• 2013 IUGA Committee and International Advisory Board Elections
• Abstract and roundtable submissions
• PROTECT program test modules available
• IUGA ‘Mesh Complications’ webinar recording now available online
• Surgical practice patterns survey

The IUGA Board would like to encourage all members to participate in the current committee and International Advisory Board elections. 

Individual emails were sent to members earlier this week.  The subject line for the email will include ‘2013 IUGA Committee Elections’ and if you live in a region where there is an election for the International Advisory Board member this will be referred to as well.  The email contains a code that members must enter in order to access the voting system.   If you have difficulty finding that email or accessing the voting system, please contact Nailah Metwally at Nailah@iuga.org and she will help you to access the voting material.

Abstract and roundtable* submissions for the 2014 AUGS/IUGA Joint Scientific Meeting are open. The deadlines for submission are listed below along with links to submit and get more information.

Roundtables—February 1, 2014 Click here for more information about roundtable submissions.
Abstracts – February 3, 2014  Click here for more information about abstract submissions. 

*The roundtables are the same format as IUGA Meet the Expert sessions at previous annual meetings.

Visit www.augs-iuga2014.org for more information about the 2014 meeting.

The PROTECT program was developed to promote knowledge of obstetricians and midwives worldwide in the management of perineal trauma and episiotomy through structured training with a view to minimise pelvic floor and perineal morbidity associated with childbirth. If you are planning to attend the IUGA sponsored PROTECT Train the Trainers session at the 2014 meeting, you will need to complete and pass the theoretical test modules on the IUGA web site. To read more about the PROTECT program or to complete the test modules, please click here.

On Thursday, December 5th IUGA  offered a webinar entitled ‘Mesh Complications’.   This presentation was recorded and is available to members for viewing on the members-only section of the IUGA website. 

Click on this URL: http://www.iuga.org/?page=webinar to go to the page with the connection to the webinar.

If you don’t recall your user id or password to access the members-only section of the IUGA website, please contact Amy Cassini, the Membership Manager, at amy@iuga.org and she would be pleased to help you.

The webinar features the following presenters:

Willy Davila
Background – explain the range of complications associated with mesh
Incidence – discuss the frequency of mesh-related complications
Alternatives – outline the conservative management of mesh complications

Dennis Miller (Milwaukee, USA)
Surgical management of mesh complications, when and how much to remove

Clara Shek (Sydney, Australia)
Ultrasound findings of mesh following implantation
Ultrasound as a tool for diagnosis of mesh complications

All panel members
Surgical solutions when there is recurrence following vaginal mesh implantation

Willy Davila
Final discussion and wrap-up

Dear colleague:

I am writing on behalf of the IUGA Research and Development Committee to request your help with an important project. We are conducting a survey of current surgical practices in the field of urogynecology and female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery to ask about your experiences.

I know that this is a busy time of year for you, but I hope that you will take just 5 minutes of your time to participate in this brief web survey.

To complete the survey online, please go to the ‘Take Survey’ icon below and then follow the online survey instructions. If you do not have access to the Internet, or prefer to answer the questionnaire on paper, you may request a paper survey by sending an email to the IUGA office to amanda@iuga.org.

As a token of our appreciation for your participation in this important study, upon receipt of your completed questionnaire, the Office of IUGA will enter your name to win an iPad. Please enter your IUGA constituent number noted below to enter the draw!

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Your answers will be completely confidential. Moreover, the results of the survey will be reported in a summary format, so again no one will link you to your responses.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important project. If you have any questions about the administration of the survey, please contact IUGA office at amanda@iuga.org.

Gamal Ghoniem, MD, FACS
IUGA Research & Development Committee
“Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in awhile, or the light won't come in.” Alan Alda

Or, click on the following URL: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/8KZS76R

To participate in the draw for the iPad, please enter the following IUGA constituent number in the space provided at the top of the survey: @@constituent_id@@