ACOG Announcements

Declared candidates for national office for May 2014-May 2015, listed by office.

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:26:47 -0400

Declared candidates for national office for the term May 2014 to May 2015 are listed by office. They appeared before the Committee on Nominations and interested members at the National Officer Candidates Forum on May 8 at the 2013 Annual Clinical Meeting in New Orleans, LA.

National officers are elected for May 2013 - May 2014.

Fri, 17 May 2013 15:11:21 -0400

Today, The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) announced the election of John C. Jennings, MD, of Texas, as President Elect; Ben H. Cheek, MD, of Georgia, as Secretary; Paul G. Tomich, MD, of Nebraska, as Fellow-at-Large; and Michelle Y. Owens, MD, MS, of Mississippi, as Young Physician-at-Large. They will assume their respective offices on May 9, 2013.

The May issue of Monthly Member E-Source is now online.

Thu, 16 May 2013 16:49:03 -0400

Welcome to the ACOG “Monthly Member E-Source.” You will be able to select and click on an item from the list of contents. The items will either direct you to a document in this issue or will direct you to a location on the ACOG website.

The 2014-2017 District & Section Fellow Elections are accepting candidates for office! The deadline for submission is June 1st.

Wed, 15 May 2013 13:30:16 -0400

2014-2017 CALL FOR CANDIDATES: How to Apply, June 1st Deadline

June 1st is the deadline for candidates to submit their nomination information for the Junior Fellow District Officer elections.

Mon, 13 May 2013 15:05:52 -0400

June 1st is the deadline for candidates to submit their nomination information for the Junior Fellow District Officer elections.

FDA warns of Covidien Surgical Stapler Reloads labeled as sterile but stolen before product sterilization.

Mon, 13 May 2013 13:08:10 -0400

The FDA is issuing this communication to inform you that the Covidien Endo GIA Articulating 60-3.5 Surgical Stapler Reloads with lot number N3B0165LX were stolen from the manufacturer before they were sterilized. Although these devices were packaged and labeled as sterile, they are not sterile. The FDA is aware that some of these stolen and unsterile products have been offered for sale.

Drs. Zabrek and Levine have posted their Computer Lab Presentation from the 61st ACM online.

Fri, 10 May 2013 10:15:27 -0400

ACOG Fellows Edward Zabrek, MD, the medical editor of iPhone Life Magazine, and Brian A. Levine, MD, MS, ACOG District II JFCAC member, have made their ACOG Computer Lab presentation from the 60th Annual Clinical Meeting (2012) available online.

The Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday print editions of the ACM News newspaper are now available online.

Wed, 08 May 2013 09:02:21 -0400

The Monday print edition of the ACM News newspaper is now available online.

Keep up on all the ACM news with our new online newspaper.

Mon, 06 May 2013 08:22:52 -0400

Keep up on all the ACM news with our new online newspaper.

ACOG app for iPhone and iPad is now available.

Sun, 05 May 2013 13:50:00 -0400

Ob-Gyns: Download the ACOG app for iPhone and iPad and stay connected with authoritative information from the leading experts in women’s health care. Get valuable updates on tools, resources, and clinical guidelines to help you in your practice.

"Social Media Professionalism in the Medical Community" program now available in the ACOG Bookstore.

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 15:03:08 -0400

This 4-minute DVD was developed by the Junior Fellow Congress Advisory Council (JFCAC) to foster awareness of the consequences of posting inappropriate information or unprofessional pictures while using social media and technology applications.

The new issue of ACOG Today is out—See how your ob-gyn colleagues are striving for a better work-life balance.

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:48:27 -0400

The new issue of ACOG Today is out -- See how your ob-gyn colleagues are striving for a better work-life balance.

ACOG praises court ruling lifting age restriction on emergency contraception.

Fri, 05 Apr 2013 16:42:01 -0400

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College) and the Society of Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) commend today’s ruling by a U.S. District Court that directs the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to allow over-the-counter access without age restriction to the emergency contraception (EC) product Plan B One-Step. This decision reflects the overwhelming evidence that emergency contraception is safe and effective for all women of reproductive age.

Sandra A. Carson, MD, appointed Vice President for Education.

Wed, 03 Apr 2013 07:00:11 -0400

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (The College) today announces that Sandra A. Carson, MD, has been appointed as its new vice president for education.

The USPSTF has released two new videos about the role the Task Force plays in preventive medicine and its process for developing evidence-based recommendations.

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 11:02:07 -0400

The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has released two new short videos about the role the Task Force plays in preventive medicine and its process for developing evidence-based recommendations.

The ePamphlets you need are just a click away!

Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:16:38 -0400

The ePamphlets Online Subscription (acog.epamphlets.org) is a web-based, print-on-demand patient education solution providing electronic access to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists women’s health pamphlets.

ACOG President James T. Breeden, MD releases statement on robotic surgery.

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 13:50:43 -0400

Many women today are hearing about the claimed advantages of robotic surgery for hysterectomy, thanks to widespread marketing and advertising. Robotic surgery is not the only or the best minimally invasive approach for hysterectomy. Nor is it the most cost-efficient. It is important to separate the marketing hype from the reality when considering the best surgical approach for hysterectomies.

FDA issues Drug Safety Communication warning: azithromycin can cause potentially fatal heart rhythms.

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 09:50:20 -0400

FDA is warning the public that azithromycin (Zithromax or Zmax) can cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart that may lead to a potentially fatal irregular heart rhythm. Patients at particular risk for developing this condition include those with known risk factors such as existing QT interval prolongation, low blood levels of potassium or magnesium, a slower than normal heart rate, or use of certain drugs used to treat abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. FDA has issued a Drug Safety Communication today as a result of our review of a study by medical researchers as well as another study by a manufacturer of the drug that assessed the potential for azithromycin to cause abnormal changes in the electrical activity of the heart.

The College releases list of "Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question."

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 09:21:02 -0500

Today The College released its list of "Five Things Physicians and Patients Should Question" in obstetrics-gynecology as part of the Choosing Wisely campaign, led by the ABIM Foundation.

The Green Journal to publish most articles ahead-of-print.

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 18:05:25 -0500

Beginning with the March 2013 issue, most research studies, commentaries, and articles in Obstetrics & Gynecology (excluding College documents, letters to the editor, and corrections) will now be published online ahead-of-print two weeks before the print mail date.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Endorses AAP Policy Statement on Circumcision.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:02:20 -0500

New scientific evidence shows the health benefits of newborn male circumcision outweigh the risks of the procedure, but the benefits are not great enough to recommend routine circumcision for all newborn boys, according to an updated policy statement published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).

ACOG Issues Statement on Rape and Pregnancy.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:02:04 -0500

Recent remarks by a member of the US House of Representatives suggesting that “women who are victims of ‘legitimate rape’ rarely get pregnant” are medically inaccurate, offensive, and dangerous.

ACOG President Applauds Supreme Court Ruling As Victory for Women's Health.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:01:52 -0500

ACOG teams up with text4baby.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:01:37 -0500

ACOG teams up with text4baby.

American Heart Association issues statement on sexual activity and cardiovascular disease.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:01:17 -0500

Sexual activity is an important component of patient and partner quality of life for men and women with cardiovascular disease (CVD), including many elderly patients.

The American Board of Obesity Medicine is offering certification in Obesity Medicine, ACOG Fellows could be eligible. ACOG is represented by Raul Artal, MD, FACOG.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:01:02 -0500

The newly established American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) is offering certification in the subspecialty of Obesity Medicine. ACOG Fellows which meet certain requirements could be eligible for board certification in Obesity Medcine. ACOG is represented on the ABOM board of directors by Raul Artal M.D.,FACOG,FACSM. Details regarding examination requirements and additional information can be found at: www.abom.org.

The National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality is recruiting hospitals for a nationwide learning collaborative to improve support for breastfeeding and to achieve Baby-Friendly designation.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 11:00:30 -0500

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective preventive health measures for infants and mothers. The National Initiative for Childrens Healthcare Quality (NICHQ), with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is leading a nationwide effort in close partnership with Baby-Friendly USA to help hospitals improve maternity care and increase the number of Baby-Friendly hospitals in the United States.

DHHS Office of Women's Health offers heart disease CME and slide sets for ob-gyns.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:59:48 -0500

DHHS Office of Women's Health offers heart disease CME and slide sets for ob-gyns.

FDA Drug Safety Communication: Updated information about the risk of blood clots in women taking birth control pills containing drospirenone.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:59:33 -0500

This update is in follow-up to the FDA Drug Safety Communication posted on 9/26/11: Safety review update on the possible increased risk of blood clots with birth control pills containing drospirenone.

CMCS comments on the FDA's Updated Statement on Compounded Versions of Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate (the active ingredient in Makena).

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:59:18 -0500

FDA (or the Agency) approved Makena (hydroxyprogesterone caproate) in February 2011 for the reduction of the risk of certain preterm births in women who have had at least one prior preterm birth. Beginning many years before Makena was approved, a version of the active ingredient of Makena has been available to patients whose physicians requested the drug from a pharmacist who compounded the drug.

Glenmark Generics issues recall of triphasic norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol birth control pill.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:59:04 -0500

Glenmark Generics issues recall of triphasic norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol birth control pill.

Information Update on 17α-Hydroxyprogesterone Caproate (17P) from the College and SMFM.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:58:47 -0500

ACOG Fellow Ken Milne, MD, has finished his term as president and CEO of patient safety MORE OB Program.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:58:25 -0500

ACOG Fellow Ken Milne, MD, has finished his term as president and CEO of patient safety MOREOB Program.

New Cervical Cancer Screening Recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and the American Cancer Society/American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology/American Society for Clinical Pathology

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:57:57 -0500

Today, new recommendations for cervical cancer screening are being released by two separate groups: the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) and a multidisciplinary partnership among the American Cancer Society/American Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology/American Society for Clinical Pathology (ACS/ASCCP/ASCP).

Pfizer announces recall of 28 lots of Lo-Ovral/28 and generic version.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:57:29 -0500

Pfizer announces recall of 28 lots of Lo-Ovral/28 and generic version.

The FDA released Questions and Answers on Updated FDA Statement on Compounded Versions of hydroxyprogesterone caproate (the active ingredient in Makena) on June 29th.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:56:51 -0500

On June 29, 2012, the Food & Drug Administration released Questions and Answers on Updated FDA Statement on Compounded Versions of hydroxyprogesterone caproate (the active ingredient in Makena). Physicians should be aware of this latest information from the FDA.

Sandoz announces recall of Introvale (levonorgestrel and ethinyl estradiol) tablets.

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 10:56:15 -0500

Sandoz notified the public that it issued a voluntary recall of 10 lots of its generic oral contraceptive Introvale in the US, following a recent report of a packaging flaw.

FDA announces doxycycline shortage and CDC-approved alternatives available for STD treatment.

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 15:48:03 -0500

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported a shortage of doxycycline on January 18, 2013. Doxycycline is a recommended therapy for some sexually transmitted infections and syndromes including chlamydia, nongonococcal urethritis, epididymitis and pelvic inflammatory disease. It is also an alternative therapy for syphilis in patients with a penicillin allergy.

First SCOPE Certified offices announced.

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 11:05:01 -0500

The Safety Certification in Outpatient Practice Excellence (SCOPE) for Women’s Health Program is proud to announce its first ten SCOPE Certified offices.

PROLOG eModules are a brand new concept merging the best attributes of PROLOG and PRECIS into an online modular format, and are now available online.

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:45:59 -0500

PROLOG (Personal Review of Learning in Obstetrics and Gynecology) is a voluntary, confidential, self-evaluation program. The PROLOG eModules are a brand new concept merging the best attributes of PROLOG and PRECIS into an online modular format and focuses on specific topics in obstetrics and gynecology. The PROLOG eModules are developed specifically as a learning resource for the practicing obstetrician-gynecologist. The content is carefully selected and presented as a PreTest of multiple choice questions that are clinically oriented, followed by rich, up-to-date text on the topic, and concluding with a PostTest of the same multiple choice questions. After completing the Post-Test, the correct answers are given with a brief explanation. The questions are designed to stimulate and challenge physicians in areas of medical care that they confront in their practices, or when they work as consultant obstetrician-gynecologists.

Medscape has released a video by the CDC based on ACOG Committee Opinion No. 496: At-Risk Drinking and Alcohol Dependence.

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:53:00 -0500

Hello. I am Dr. Joe Sniezek with CDC's Division of Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. I am pleased to speak to you as part of the CDC Expert Commentary Series on Medscape. Today I will discuss how to detect, and intervene with, women who drink alcohol at risky levels, based on guidance from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

The Ob-Gyn Distribution Atlas, ACOG's new publication that offers a visual representation of the Ob-Gyn Workforce, is now available online.

Tue, 22 Jan 2013 16:23:46 -0500

As the population grows and the demand for women's health care expands, the supply of ob-gyns is predicted to be insufficient in many locations. This collection of maps on national, district, and state scales provides a snapshot of two key areas in access to care: 1) where ob-gyns practice relative to the population and 2) the drive time required for patients to reach a hospital with a maternity center.

The College Speaks Out About Legislative Interference in Medical Practice.

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:42:24 -0500

The New England Journal of Medicine (October 18, 2012) has published “Legislative Interference with the Patient-Physician Relationship,” a joint Sounding Board editorial by The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, ACP, AAFP, AAP, and ACS.

VIDEO: Barbara S. Levy, MD, Explains New Cervical Cancer Screening Recommendations.

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:41:17 -0500

The change to longer intervals between Pap tests for most women may raise concerns among your patients. ACOG Vice President of Health Policy Barbara S. Levy, MD, breaks down what the new cervical cancer screening recommendations mean to women. Watch the YouTube video and click the “share” button (top right corner of viewer) to embed on your patient website or share on social media.

New CDC Guidelines: Gonorrhea treatment now requires intramuscular plus oral antibiotic.

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:40:37 -0500

Gonorrhea is a major cause of serious reproductive complications in women and can facilitate human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission (1). Effective treatment is a cornerstone of U.S. gonorrhea control efforts, but treatment of gonorrhea has been complicated by the ability of Neisseria gonorrhoeae to develop antimicrobial resistance.

ACOG/SMFM Update on Drug Product Recalls.

Tue, 15 Jan 2013 21:38:28 -0500

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced on October 31, 2012, that Ameridose, LLC, based in Westborough, Mass., is voluntarily recalling all of its unexpired products in circulation. Ameridose is a company sharing common management by the same parties as New England Compounding Center (NECC) of Framingham, Massachusetts, the firm associated with compounded drugs linked to the ongoing fungal meningitis outbreak.

The Maintenance of Certification (MOC) part 3 practice exam is now available from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology under the Announcements at www.abog.org

Wed, 02 Jan 2013 12:09:12 -0500

The Maintenance of Certification (MOC) part 3 practice exam is now available from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology under the Announcements at www.abog.org.

ACOG/SMFM Update on New England Compounding Center.

Mon, 29 Oct 2012 09:54:27 -0400

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The Massachusetts Department of Public Health are working together on a multi-state investigation involving a potentially contaminated epidural steroid injection produced and distributed by New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, Massachusetts.

Please ensure ACOG continues to have a strong voice in the AMA.

Tue, 02 Oct 2012 17:05:13 -0400

We need your help. AMA records show that the number of ACOG members who have designated ACOG to represent them in the AMA House of Delegates (HOD) has decreased, putting us in danger of losing voting delegates--your voice--in this important policy-setting body.

A new Statement of Policy on Global Women's Health and Rights was approved by the Executive Board.

Wed, 08 Aug 2012 12:35:22 -0400

A new Statement of Policy on Global Women's Health and Rights was approved by the Executive Board.

New terminology for HPV-associated lower anogenital squamous lesions approved by CAP and ASCCP.

Mon, 16 Jul 2012 12:45:43 -0400

The terminology for human papillomavirus (HPV)–associated squamous lesions of the lower anogenital tract has a long history marked by disparate diagnostic terms derived from multiple specialties. It often does not reflect current knowledge of HPV biology and pathogenesis. A consensus process was convened to recommend terminology unified across lower anogenital sites. The goal was to create a histopathologic nomenclature system that reflects current knowledge of HPV biology, optimally uses available biomarkers, and facilitates clear communication across different medical specialties.

FDA directs urogynecologic mesh companies to study safety and effectiveness; recommendations for clinicians unchanged.

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:16:46 -0500

On January 4, 2012, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a new action requiring manufacturers of urogynecologic surgical mesh devices to complete postmarket surveillance studies to assess the safety and effectiveness of these products. The FDA issued 88 postmarket study orders to 33 manufacturers of urogynecologic surgical mesh for pelvic organ prolapse and 11 postmarket study orders to seven manufacturers of single-incision mini-slings for stress urinary incontinence.