Change is inevitable. Growth is optional. If you are looking for the opportunity to grow your knowledge and skills, apply for an IUGA Observership Grant today! The purpose of the Observership Grant is to offset the costs of visiting an approved host site with proven expertise in a specific area of urogynecology, selected by the applicant. Recipients spend 2-4 weeks at the host site learning and honing their skills. Observership grants are available in three categories.
Learn from IUGA President, Lynsey Hayward, what has kept IUGA so busy over the last year and what we are doing to better serve our members!
The world is becoming more global and so is IUGA! The International Advisory Board (IAB) of IUGA ensures that regional and local needs and perspectives are reflected in the strategic direction, policies, and projects of the association.
The IAB meets with and provides counsel to the Board of Directors and is responsible for identifying opportunities for scientific, educational and other supportive activities in their respective regions. IAB members are elected by a majority vote of the regular voting members in the region they represent.
We recognize that Asia represents nearly half of the world’s population and that it is extremely challenging for one IAB member to properly represent the needs of the medical professionals and their patients across such a distance and so many countries and cultures.
With this in mind, the IUGA membership has approved a bylaw amendment expanding the IAB Board by creating four distinct IAB positions for Asia. Our goal is to better allow us to serve our members in these regions, and in turn, allow them to better serve their patients. For more details on the locations that the new IAB members represent within the Asian region, please see the list of countries below.
Call for Nominations
This is your chance! We are now looking for motivated IUGA members to represent from each of these regions on the International Advisory Board (IAB).
IUGA is accepting nominations for the elected positions listed below. Nominations must be received by Friday, August 24 at 11:59 PM EDT. Voting will take place between Saturday, September 15 and Monday, October 15, 2018. Please note that only members from the respective regions can be nominated and/or vote.
International Advisory Board (IAB)
- Central and Eastern Asia - 3-year term, non-renewable
- Southern Asia - 3-year term, non-renewable
- Southeastern Asia - 3-year term, non-renewable
- Western Asia - 3-year term, non-renewable
*Terms for the above positions will begin January 1, 2019.
Nomination Process
As specified in the by-laws, the Nominating Committee will receive all nominations, will review them and may add additional nominees if it is considered by the Committee to be in the best interest of the association.
Nominations may be submitted via email to the IUGA Executive Office at
Those making nominations are asked to reflect on the qualifications related to the position for which they are nominating a candidate.
The candidate must fulfill the requirements below:
- Minimum active membership in IUGA: 5 years
- Be a resident in the region to be represented
- Previous significant contribution to IUGA (e.g. hosting or organizing an Annual Meeting, Regional Symposium or eXchange) AND/OR recognition as a significant contributor to regional urogynecology research and education activities
- Attended IUGA Annual Meeting in 3 of past 5 years
The duties of IAB members are to:
- Meet with and counsel the Board of Directors
- Serve as a member of the IUGA Membership Committee
- Identify opportunities for symposia and other educational activities in their respective home region
- Promote IUGA and its activities and membership benefits
The Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee is chaired by the immediate past president, and includes the president, two elected members, and one member appointed by the president. The current members of the Nominating Committee are:
- Bob Freeman, Chair (Immediate Past President)
- Lynsey Hayward (President)
- Stavros Athanasiou (Member-at-Large)
- Suvit Baunyavejchevin (Member-at-Large)
- Michael Moen (Appointed)
Central and Eastern Asia
Afghanistan
Hong Kong
Japan
Kazakhstan
Kyrgyzstan
Macau
Mongolia
North Korea
People's Republic of China
South Korea
Taiwan
Tajikistan
Turkmenistan
Uzbekistan
Southern Asia
Bangladesh
Bhutan
India
Maldives
Nepal
Pakistan
Sri Lanka
Southeastern Asia
Brunei Darussalam
Cambodia
Indonesia
Laos
Malaysia
Myanmar
Philippines
Singapore
Thailand
Timor-Leste
Vietnam
Western Asia
Armenia
Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Georgia
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Lebanon
Oman
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
State of Palestine
Syria
United Arab Emirates
Yemen
Save the Date: Chennai, India Regional Symposium
Location: The Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University
Dates: September 07 -09, 2018
Local Host: Urogynecology & Reconstructive, Pelvic, Surgery, Society of India (URPSSI)
Register at: http://www.urpssi.org/events/register
Click here for more information
Click here for program details
Save the Date: Henan, China Regional Symposium
Location: The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University
Dates: August 4-5, 2018
Local Host: Chinese Medical Association (CMA)
Registration Coming Soon!
Click here for more information including program details.
IUGA has launched its first online CME module, Chronic Genito-pelvic Pain and Overactive Pelvic Floor, on IUGA Academy. Members may earn 2.75 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM after completing all 5 modules and the evaluation. This free course is suitable for gynecologists, urogynecologists, physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists, nurses, midwives, gastroenterologists, colo-proctoloists, sex therapists and sexologists or other allied health professionals interested in overactive pelvic floor conditions (and trainees in these disciplines).
The Annual Business Meeting of IUGA membership will be held on Friday, June 29, from 04:30 p.m. - 06:00 p.m. at the Austria Center Vienna, Vienna, Austria. All IUGA members are encouraged to attend.
Minutes from the 2017 Annual Business Meeting may be found here (members only).
On April 17, 2018, the National Health Service (NHS) published a retrospective review of surgery for urogynecological prolapse and stress urinary incontinence using tape or mesh. Read the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gyncacologists (RCOG) statement in response to the review here.
IUGA is now accepting nominations for the elected positions listed below.*
Nominations must be received by Friday, June 22, 2018.
Board of Directors
- Vice President - 2-year term, then ascends to President
- Treasurer - 2-year term, renewable once
International Advisory Board (IAB)
- Asia Representative - 3-year term, non-renewable
Committee Chairs
- Scientific Committee Chair - 2-year term, non-renewable
- Terminology & Standardization Committee Chair - 2-year term, renewable once
Committee Members
- Nominating Committee Member-at-Large (2 positions) - 2-year term, non-renewable
*Terms for the above positions will begin January 1, 2019.
Nomination Process
As specified in the by-laws, the Nominating Committee will receive all nominations, will review them and will present the proposed nominees at the IUGA Annual Business meeting at 4:30pm on Friday, June 29, 2018 in Vienna, Austria. Nominations may be taken from the floor during the Annual Business Meeting. The Nominating Committee may add additional nominees if it is considered by the Committee to be in the best interest of the association.
Nominations may be submitted via email to the IUGA Executive Office at
Those making nominations are asked to reflect on the qualifications related to the position for which they are nominating a candidate. Qualifications can be reviewed in the pdf file below.
The Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee is chaired by the immediate past president, and includes the president, two elected members, and one member appointed by the president. The current members of the Nominating Committee are:
- Bob Freeman, Chair (Immediate Past President)
- Lynsey Hayward (President)
- Stavros Athanasiou (Member-at-Large)
- Suvit Baunyavejchevin (Member-at-Large)
- Michael Moen (Appointed)