173 - Shelley Amster on 45 Years Trailblazing: IUD’s, Breaking Barriers in IVF & Women's

In this episode of Let's Combinate, host Subhi Saadeh interviews Shelly Amster, a trailblazer in reproductive health with over 45 years of experience.

Shelly shares her journey from being one of the first IVF lab directors in the U.S. to her role as an advisor at 3 Daughters. They discuss the early days of IVF, overcoming career-related insecurities, and the challenges and advancements in fertility treatments. Shelly also talks about her experience in managing technical conferences and offers advice for early-career professionals. The conversation covers innovative technologies in women's health, particularly in IUD development and surgical advancements. 00:00 Welcome to Let's Combinate 00:13 Pioneering in Reproductive Health 00:42 Early Challenges and Opportunities 02:10 Breaking Barriers in IVF 04:52 Career Reflections and Lessons 06:40 Conference Planning Insights 13:37 Overcoming Shyness and Networking 19:11 Retirement and Career Advice 26:21 Innovations in Women's Health 30:26 Future Technologies and Closing Thoughts Shelley Amster is a trailblazer in reproductive medicine with over 45 years of experience, including being one of the first IVF lab directors in the United States. Currently an advisor at Three Daughters, she has dedicated her career to advancing fertility treatments, IUD development, and surgical innovations in women’s health. Shelley is also a seasoned conference organizer and mentor, sharing invaluable insights with early-career professionals in the field. Subhi Saadeh is a Quality Professional and host of Let's Combinate. With a background in Quality, Manufacturing Operations and R&D he's worked in Large Medical Device/Pharma organizations to support the development and launch of Hardware Devices, Disposable Devices, and Combination Products for Vaccines, Generics, and Biologics. Subhi serves currently as the International Committee Chair for the Combination Products Coalition(CPC) and as a member of ASTM Committee E55 and also served as a committee member on AAMI's Combination Products Committee. For questions, inquiries or suggestions please reach out at letscombinate.com or on the show's LinkedIn Page.