Dear Colleagues,
As we approach the end of 2021, I would like to take a moment to thank all of you for the progress you have made to provide top tier care for our gynecologic oncology patients. As I reflect on the challenges of the past year, I am extremely proud to look around and see such dedication and resilience in our members. This was palpable while attending the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO) Allied Health Professionals Meeting in Chicago in October, 2021. I am grateful to the organizers of SGO’s first-ever hybrid meeting: Evonne Kandas, MS, WHCNP/FNP-BC; Katie Lyle, WHNP-BC, NP-C; and Nicole Dreibelbis, CRNP.
As we prepare for the next year, we find ourselves looking for innovative ways to approach our work within the subspecialty of gynecologic oncology. This includes everything from patient care–given the current limitations in health care workforce–to outreach, to the development of accessible accredited education and dissemination of research for health care practitioners in the form of hybrid meetings and online resources. Such a comprehensive approach will require diversity of thought, approach, expertise and perspective. To address this, we need leaders, committee members and volunteers reflective of a variety of backgrounds. We are actively growing our pipeline of SGO and Foundation for Women’s Cancer (FWC) volunteers through multiple initiatives including that of the Leadership Institute, supported by the FWC.
The #MoveTheMessage campaign initiated by the FWC is an important part of our outreach efforts, as we strive to drive access to education materials among historically marginalized communities. I would encourage you to look at the series of patient brochures on the MoveTheMessage.org webpage that were recently updated by members of the Patient Education Committee, chaired by Nita, Lee, MD, MPH. The materials are truly inspirational.
In order to prepare for a changing health care landscape, it’s important to have solid data to inform our decisions. We need to understand who our members are in order to address needs and disparities within our own Society. We also need to collect member demographic data to ensure we are addressing gaps in membership for development of future leaders. From the perspective of care, many of our patients look for health care practitioners they can identify with in order to build trust and address their unique needs. Once we understand where we have demographic gaps, we can partner with medical associations, societies, advocates and other organizations to help fill this gap in our membership or patient education needs.
All SGO members can assist us with this important data collection by filling out your profile when you log into the new SGO member portal. You can fill out your profile when you are renewing your membership. Please renew your SGO membership by Friday, Dec. 31 to maintain your membership status and access to discounts for SGO education products and meetings, as well as networking access to your colleagues.
In order to better serve the patients we treat and represent the full breadth of our membership, we are also striving for greater diversity in SGO leadership. You can all be a part of that by participating in the SGO Board Elections. By now, all voting eligible members should have received a ballot from noreply@directvote.net. For the first time, the SGO Board of Directors will include dedicated positions for a Community Practice-Based member, an Associate member and an Early Career member. As you read the personal narratives of these candidates, I think you will be inspired by their breadth of perspective and expertise. Our engagement and participation in this process is essential to the continued growth, evolution and dedication to optimal practice of our subspecialty. Voting ends at 11:59 p.m. CT on Thursday, Dec. 16, and I encourage all of you to cast your ballot if you haven’t done so already.
In spite our current era of uncertainty, we have so much to look forward to in the coming year. Your future SGO Presidents, Stephanie Blank, MD, and Angeles Alvarez Secord, MD, and FWC Chair Ginger Gardner, MD, are already pouring their efforts into the bright future of our Society and ensuring that we address members’ needs.
I eagerly anticipate seeing many of you on Jan. 27-29, 2022, at the SGO Winter Meeting in Olympic Valley, CA, and our SGO 2022 Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer on March 18-21, 2022, in Phoenix, AZ. The Winter Meeting program chairs Wendel Naumann, MD, Ritu Salani, MD, and Jeb Brown, MD and the SGO Annual Meeting program chairs, Amanda Nickles Fader, MD, and Sarah Adams, MD, are working diligently to ensure that you will have a phenomenal, safe experience. The meeting in Phoenix will be our first fully hybrid Annual Meeting, so if you can’t join us in Phoenix, I encourage you to be a part of this event online.
As we explore new initiatives and chart new paths forward, I am most proud to call you, the best and brightest, my colleagues and friends. Have a safe and happy holiday season, and feel free to reach out to me at diane.yamada@sgo.org with your ideas and feedback.
Sincerely,
S. Diane Yamada
SGO President