Dear colleague,
In July 2019, women outnumbered men in the SGO membership, 52% to 48%, with a significant tilt seen among trainee members (residents, fellows and candidates): 75% women versus 25% men. By comparison, men outnumbered women in the senior membership category, 91% to 9%. Clearly, the tide has turned.
Future leaders of SGO will be elected from a majority female cohort. It is imperative that the next generation aspires to fill the highest positions in gynecologic oncology. In addition, teamwork has become a priority and the standard in oncology care.
Leadership and the culture of teamwork will be central themes of SGO’s 2020 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer, March 28-31 in Toronto. In keeping with these themes, I have selected the former captain of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team (USWNT), Julie Foudy, to deliver the Presidential Invited Guest Lecture.
Ms. Foudy played for the USWNT from 1987 to 2004. During that time, she helped lead the U.S. to two FIFA World Cup titles (1991, 1999), two Olympic Gold Medals (1996, 2004), and one Olympic Silver Medal (2000) among other feats. Julie has always been a leader. She served as the USWNT co-captain from 1991-2000 before accepting the role as sole captain from 2000-2004. Julie was inducted into the National Soccer Hall of Fame in 2007. Since retiring from competition, she has served as the President of the Women’s Sports Foundation. She runs the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy for girls age 12-18. The soccer and lacrosse summer camp teaches young women the values of leadership through sports. I am truly excited to have Ms. Foudy speak at the 2020 Annual Meeting as we look to understand and embrace the future.
One way you can help prepare for the future is to complete the SGO 2020 Practice Survey, which is now open to full and advanced practice provider members. The data derived from this five-year benchmarking tool will provide insights into how gynecologic oncology will transform to meet patient needs in the coming years. I plan to report key findings from the survey in my Presidential Address.
The Practice Survey Task Force, led by Drs. Barbara Goff and David Kushner, has gone to great lengths to streamline the survey in order to expeditiously glean the most useful data. They have condensed the survey from 189 to 100 questions so it should take no more than 30 minutes to complete (down from approximately 90 minutes). Questions are customized based on the respondent’s profession.
Please make it your priority to complete this survey, for the betterment of gynecologic oncology. Members who do so will receive a free electronic copy of the results and be entered to win a free registration to the SGO 2020 Annual Meeting.
The survey was sent by email on Aug. 15 from SurveyGizmo and AMC, an independent market research firm and our partner for this study. To ensure you receive the next reminder, please add noreply@surveygizmo.com and invites@mailer.surveygizmo.com to your Safe Senders list.
Other ways you can contribute to the culture of teamwork in gynecologic oncology is to renew your membership in SGO for 2020 and volunteer to serve on a committee. Watch for the call for volunteers and renewal notices coming this fall, so you can be an active contributor on the winning team that is SGO.
Finally, you can help me in my personal pursuit to create the “perfect” OR music playlist by sharing up to three of your favorite songs here. Perhaps you will hear yours at some point during the 2020 Annual Meeting.
Go team!
Sincerely,
Warner K. Huh, MD
SGO President