|
President's Letter
Dear Colleagues & Friends,
As we move from spring to summer months, I continue to feel grateful to be able to lead this Society with the help of talented volunteer colleagues and the input of our engaged members. Our committees have been meeting and working hard on various important initiatives, and SGS leadership continues to discuss, evaluate, support and appreciate ongoing and new projects that keep our Society vibrant, strong and relevant!
The SGS Executive Committee meets monthly, and an ongoing priority of mine is to be sure we hear from and provide guidance to our hard-working committee chairs. This month I would like to share a few highlights from our April and May discussions which demonstrate how committee activities support our SGS strategic plan. The SGS Strategic Plan, approved in 2023, established five main “pillars” or strategic focus areas which include Membership, Visibility, Finance, Education and Research – with goals under each. I would encourage all members to view the plan HERE.
- A goal of SGS is to be sure we are representative of gynecologic surgery at large, with a diversity of surgeons and specialists. Dr. Jim Robinson and members of the Membership Committee are working on ways we can continue to engage with individuals from diverse subspecialty areas (e.g., oncology, family planning) as well as identifying annual meeting presenters as potential new members. SGS leadership has recently affirmed with the American College of Surgeons (ACS) the joint SGS/ACS membership program. As this was our inaugural year there were a few bumps in the road to get this moving, however our first group of new members will be inducted to ACS at the Fall Congress through this partnership. If you are interested in becoming an ACS member, please see www.sgsonline.org/acs-joint-application for more information on this initiative.
- Dr. Jocelyn Fitzgerald, Chair of the new Communications Committee, brought forth the preliminary goals of each of subcommittee: Website, Podcast and Social Media. I am really excited about the potential impact of streamlining and strengthening our communications through this committee. Keep your eyes open for opportunities to engage, as the expansion in this area is providing additional opportunities for member volunteers.
- SGS has the ability to have an even stronger impact when we partner with organizations, using collective expertise. Over the past months the Executive Committee, on behalf of SGS, has endorsed a new initiative to establish an Endometriosis Care Quality Collaborative (ECQC) and continues to look at other important policies and recommendations to give support to.
Within this newsletter you will find a spotlight on our new Research Toolkit, an incredibly exciting resource that was developed by our talented volunteers on the Research Committee – Francisco Orejuela, Julia Shinnick, and Mallory Stuparich. I am sure this will prove to be extremely useful as surgeons develop research ideas to benefit patients in the future. I am also excited to highlight one of the committee members who worked on this toolkit within the newsletter this month – a testament to the diverse talent that helps drive the mission of SGS.
I am so proud of these examples of how the work of our committees are supporting the SGS Strategic Plan, moving SGS forward with new possibilities as a leader in gynecologic surgery.
Finally, planning for the 51st Scientific Meeting is well underway with Scientific Program Chair Gena Dunivan putting together an outstanding program with her committee members. I am really excited to be going to Rancho Mirage and am already looking forward to seeing you all there – so please mark your calendars if you have not already!
Be on the lookout for more updates in the coming months, and as always, please feel free to reach out to me any time with questions and your ideas.
Hoping you are able to get some rest and relaxation this summer!
Best,
Star Hampton, MD
SGS President 2024-2025
SGS Research Committee
The SGS Research Committee has just launched a new, publicly available resource, the Research Toolkit. Check it out to access qualitative and quantitative study design tools, online courses, journal reporting guidelines and more! Our thanks go to Research Committee members Francisco Orejuela, Mallory Stuparich, and Julia Shinnick for putting together this new resource.
RESEARCH TOOLKIT
In addition to developing resources like the toolkit, the SGS Research Committee houses the 3 SGS research engines:
- Fellows’ Pelvic Research Network (FPRN)®
FPRN® provides an arena for fellows to collaborate on multi-center research projects. There are two subgroups within FPRN®: a urogynecology-focused subgroup in partnership with AUGS, and a MIGS-focused subgroup in partnership with AAGL. Participants in FPRN® must be fellows and belong to both SGS and the sponsoring organization (either AUGS or AAGL).
LEARN MORE
- Collaborative Research in Pelvic Surgery Consortium (CoRPS)
CoRPS is open to SGS members and non-members who have completed training and focuses on early and mid-career attendings who would like to participate in multi-center research in all subspecialties focused on gynecologic surgery. For graduating fellows who were involved in FPRN®, this is your post-fellowship home for collaborative multi-center research projects within SGS.
LEARN MORE
- Systematic Review Group (SRG)
As the name implies, the SRG systematically reviews the important subjects and controversies in the field of gynecologic surgery and produces evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. SRG is open to SGS members at all levels (Active, Associate Post Training, and Associate).
LEARN MORE
Volunteer Hub
This month we continue our focus on SGS volunteers by highlighting Research Committee member, Francisco Orejuela. The advisors are available to SGS members to answer questions and assist with simulation development and implementation with the goal of programmatic sharing and development. Some examples of what advisors can assist with:
Francisco Orejuela, MD
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Tell us a little bit about your work life.
FO: I work at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, and my focus of specialty is urogynecology, in particular vaginal surgery. I am interested in the protection of the pelvic floor at time of vaginal delivery.
What do you value about being an SGS member?
FO: I value sharing innovative ideas that shape the future of gynecologic surgery.
What’s your favorite thing about SGS?
FO: A very special characteristic of SGS is the collegiality of the members, and how approachable everyone is, no matter level of training or expertise. It has the ‘family’ feel that motivates you to keep coming to the meetings.
What led you to volunteer to serve on the SGS Research Committee and how has it impacted you personally and/or professionally?
FO: I wanted to help forward the research mission of the SGS. This is a position that I have valued over the last two years as it has allowed me to discuss and explore different ideas for interesting projects of members of the Society. It has allowed witnessing firsthand the brilliance of our members.
What do you like best about the new Research Toolkit and how do you envision it being used?
FO: The research toolkit is easily accessible to everyone and has information for all levels of research training. It has tools to look for answers for specific questions related to clinical research.
What advice do you have for SGS members who are on the fence about volunteering to serve on an SGS committee?
FO: Don’t be afraid, just do it!
Who is an inspiring SGS mentor and why?
FO: Dr. John Riggs, who is a great gynecologic surgeon that has trained many generations in vaginal surgery, passing down his skills with his humble approach. A very effective teacher.
What’s your favorite thing to do in your spare time/hobbies?
FO: I like reading contemporary Latin-American authors, working out and staying active.
What’s the last book you read, and would you recommend it?
FO: Letting Go by David Hawkins. A great book to keep things in perspective and to give each life experience its proper value while not being attached to any specific outcome. I highly recommend it.
What’s a little-known fact about you?
FO: I grew up playing volleyball.
And the Winners Are...SGS 2024 Golf Scramble in Orlando
Since we didn’t have the results to share at the 2024 Annual Meeting, we are pleased to announce the competition winners from the 2024 SGS Golf Scramble during the Annual Meeting in Orlando.
- Closest to the Pin Winners: Sarah Allen and Robbie Noschang
- Longest Drive: Jocelyn Fitzgerald and Mark Davis
We had a 3-way tie for lowest scoring team. Congratulations to all our golfers!
 
 
Get Involved
There are so many ways to get involved in SGS! Here are a few:
- Join one of the SGS research engines: FPRN®, CoRPS, or the SRG.
- Volunteer to be part of the Pelvic Anatomy Group (PAG). Both the Digital Library Group and 3D Imaging Group are looking for volunteers to help develop content. Email [email protected] if you are interested.
- Volunteer to serve on a committee. We send out an email seeking interested volunteers each fall. Watch for this to arrive in your inbox in mid-October.
Pay it Forward: Propose a Member
Honor the SGS member who proposed you for membership by doing the same for one of your peers.
SGS Active Members may propose a qualified physician who is board certified (American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology or American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology) for SGS membership. A second Active Member of SGS must endorse the proposed new member.
The “Proposer” is responsible for completing the online New Member Proposal Form and should be prepared to provide the Endorser’s name, the Applicant’s name, degree, institution, address, phone number, and email on the form. The Proposer will also attach letters from both the Proposer and the Endorser addressing the applicant’s teaching endeavors, surgical practice, and research.
Once the completed New Member Proposal Form is received, the applicant will receive a link to the online application to complete. The Proposer agrees to guide and support the future member in completing their application for membership, case list, and meeting the Annual Meeting attendance and presentation requirements for membership.
A detailed description of the membership process is available on the SGS website here.
Donate Today!
Support gynecologic surgery education and research with your donation to SGS today! Since we’ve focused this SGS Newsletter on research, consider making a donation to the Research Fund, which supports the FPRN® and SRG, or to the CoRPS Fund. Donations to the John O. L. DeLancey Fund support the work of the Pelvic Anatomy Group, also mentioned in this newsletter.
DONATE NOW |
