2025 Annual Winter Postgraduate Course
in Advanced Gynecologic Surgery
Virtual

Sunday, December 7, 2025
10:00am - 4:15pm EST

The SGS Annual Winter Postgraduate Course in Advanced Gynecologic Surgery focuses on the surgical management of a full spectrum of gynecologic problems and approaches, with attention to surgical technique, and evidence-based approaches to improve surgeon competence, technical performance, and patient outcomes. This one-day interactive course includes presentations from a faculty of experts with liberal use of videos and panel discussions and allows one-on-one coaching opportunities. Didactic presentations address vaginal hysterectomy, laparoscopic hysterectomy, myomectomy, pelvic anatomy, pelvic masses, surgical complications, surgical education and tips for efficiencies as well as opportunity for discussion of approach to endometriosis and pelvic support procedures.

Program

Session 1: Pushing the Envelope with Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy
Moderator: Cara King, MD
Panelists: Nicole Donnellan, MD; Megan Wasson, DO

• Practice safe laparoscopic entry techniques
• Enter the retroperitoneum and develop the paravesical and pararectal spaces
• Demonstrate techniques to isolate the ureters, uterine artery and branches of the internal iliac artery
• Identify pertinent structures in the presacral and retropubic spaces
• Utilize various laparoscopic energy devices and understand strengths and limitations of each device for pelvic surgery.
• Apply techniques to optimize contained tissue morcellation. 

Session 2: Pushing the Envelope with Total Vaginal Hysterectomy
Moderator: Lauren Siff, MD
Panelists: Annetta Madsen, MD; Kris Strohbehn, MD; Elena Tunitsky, MD

• Obtaining Visualization
• Critical Steps of the TVH
• Difficult Entries
• Accessing the Upper Pedicles/Adnexa
• Tissue extraction
• Vaginal cuff closure/ apical support 

Session 3: Preventing and Managing Complications
Moderator: Jo Hill, MD
Panelists: Joe Chen, MD; Cecile Ferrando, MD; John Gebhart, MD; Javier Magrina, MD

• Urologic repair
• Management of bleeding
• Electrocautery injuries
• Application of surgical anatomy
• Intra-operative planning and decision making

Individual Coaching Sessions
Optional 1:1 online sessions, led by certified SGS coaches, are available as an add-on to the course. Each participant will be paired in advance with a coach whose expertise aligns with their individual goals and objectives for the session.