Dr. Rafael Bernabeu

Dr. Rafael Bernabeu is an innovative reproductive medicine expert, Founder and Medical Director of Instituto Bernabeu, Alicante, Spain - the so-called Father of Assisted Reproduction in the Valencian Community and one of the leading experts in IVF and fertility medicine in Europe. * **Professional Background** * Years of Practice: 40+ years (since 1980) * Founder and Medical Director of Instituto Bernabeu, of 9 Reproductive Medicine Clinics (8 in Spain (Alicante, Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Cartagena, Albacete, Elche and Benidorm) and 1 in Venice. * Directorships since its inception in 2004 of the Chair of Reproductive Medicine at Miguel Hernandez University of Elhe; Founder of the Chair of Reproductive Biology at the University of Alicante; Founder of the Master Degree in Reproductive Medicine at the University of Alicante. * Specializations: IVF, egg donation, preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGT), poor ovarian response, implantation failure, male infertility. * MD (Honours): University of Valencia (1980); Specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology (1984); PhD: Miguel Hernandez University of Elche; Postgraduate training at New York University, Cornell University and Johns Hopkins University. * **Innovations and Contributions** * Founded one of the first sperm banks in Spain in 1985; in 1987, the first IVF pregnancy in the Valencian Community in 1987 was achieved - one of the first in Spain. * First pregnancy in Spain and in the world - with spermatids of a father who had no spermatozoa through intra-oocyte injection (1998); and the first birth worldwide of a girl without retinoschisis (inherited blindness) with preimplantation genetic diagnosis (2004) * Co-author of more than 150 refereed papers published in such journals as *Human Reproduction*, *Fertility and Sterility, Reproductive Biomedicine Online*; presenter of more than 200 national and international conferences. * Winner of the American Foundation of Reproductive Medicine Award (2017), the British Fertility Society Award (2014), ASRM 2nd Prize (2012), and the Spanish Fertility Society First Prize (2000 and 2010) * Instituto Bernabeu has treated more than 20,000 patients in 137 countries, and born more than 20,000 successful births. The firsts in assisted reproduction and his unwavering investment in research, education and patient-centered care have earned Instituto Bernabeu a well-respected name as one of the best fertility centers in the world.