The psychology major and health studies minor is spending her summer interning at CT Fertility, a clinic in Trumbull, Conn.
Lauren Benedetto '18 has long been interested in infertility, and this summer, thanks to the Dr. Steven Jaharis '82 Primary Care Pre-Medical Fellowship, she is gaining practical experience in the field. Benedetto is interning at CT Fertility, a full-service fertility center based in Trumbull, Conn. The Connecticut native was interested in working at that particular clinic not only because she has family members who have worked and sought treatment there, but also because of its unique treatment options.
"I also reached out to several other fertility clinics in my area, but ultimately decided on CT Fertility because of their established and specific treatment plans for gay and lesbian couples, as well as international patients," she says.
The clinic was established in 1991 and provides a wide range of treatment options, including fertility medications, in vitro fertilization, and surrogacy. One of Benedetto’s major responsibilities as an intern is to report cycle outcomes for the 2015 calendar year, which requires her to read through medical reports, speak with nurses and doctors who treated specific patients, or contact patients themselves and surrogacy agencies directly. Additionally, she keeps the clinic’s Facebook page updated with relevant content—reporting on success stories and doctors’ opinions on new techniques—and sits in on meetings until it’s time for her to head home at 5 o’clock.
The psychology major and health studies minor has volunteered at large hospitals, including Yale-New Haven Children’s Hospital and the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, since her sophomore year in high school, but her experience with a small practice has convinced her that her future is in more intimiate medical settings. And she is greatly enjoying the opportunity to apply what she has learned in her health studies classes while helping families achieve their dream.
"It is an honor to be a part of other people’s journey to having a family," Benedetto says
—Katya Konradova '19
"Summer Centered" is a series exploring our students' Center-funded summer work.
