Dear colleagues, friends, and gynecologic oncology community,
Angeles Alvarez Secord, MD, MHSc
On behalf of the Society of Gynecology Oncology (SGO) and Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) Boards of Directors, Ginger Gardner, MD, and I congratulate Larry J. Copeland, MD, and Thomas J. Herzog, MD, on their outstanding service to our organizations, the GOG Foundation (GOG-F), and the broader gynecologic cancer community.
We congratulate and celebrate Dr. Copeland, who served as SGO President in 2006 and recently completed his six-year tenure as President of GOG-F in July 2023. Dr. Copeland was pivotal in the transition of the legacy Gynecologic Oncology Group into the current, vibrant GOG-F, with collaboration across the clinical trial platforms of both NRG Oncology and GOG Partners. His leadership in this accomplishment is historic as it set the stage for meaningful expansion of clinical trials in gynecologic cancers, created new avenues for trial design, and broadened opportunities for patient enrollment. Dr. Copeland has been an inspirational force for many. Before becoming a gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Copeland was a collegiate ice hockey player, which likely explains his focus on teamwork, strategy, and his frequent and well-placed use of sports analogies. His commitment to our profession has inspired us to think big and bigger. Dr. Copeland’s legacy will continue as he now serves as Immediate Past President of GOG-F.
We also want to extend our congratulations to Dr. Herzog who is now serving as the current President of the GOG-F. Dr. Herzog has been a valued leader for both the SGO and FWC over the years. He has served on numerous committees and held leadership roles such as SGO Education Committee Chair, SGO Board Member, FWC Research Grants and Awards Committee Chair, and FWC Board Member. Dr. Herzog also chaired the Industry Collaborative Task Force (subsequently renamed the SGO Industry Relations Committee), which created the Industry Corporate Council (ICC), a signature SGO program comprised of leaders in the pharmaceutical and device industry focused on collaborative initiatives and programs. In addition, he served on the integral team that helped combine the SGO Foundation for Gynecologic Oncology and FWC to become one foundation within SGO. Dr. Herzog’s inclusive style, alongside his commitments to listening, fairness, and innovation, are hallmarks of his leadership.
As the SGO and FWC, we look forward to working with Drs. Herzog and Copeland in their new roles. In 2022, we launched the SGO/FWC/GOG-F Steering Committee, a strategic partnership in our work together. Our successful collaboration has yielded the published joint statement on inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) in clinical trials; an upcoming January 2024 NRG Oncology symposium highlighting IDEA; several SGO/FWC/GOG-F communiques addressing the chemotherapy shortages; and a career development research grant award.
This meaningful partnership has continued to expand, with the ultimate goal to improve patient outcomes and accelerate cancer research. Our unifying culture has and will continue to maximally leverage opportunities for synergistic collaboration, and further our collective vision where everyone has the power to impact, prevent, overcome, and eradicate gynecologic cancers.