Meet Your Board Member: Dudley Robinson, MBBS, MD, FRCOG

Dudley is a consultant urogynecologist and honorary senior lecturer at Kings College Hospital in London, UK. He joined the IUGA Board at the beginning of 2020.

Spotlight: How long have you been an IUGA member?
Robinson: 21 years. One of my favorite memories is being chased by Peter Sand to “pay my dues.”

Spotlight: What was your path to a board position within IUGA?
Robinson: I increased my involvement in IUGA first by presenting at Annual Meetings. I then served on the Nominating Committee, then the Scientific Committee as a member and then chair. I then ran and was elected as Secretary of IUGA.

Spotlight: What is your role on the IUGA Board?
Robinson: As IUGA Secretary I am involved with the general decision-making and overall running of IUGA. The role of Secretary also involves helping to plan the Annual Meeting and liaising with the Scientific Committee.

Spotlight: What motivates you to be a volunteer leader for IUGA?
Robinson: My mentor, Linda Cardozo (IUGA President 1998-2000) always encouraged me to attend and participate, so I joined IUGA as a fellow in 1999. I really enjoyed attending the meetings (my first was the Joint meeting with ICS in Denver in 1999). I was always slightly in awe of the experts within the field who were lecturing and presenting their work. This made me realize that I wanted to be part of the organization; I was keen to participate and give as much as my time as possible. Since then I have realized that IUGA has a unique feel; it is like being part of a large family and through IUGA I have made lifelong friends who have mentored me and given me invaluable support over the years. I now hope to offer the same support to those new members and fellows who are IUGA members.

Spotlight: What do you wish all members knew about IUGA or that you could say to all members?
Robinson: I think IUGA has a unique feel; nurturing and supportive whilst also dynamic and inventive. The Board is very conscious that our current fellows will be our future opinion leaders and we are keen to support and mentor their development as much as we can. IUGA has given me great opportunities; to meet experts in urogynecology from around the world (often in amazing locations) and to learn from them. Linda Cardozo said to me several years ago that being part of the meeting, by presenting and contributing, allowed you to gain so much more from being an IUGA member and I completely agree. By being part of the IUGA family I have learned a huge amount, about urogynecology but also about teamwork, training, and career development. More importantly I have enjoyed, and continue to enjoy, every minute of it!

Spotlight: What’s the most exotic place you have traveled?
Robinson: In 2006 I married Alex, who is a gynecological oncologist, and on our honeymoon we travelled via Bonaire to Ecuador and then on to the Galapagos Islands before returning via Peru and hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu. Linda even gave me three weeks off work (although told everyone else it was a month)!

Spotlight: What’s your favorite food?
Robinson: Hmm. This is a difficult one. Whilst I am an acknowledged omnivore, we now tend to eat less meat. I enjoy most foods including traditional English dishes, European, and also Indian and Chinese. I also enjoy wine and particularly a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Perhaps it’s time for a meeting in Auckland? 

Spotlight: What’s the last book you read?
Robinson: Around two years ago I felt I should read the John Le Carré novels. I started at the beginning and finished them earlier this year. To read them in sequence was a great experience and it was interesting to see how he constantly evolved to mirror the changes in politics and the end of the Cold War. My favorite: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold.

Spotlight: What are your hobbies?
Robinson: I am a keen cyclist and enjoy getting out and about on my bike whenever I can… even if just cycling around London. I am a keen skier and have skied for over 50 years. Luckily Alex and the boys (Felix and Oscar) share my enthusiasm. In addition, we are all keen walkers and enjoy spending time in Cornwall and the Lake District where I grew up.