If you don’t recall your IUGA web site log-in details, or are having difficulty accessing the members-only section of the website, please contact Amy Cassini, the Membership Manager, at amy@iuga.org. 

Call for abstracts
The 2015 abstract submission system is open! The deadline for submission will be February 1, 2015.  For more information or to submit your abstract, please visit, http://www.iugameeting.org/abstracts/.

Meet the experts roundtable breakfast–call for proposals extended to January 8th
The ever popular “Meet the Experts Roundtable Breakfast” is back! These are set-up as small sessions, with ten people to a table, giving particpants an opportunity to interact with experts in a more intimate setting.  IUGA has had a lot of success with these in the past. At the AUGS/IUGA Scientific Meeting in Washington, D.C. almost 100% of the tables were sold out. Some of the popular topics included understanding ureteral vaginal fistula, chronic pelvic pain & interstitial cystitis: pearls on diagnosis & treatment, how to create an award winning pelvic floor center and making a surgical video. If you feel you have a topic that would be of interest to IUGA meeting attendees, please complete and submit a short application along with a CV to ensure transparency and fairness in the selection process.  The deadline date has been extended to January 8th. The breakfast will be held on Friday, June 12th with a maximum of 20 tables.  To download the application form, please click here. For any questions, please email office@iuga.org.

Visit www.iugameeting.org for more information about the 2015 annual meeting.

Research grant opportunity-applications due December 17th
IUGA, with the generous support of Uroplasty, is soliciting applications for research grant proposals within the clinical space of overactive bladder or fecal incontinence.  The amount of the grant will be $15,000. 

Submissions for this grant competition will be reviewed and awarded by the IUGA Research and Development Committee using their regular review processes, which involve peer-review.   The deadline for submissions is Wednesday, December 17, 2014. It will be awarded to one IUGA member who properly completes and submits the required application prior to the stated deadline.  Only complete applications that include all required material will be forwarded for review.  The notification of award will be announced at the end of February 2015. 

Click here to submit your grant application.

IUGA Webinar:“Laparoscopic Sacralcolpopexy Tips and Tricks”
December 18, 2014 at 3:00pm – 4:00pm EST
On Thursday, December 18 at 3:00pm EST in North America (early December 19 in Asia and Oceania) IUGA will offer a webinar to IUGA members titled ‘Laparoscopic Sacralcolpopexy Tips and Tricks’. Topics will include pertinent anatomy and scientific background data supporting laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy vs. other options (i.e. vaginal mesh or traditional surgery), dissection tips and tricks and avoiding complications, step by step suturing and setup, how to be efficient with laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy and much more. This session is being supported by an unrestricted educational grant from Coloplast.  As with previous webinars, this session will be recorded and will be available to IUGA members via the IUGA website.

For more information about this webinar, including time equivalents in various countries and webinar tools, please visit http://www.iuga.org/?page=webinar. The link to access the webinar will be posted online and e-mailed to members a few days prior to the webinar.

Free access to the IUJ top 5 downloaded articles of 2014
Now through December 31st, read the top 5 downloaded articles of 2014 for free. Click here, scroll down to "Popular content within this publication", then click the title of the article you wish to read.

United Nations International Volunteer Day
Every year on December 5th, the United Nations recognizes International Volunteer Day. It is a global celebration of volunteerism, honoring people’s participation in making a change at all levels. IUGA would like to say thank you to all of its members, for making a difference in the lives of women all around the world and for your contributions to IUGA so it can continue its mission of advancing urogynecological knowledge worldwide. Spread holiday cheer today by thanking someone for their volunteer efforts!

Call for contributions to the IUGA Annual Meeting 40th Anniversary Book
A group of IUGA members have been working diligently to compile a history of IUGA and its meetings in celebration of the 40th Annual Meeting coming up in June 2015. If you are interested in contributing your favorite memory about IUGA, photos, or making any other kind of contribution to the book, please contact Lynsey Hayward at lynsey.hayward@middlemore.co.nz.

Survey: variation in techniques of prolapse and incontinence surgery
We would be grateful if you could take the time to complete this short survey on variation in techniques of prolapse and incontinence surgery. We are investigating the range of practice globally as we believe it varies significantly. Your responses will help us to produce a consensus statement.

The survey should take no longer than 5 minutes and consists of 23 short multiple choice questions.

Click Here!

Thank you in advance,

Dr. Monika Vij
Urogynaecology Subspeciality trainee
MBBS,MS,MRCOG
Derriford Hospital,
Plymouth
UK