American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists 54th Annual Clinical Meeting
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists held its 54th annual clinical meeting May 6-10 in Washington, D.C. The meeting attracted more than 10,000 obstetricians, gynecologists, researchers, medical students, residents in training and other attendees, according to Joseph Sanfilippo, M.D., M.B.A., the meeting's Scientific Program Chairman.
"The meeting was a major success based on the attendance and by every parameter -- we had over 4,000 health care professionals from every state and many countries, which is an extremely high number," said Sanfilippo, a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. "Those attending said it was one of the best meetings in terms of educational benefits, new technology, and introducing physicians to new things they can add to their clinical practice."
One goal of the meeting was to expose practicing physicians and researchers to the most up-to-date issues involving their clinical practice, according to Sanfilippo. For instance, the keynote speaker, Jerome Strauss III, M.D., Ph.D., of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, discussed how molecular biology can be applied to clinical practice, he said.
During the meeting, an ACOG panel recommended that girls seek a first meeting with an ob-gyn or adolescent medicine specialist between ages 13 and 15, "not for a pelvic exam but for a gynecologic encounter, to prevent date rape and pregnancy and talk about abstinence," Sanfilippo said.
More discussion involved stem cells and their future potential in obstetrics and gynecology. "This as it applies to reproductive medicine, not just infertility, but all kinds of things, including rebuilding damaged hearts and stuff like that," Sanfilippo said.
One major focus of the meeting was simulation training for obstetricians and gynecologists. "It's cutting-edge. This applied what we can learn from the airline industry and the military and gave a whole new perspective on how to train residents in training and physicians in practice," said Sanfilippo. "It was fascinating.
Also featured were hands-on post-graduate courses on advanced gynecologic surgery, said Sanfilippo. This included robotic surgery to instruct physicians about the latest obstetrical ultrasound techniques. "And we had a cadaver course off-site on urogynecology, and specific techniques to address urinary incontinence. That got a lot of attention."
During a live tele-surgery session, three surgeons from different parts of the country performed three different surgical procedures on-camera and interacted with the audience during the operation, Sanfilippo said. Several interactive sessions focused on management dilemmas, and ways of evaluating a medical problem, and some sessions were held in Spanish, he said.
Teenage Girls Should Make First Ob-Gyn Visit at 13 to 15
MONDAY, May 15 (HealthDay News) -- Teenage girls should pay their first visit to the gynecologist between ages 13 and 15, according to a committee opinion released during the annual clinical meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Washington, D.C., and published in the May issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
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