Raquel García Panadero

I owe my decision to study health biology to the best biology teacher I had in high school when I was 15 years old. He explained everything with drawings and a lot of passion, and above all he inspired me to develop my scientific reasoning.

I consider myself a very versatile person and I like to be able to offer my help in both labs, I rotate weekly between both teams according to the needs of the lab. For this to be possible, I need to be very well organised.

The most gratifying thing is to know that our role in the laboratory as embryologists is fundamental to achieve that in-vitro embryo that will become the future baby that our patients long for so much. See how they fulfil their dream and we contribute directly to make it come true.

Well, it is difficult, we empathise a lot with the patients and we would like all of them to do well in their cycle, but we can’t always give good news. We try to give the information of what happens in the laboratory in a realistic way, always remaining tactful, empathising with them and maintaining positivity.

I remember a complicated case in which a patient with already very low ovarian reserve and over 40 years old, wished to achieve her late husband’s last wish, a child that was biologically his. I was involved in the process of transferring the husband’s semen to our laboratory and in contact with the patient during the whole process, being her eyes to everything that was happening in the laboratory.

I take advantage of my free time to do sports, I also like to paint and read, but above all I love doing things with my friends, discovering new restaurants or going on trips to the mountains with them.