Because we are always looking for ways to better serve our busy members, the IUGA Academy is now available on-the-go! Download the new app for free and check out all of the educational opportunities- now available on your smartphone! To check it out, click here!
Do you want present in a workshop or roundtable session at the AUGS/IUGA Scientific Meeting in 2019? Until February 1, 2019, we are accepting proposals for workshops and roundtables. To find out more or to submit your workshop or roundtable, click here.
Observed since 1985, International Volunteer Day (December 5) provides us a chance to recognize the many volunteers who contribute to the success of IUGA. It takes many hands to keep an association like IUGA moving forward and best in the field. While some volunteers are very visible, others remain behind the scenes, but their contributions are just as important. Today we thank ALL of our volunteers – over 1,100!! – who shared their time, talent, and expertise with us in 2018.
We are pleased to announce the 2018 IUGA Observership Grant Recipients. One $4,000 USD grant is awarded to a trainee, fellow, or physician-in-training, and one to a consultant from a least developed country, as defined by the World Bank. A third grant in the amount of $2,000 USD is awarded to an IUGA member who does not meet the criteria for either of the other grant categories.
This year’s recipients are:
- Fatimat Motunrayo Akinlusi (Nigeria) hosted by Ranee Thakar and Abdul Sultan at Croydon University Hospital (United Kingdom)
- Merry Gong (Canada) hosted by Ranee Thakar and Abdul Sultan at Croydon University Hospital (United Kingdom)
- Hedwig Neels (Belgium) hosted by Hans Peter Dietz at the University of Sydney, Nepean Clinical School (Australia)
We expect the next Observership Grant application cycle to open in Spring 2019. To learn more about these awards, visit www.iuga.org/grants/observership.
Now available: the newest IUGA Podcast by Albert De Decker
Season 2 Episode 1 - How to read and write an article
'Why is scientific reading and writing still necessary, where lie the pitfalls and where lies the beauty?'
Interviews with the panel of experts; Professor Jean Jacques Amy, Professor Jason Abbott, Dr Vanessa Jordan and Professor Peter Dwyer
To check it out, click here
No Vice President candidate received over 50% of the vote in the recently completed IUGA elections. A run-off election is therefore required between the top two candidates.
All members are asked to log onto the IUGA website and vote for one Vice President candidate before December 7.
Our organization is dependent on the expertise and time our members voluntarily contribute. We need the best skills, passion, and varied perspectives to continue building on our success. If you are looking to enrich your IUGA experience and contribute to the field of Urogynecology in a new and rewarding way, now is your chance! We are accepting applications for openings on the following committees:
• Education Committee
• Fellows & Trainees Committee
• Membership Committee
• Publications Committee
• Public Relations Committee
• Research & Development Committee
• Terminology & Standardization Committee
Applications will be accepted through November 30, 2018 at 11:59pm CST. Descriptions of the committees can be found below.
Eligibility
Membership on IUGA's committees is open to all interested physicians, non-physicians, and physicians in training who hold current membership in IUGA. The intent is for committee membership to mirror the geographic diversity of the IUGA Membership.
Members are limited to serving on only one committee at any given time, with the exception of Fellows & Trainees Committee members who may also be assigned to another committee to represent the trainee perspective across the organization.
Term
Members added to IUGA committees as a result of this Call for Committee Volunteers will have a term start date of January 1, 2019. The length of the term is listed below specific to each committee.
Apply
To apply for a committee position, please email the following to
• Name of the committee to which you are applying
• A brief statement of interest explaining why you are interested in serving on the committee, including any relevant experience you have to the work of the committee
• CV (in English)
• Disclosure Form (complete HERE)
• Letter on institutional letterhead verifying your enrollment in a fellowship/physician-in-training program (this item only applies to applicants to the Fellows & Trainees Committee)
The above items must all be received by Friday, November 30, 2018, in order for your application to be considered complete. Only complete applications will be forwarded to Committee Chairs for consideration.
Education Committee
Chairperson: Catherine Matthews
Term Length: 3 years
Description: The Education Committee develops, promotes, and maintains the educational offerings of the association, including the IUGA Academy. It oversees the program content for Regional Symposia and eXchange programs, and reviews applications submitted for Endorsed Programs and observership grants. The Education Committee also conducts the workshop selection process for the Annual Meeting and guides other educational activities of the association. Members of the Education Committee are assigned to one of three subcommittees (Workshop Subcommittee, Program Subcommittee, or E-learning Subcommittee).
Fellows & Trainees Committee
Chairperson: Svjetlana Lozo
Term Length: 2 years
Description: The main duty of the IUGA Fellows & Trainees Committee is to contribute to the academic development of fellows in the field of urogynecology/female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery by fostering international scholarship and making recommendations to the Education and Research & Development Committees regarding fellowship activities.
Special Application Instructions: In addition to submitting a statement of interest, CV, and disclosure form, applicants to the Fellows & Trainees Committee must also submit a letter on institutional letterhead verifying their enrollment in a fellowship/training program. This committee is open to urogynecology fellows/trainees and fellows in other specialties and allied health sciences who have an interest in pelvic floor disorders who are current IUGA members.
Membership Committee
Chairperson: Abdul Sultan
Term Length: 2 years
Description: The Membership Committee works in partnership with IUGA staff to develop and execute member recruitment and retention strategies and to provide input on membership-related processes.
Publications Committee
Chairperson: Debby Karp
Term Length: 3 years
Description: The Publications Committee publishes the official IUGA Newsletter quarterly, and tracks submitted content for inclusion in the Newsletter, online news posts, or on social media channels. Committee members are involved in writing and reviewing articles, finding authors for articles, and suggesting content.
Public Relations Committee
Chairperson: Olanrewaju Sorinola
Term Length: 3 years
Description: The Public Relations Committee is responsible for the development and management of media communications on behalf of IUGA to the community, patients, physicians and IUGA members. This includes developing content for patient information brochures and other educational materials for the Online Store and patient website. Members of the Social Media Subcommittee are responsible for contributing content for social media posts on a monthly basis and providing input on growing IUGA’s social media presence.
Special Application Instructions: Please indicate if you are especially interested in serving on the Social Media Subcommittee.
Research & Development Committee
Chairperson: Pallavi Latthe
Term Length: 3 years
Description: The Research & Development Committee is responsible for the IUGA Research Grants (in basic science and clinical research) and reviewing surveys and requests to disseminate surveys to the IUGA membership. The committee also develops and promotes research manuscripts and projects through its members and interested individuals. Specific expertise in urogynecology research (basic sciences and/or clinical) is required.
Terminology & Standardization Committee
Chairperson: Renaud de Tayrac (beginning 2019)
Term Length: 3 years
Description: The Terminology & Standardization Committee is responsible for the development, publication and subsequent management of IUGA documents related to terminology and standardization. At times, there will be joint projects with one or more other societies. Subsequent management includes translation of the published documents.
The International Urogynecology Journal is the official journal of the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) and is currently accepting applications for two Editor positions, plus a Social Media Coordinator.
Editors
The two new Editors will join a current team of two Editors-in-Chief and seven Editors and will be responsible for managing peer review of journal submissions and making editorial decisions, using the Editorial Manager online submission platform.
Preference will be given to candidates who meet the following criteria:
- Prior experience with the peer review process, research, and publications.
- A strong academic and clinical background.
- International academic connections and ability to add to the geographic diversity of the journal.
- Ability to work effectively with the Editors-in-Chief, Editorial Board Members, Reviewers, and Authors.
- Prior editorial experience.
- IUGA membership is required.
We encourage both self-nominations and recommendations for these 2 Editor positions. The Editors will be offered a fixed term of 6 years (renewable for no more than one term) and will receive complimentary registration and travel support to the IUGA Annual Meeting. Editors are expected to attend an annual Editors’ Meeting at the IUGA Annual Meeting and a biennial Publisher’s Meeting in New York City in person, and to participate in quarterly editor teleconferences.
Interested candidates should provide their CV, a cover letter explaining their interest in the position, and names of one to two references. Please send these materials to the IUJ Managing Editor, Ms. Lindsay MacMurray (
Social Media Coordinator
This new position reflects the IUJ’s commitment to explore ways of making more strategic use of various communications and social media channels. It will involve working closely both with the Editors-in-Chief and Editors, Springer (publisher), and the authors of published papers to promote the contents of the journal. The focus will be on developing a strategy to connect the journal’s existing presence in the different social media channels and then thinking through how these might be better integrated and optimized.
Candidate Specification:
Applicants must have experience of working across a range of social medial channels including Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Twitter etc. They should have strong creative and organizational skills, a willingness to work as part of a team and a commitment to the mission of the IUJ. The successful candidate must have experience using social media channels in their professional lives. Editorial experience is preferred. IUGA membership is required.
The Social Media Coordinator will be offered a fixed term of 6 years (renewable for no more than one term) and will receive complimentary registration to the IUGA Annual Meeting.
Interested candidates should provide their CV, a cover letter explaining their interest and qualifications for the position, and names of one to two references. Please send these materials to the IUJ Managing Editor, Ms. Lindsay MacMurray (
Join us in our mission to improve Pelvic Organ Prolapse treatment and related patient care in urogynecology by participating in the IUGA International Urogynecological Consultation (IUC).
We are looking for committee members to contribute to the IUC, which will produce papers to be published in the IUJ covering definitions, treatment options and evaluation of patients who suffer from Pelvic Organ Prolapse.
The first subject area of the IUC is focused on the epidemiology/pathophysiology/definition of POP and will be covered by five committees:
- Epidemiology of POP: Incidence/Prevalence, Natural History.
- Pathophysiology of POP: Risk Factors, Family History, Genetic Mutations
- Clinical definition of POP
- Patients perception of disease burden of POP
- Relationship of POP and associated morbidities/pelvic floor dysfunction (urinary incontinence/ voiding dysfunction, fecal incontinence, sexual dysfunction and pelvic pain)
Committee members will serve a three-year term. Committee members will be chosen by the Chair of the respective committee with input from the IUC Steering Committee.
For more information on the IUC and the role of committee members, a timeline summary, a detailed description of each of the committees, and information on how to apply, please click here.