SGS 40th Annual Scientific Meeting

Society of Gynecologic Surgeons 40th Annual Scientific Meeting reached new heights in meeting attendance. Participants surveyed say “best SGS meeting they have attended”. Scientific Program Chair, Dr. Cheryl Iglesia, led her committee in the creation of an exceptional array of courses including postgraduate courses on Evidence-based Medicine in Gynecology and a “hands on” cadaveric anatomy course at the Mayo Clinic.  The President’s address by Dr. Holly Richter focused on the evolution and growth of SGS, including her personal growth with the organization. She reviewed the history of vaginal hysterectomy dating back to the Greeks in approximately 1500 BC. Dr. Richter also presented the SGS Distinguished Surgeon Award to Dr. Catherine Hamlin for her dedication to fistula repair in Ethiopia. Dr. Hamlin is an OBGyn and the co-founder of Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia. With her late husband they pioneered the development of modern day Obstetric Fistula Surgery. Dr. Hamlin has received many awards and honors including Honorary Ethiopian Citizenship and Nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1999 and again this year in February 2014. Dr. Hamlin was not able to attend the SGS meeting. Dr. Senait Fisseha, an Ethiopian OBGyn specialist working at the University of Michigan and a trustee of Hamlin Fistula USA attended SGS and accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Hamlin. Click here for photos of the presentation and the video of Dr. Hamlin accepting this honor.