as the medical school’s Obstetrics and Gynecology clerkship director and diversity director.

Jensen is a member of the Society of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility; the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology; and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.

She researches fertility preservation and improving IVF techniques and outcomes.

The Schirber Endowed Scholarship and pre-med fund at Saint John’s University was established in 1980 by Dr. Martin ’42 and Rose Marie Schirber of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Martin Schirber practiced medicine in Grand Rapids during most of his career. A number of their sons and daughters also graduated from or attended Saint John’s and the College of Saint Benedict.

Two lectures occur as part of the series each year. One lecture focuses on medical ethics from a pro-life perspective and the other focuses on alcoholism and recovery.