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J. Kendall Smalls
Clinical Embryologist MSc.
J. Kendall Smalls received a BS degree in Biology with a minor in Computer Science, in May 1990, from Morgan State University in Baltimore, Maryland.
He started his career in 1990 at Cornell University Medical Center conducting infertility tests based on immunology factors. In 1991 he became a supervisor of the andrology department of this division where he was responsible for chlamydia evaluation, sperm antibody detection, and semen analysis.
In 1997, he changed employers and expanded his career to include embryology. In addition to supervising a medium sized lab in a reproductive facility, he performed semen evaluations for inseminations and cryopreservation. He also assisted in the completion of in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles.
He worked at two more labs before reaching his goal of working with the world-renowned embryologist, Dr. Jacque Cohen at the Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Science at Saint Barnabas Medical Center in 1999. Dr. Cohen is one of the scientists responsible for the first child born as a result of in-vitro fertilization. Under Dr. Cohen’s tutelage he was able to increase his knowledge of embryology and learn the most current techniques in assisted reproductive technology. Dr. Cohen also recommended that he further his knowledge of embryology by studying at the University of Leeds, United Kingdom in 2003.
On December 15th, 2005, he received a Masters of Science Degree in Clinical Embryology from the University of Leeds. The University of Leeds is one of only two educational institutions in the world to award an advanced degree in the study of embryology. His class consisted of eighteen students, of which he was one of eight who completed all of the requirements for graduation.
There are only a handful of individuals in the world who have a Masters of Science Degree in Clinical Embryology. Kendall is the first African American to hold this degree from Leeds University. His specialty is blastocysts vitrification, which allows the decrease in multiple births during an in-vitro fertilization procedure.
Now that he has his degree, Kenny’s dream is to open his own IVF clinic, which will specialize in infertility treatments for African-Americans and other people of color. Infertility is not generally spoken about or seen as a solvable situation in the African American community. His goal is to enlighten the community about the advancements of in-vitro fertilization with the expectation that doing so will take away the shame and misinformation currently associated with it.
Professional Affiliations
New York Embryology society
Personal Affiliations
Omega Psi Phi fraternity Inc. 1990
Member, Board of Directors of the Nu Omicron Omega Day Care center of Early childhood development
Basileus Epsilon chapter or Omega Psi Phi fraternity
2004 - present
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