In this section
Professor Brian Lieberman, FRCOG
Medical Director
Brian has been a consultant gynaecologist at St Mary's Hospital in Manchester since 1978. He is credited with the foundation of the first fully funded NHS IVF Unit in the UK in 1982. He established Manchester Fertility Services in 1986 and was a member of the Human Fertilisation & Embryology Authority for six years from 1993. He is a member of the National Gamete Donation Trust.
He remains concerned with the rising rate of multiple births following fertility treatment and the decision by the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists in 1998 to recommend the reduction in the number of embryos replaced from three to two, follows a concerted campaign that he inaugurated in Manchester in 1996.
He has an active research profile related to Reproductive Medicine and is an author with more than 90 original publications in peer reviewed scientific journals
Dr Gidon Lieberman, MD MRCOG
Consultant Gynaecologist
Gidon is currently working as a Consultant Gynaecologist at The Whittington Hospital and Honorary Senior Lecturer at The Royal Free and University College Medical School. He is the clinical lead and HFEA person responsible for fertility services at The Whittington and the clinical lead for the Early Pregnancy unit. He joined MFS in March 2008 and undertakes weekly IVF sessions. He also has close links with Hammersmith IVF Unit and ISIS Fertility in Colchester Essex.
He undertook his undergraduate studies at St Andrews University and Manchester Medical School qualifying in 1993. He trained in general obstetrics and gynaecology in North East London. During this time he was granted his MD thesis that investigated the development of new techniques in diagnosing ovarian cancer. He was heavily involved in the ultrasound assessment of the pelvis, which subsequently led him to develop an interest in fertility. Following his general training he went on to be a Clinical Lecturer at The Royal Free University College Hospital Medical School until 2004. He then successfully completed Sub specialty training in Reproductive Medicine and Surgery at St Bartholomew's and The Royal London Hospital.
In addition to general Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Gidon is accredited by the Royal College of Obstetricians in laparoscopic and hysteroscopic surgery, gynaecological ultrasound and management of the menopause. He is a training preceptor for laparoscopic surgery and gynaecological ultrasound.
Gidon has published in a wide area of gynaecology including gynaecological cancer and reproductive medicine. Working in a teaching hospital, he is active in both under-graduate and post-graduate education.
Mr Anthony Nysenbaum, FRCOG
Consultant Gynaecologist
Tony has been a Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist since 1986 and joined MFS in 1990. He trained in Manchester, St Bartholomews and at the Royal London Hospital in London. He has a specialist interest in infertility and is a member of the British Fertility Society.
Dr David Polson, MD FRCOG
Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist
David is currently working as a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Hope Hospital, Salford and has a special interest in subfertility, reproductive endocrinology and assisted conception. He graduated from St Mary's Hospital, London in 1980 and started his career in obstetrics and gynaecology in 1980. He spent two years working in reproductive endocrinology and was awarded his MD for research into polycystic ovaries. He subsequently spent two years working in the Monash IVF Unit in Melbourne and on his return to England, joined MFS in 1990.
His interests remain in polycystic ovaries and all aspects of anovulatory subfertility. He also has a special interest in recurrent miscarriage and pregnancy loss.
Dr Rosemary Howell, MBBS, FRACOG, MRCOG
Consultant Gynaecologist
Rosemary has been a Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Trafford General Hospital since 1996. Having graduated at the University of Queensland, Australia in 1981 she came to the UK in 1988. She completed speciality training at the Queen Charlotte's Hospital, London and moved to Manchester in 1996 when she joined the team at MFS.
Research interests are: infertility, endometriosis, colposcopy. She is also the lead Obstetrician at Trafford General Hospital and has an interest in medical education. She is a member of the British Fertility Society.
Dr Subha Oomman, MRCOG
Staff Grade
Subha joined the medical team in November 2002 as Clinical Fellow in Reproductive Medicine. She gained her MRCOG in 2004 and has overall responsibility for the management of patients undergoing treatment. She liaises closely with the nursing team and the Professor in the monitoring of patients and has day to day responsibility for egg collections and embryo transfers.
Lynnsey McHugh, Prof Cert Management
Unit Manager
Lynnsey has been with MFS since established in 1986 and is the company secretary. She obtained a Professional Certificate in Management via the Open University in 2004. She is the registered manager with the Care Quality Commission and is responsible for the general management, finance activities, human resources and administration of the company. She is also the manager for the out-patient service.
Dr Debbie Falconer, BSc (Hons),PhD
Principal Embryologist
Debbie joined MFS in 1986 after obtaining a PhD from Manchester University. She is a State Registered Clinical Scientist,an ESHRE Certified Senior Clinical Embryologist and obtained a license to perform ICSI in 1995. She is chair of the Association of Clinical Embryologists Training Committee and is a National Assessor for trainee embryologists. Debbie has overall responsibility for the day to day running of the laboratory and her research interest is improving methods of embryo selection.
Alan Birks, BSc (Hons)
Senior Clinical Embryologist
Alan joined the laboratory team in May 1992, having gained a BSc in Chemistry at Manchester in 1990. He is a State Registered Clinical Scientist and obtained a license to perform ICSI in 2001. He carries out all laboratory duties and is responsible for quality management within the laboratory.
Joanne Adams, BSc (Hons)
Senior Andrologist
Joanne joined MFS as Senior Andrologist in 2004 after working for 11 years at Bristol's Centre for Reproductive Medicine. Her main responsibility is the day to day management of the highly successful donor sperm bank and the Diagnostic Andrology Service. She is also training to be an embryologist. Joanne is on the Association of Biomedical Andrologists Committee and is active nationally on issues relating to the recruitment of sperm donors.
Claire Evans, BSc (Hons)
Clinical Embryologist
Claire joined the laboratory team in 2005 having previously worked within the NHS as a Medical Technologist. She graduated from Loughborough University in 2004 with a BSc (Hons) in Human Biology. Claire has been performing ICSI since 2009.
Karen Ingman, BSc (Hons), PhD
Trainee Clinical Embryologist
Karen joined the team in 2001 as an industrial experience placement student and subsequently worked part time whilst doing her undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. She became a full time trainee embryologist in 2008, after gaining a BSc in Biomedical Science and a PhD in Human Development and Reproductive Medicine from The University of Manchester.
Sam Burley, BSc (Hons)
Trainee Clinical Embryologist
Sam joined the team in 2008 after gaining a degree in Anatomy and Human Biology from The University of Liverpool.
Dr Daniel Brison, BSc (Hons), PhD, FRCPath
Scientific Research Director
Dr Brison joined MFS in 1997, following a career in clinical and academic embryology research. He has recently been recognised for outstanding work in the field of embryology and has been awarded a Chair in Clinical Embryology and Stem Cell biology at the University of Manchester. He holds the position of Consultant Embryologist in Central Manchester NHS Trust and is Co-Director of the NorthWest Embryonic Stem Cell Centre (www.nwescc.manchester.ac.uk). He currently sits on the British Fertility Society Executive Committee and a number of working groups, and the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority's Scientific and Clinical Advances Advisory Committee. He has also recently become one of the few clinical embryologists in the UK to be recognised by the Royal College of Pathologists and to hold FRCPath.
Dr Brison is responsible for a large research group administered through the University of Manchester, funded by MRC, Department of Health, Cancer Research UK and the NorthWest Development Agency (http://www.manchester.ac.uk/research/daniel.brison). The group currently focusses on understanding and improving early embryo development in IVF, improving methods of embryo selection, and embryonic stem cell biology. MFS is a key component of this, holding two HFEA licences for embryo research and currently hosting an ongoing clinical study into embryo selection and patient-based research into single embryo transfer.
Vicky Arnold, RGN/RM
Senior Nursing Sister
Vicky joined the nursing team in 1987 after working as a midwife at St Mary's Hospital Manchester and has many years experience in Reproductive Medicine. She is responsible for the day to day management of the nursing team and also undertakes clinical procedures such as ultrasound scans and embryo transfers.
Sharon Bannatyne, RGN
Sister
Sharon joined our nursing team in May 1991. After qualifying at Withington Hospital in 1983, Sharon then went on to work at the Christie Hospital in the operating theatres. She then qualified as a Continence Advisor working with the elderley before joining MFS. She was voted Fertility Nurse of the Year in 2001 and was also short listed in 2006. She has gained extensive experience in the fertility field and works closely with the rest of the nursing team to ensure the smooth running of patients treatment.
Samantha Potts, RGN/RM
Sister
Samantha joined MFS in 1996 after completing her registered general nurse training and qualifying as a midwife. She has worked in the fertility field for fifteen years.
Christine O'Nions, RGN
Fertility Nurse
Christine joined us in 2003 after working as a staff nurse at the Christie Hospital and in gynaecology for a number of years prior to that.
Lorraine Bentley, RGN/RM
Fertility Nurse
Lorraine joined the nursing team in April 2000, having previously worked at St Mary's as a midwife specialising in the care of premature babies.
Shahana Ahmed, RGN
Fertility Nurse
Shahana joined our nursing team in February 2006, after qualifying as a registered nurse in August 2000. She went on to specialise in women's health, with previous experience in gynaecology and two years in reproductive medicine.
Alison Kay
Quality Manager
Alison joined the administration team in April 2000 and has recently been promoted to Quality Manager to implement a quality management system. She leads the Quality Project Team working towards achieving HQS (Health Quality Service) and ISO 9001:2000 accreditation.
Vicky Glynn
Assistant Unit Manager
Vicky re-joined our administration team in November 2006. She liaises closely with the Unit Manager and is responsible for maintaining the financial systems within the company.
Helen Westall, Tracey Thompson, Hayley Cuthbert, Jenny Weedall
Administration
Helen, a member of our administration team since April 2004, is a medical secretary and has recently successfully gained AMSPAR certification.
Tracey, our office manager, has been with MFS since 1991 and is responsible for the management of the administration team. She has AMSPAR certification.
Hayley has been with us since 1995 as a Medical Secretary.
Jenny joined our administration team as Receptionist in 2005 having previously worked at the Bridge Fertility Unit.