Section Chair - Benjamin Kase, CPT, USA

Hello Army Members

This past week was the 57^th Annual Clinical Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists in Chicago, Illinois. The scientific program began on Monday May 4^th and continued through Wednesday May 6^th. I had the fortune of attending the meeting and had a terrific experience. The purpose of this newsletter is to summarize some of the highlights of the ACM meeting, provide an update on available resources, upcoming meetings, and what your junior fellow representatives are currently working on for you.

At this year’s Annual Clinical Meeting, there were endless educational opportunities. In addition to the traditional scientific program, there were “Post graduate Courses” which offered both didactic and hands on clinical skills training, interactive discussions/seminars, luncheon conferences, as well as posters and exhibitions. We had the fortune of learning from scientific experts from around the country and world.

This year there was also a record breaking medical student turnout, with 436 medical students registered, the highest ever before. We should extend congratulations to Dr Sarah Page (Armed Forces District Fellow) for her efforts in making this year’s Annual Medical Student Course the most successful ever.

The opening ceremonies were moderated by our outgoing president, Dr. Douglas Kirkpatrick, and included a series of interesting and thought provoking lectures on various subjects including patient safety, and women’s health advocacy. Dr Wachter (UCSF) gave an alarming lecture about the epidemic of medical errors in the health care system, and guidance for methods to prevent errors in the future. Ms. Fran Drescher, of the sitcom The Nanny, spoke about her personal experience with endometrial cancer, and her work with the US State Department as Public Diplomacy Envoy for Women's Health Issues.

At the AFD Junior Fellows Advisory Council Meeting we discussed a number of topics and issues pertinent to Junior Fellows. Dr Staat, our District Chair, summarized the JFCAC meeting, including newly elected college President Dr Gerald Joseph’s plan for focus on post partum depression. In addition, due to a number of factors, the JSOG/ACOG exchange program (formerly known as the Shingo Exchange) will be changing the number of residents sent each year from 11 per year to 6 in even years and 5 in odd years (with each district being represented over 2 years). This next years meeting will be held in Tokyo, Japan.

I had the fortune of participating in the JSOG/ACOG exchange this past April in Kyoto, Japan. We had a terrific time getting the opportunity to meet with physicians from around the globe and attend lectures on various topics, presented by leading physicians in their fields. Kyoto is also one of the most beautiful cities in the world, and it was a true pleasure to go sightseeing in our time away from the meeting. The JSOG/ACOG exchange program was a fantastic opportunity and learning experience and I consider myself very fortunate to have been invited. 

We also discussed a number of other issues. Each year there is a Congressional Leadership Conference with the purpose of teaching fellows about issues important to ACOG and then presenting them to congress.  Due to active duty officers not being allowed to lobby, we do not attend. However, there is now going to be a legislative advocacy topic on the CREOG exam. In the future we may have someone from CLC come to AFD to discuss advocacy vs. having a “code of conduct” in writing for any AFD attendees to participate in the CLC.

Deadlines

Please be sure to inform interested students about the Gibbons Medical Student Grants. The John Gibbons Award was created to allow medical students to travel to ACOG meetings to introduce them to the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Last year we had 9 applications for 3 spots. Please be sure to tell interested students that the due date for application to go to the AFD meeting is 01 August.   In addition, as part of an effort to improve medical student recruitment, a video detailing the variety of opportunities available in obstetrics and gynecology has been made for interested students. Please check out the link at: http://cine-med.com/acog/

We are once again looking for nominations for Professor of the Year. The deadline for submission is September 1^st. Please submit a CV and 2 letters of support in favor of your candidate. For a list of past years winners, please see: http://www.acog.org/acog_districts/dist_notice.cfm?recno=8&bulletin=165

For those interested in pursuing offices within ACOG, remember that elections are performed online, and District applications are due by 1 June. Section positions will be due by June 15^th. Please check out the ACOG homepage for further details.

Ongoing Projects/Future Projects

Base List

Over the last 2 years, we have compiled a listing of each OBGYN base in the Army and included information on each such as call load, surgery load, midwife coverage, and the number of deliveries to name a few. This list was designed to assist residents in obtaining more information about each post they might be considering. The list has recently been updated, but is not yet complete, and will be updated as new information becomes available. Please check out the site to learn more about your future MTFs.

Career Advancement

LT Kate Oliver (Navy Section Chair) and I are working together to put together a guide for promotion/military advancement for each branch of the military. At the National Capitol Consortium we have numerous senior officers representing all 3 branches to help guide junior officers in planning both their military and academic careers. The goal will be to provide a timetable/road map for your career.

Armed Forces District Meeting 2009

Tripler Army Medical Center will be hosting the 2009 AFD meeting in Honolulu, Hawaii on the 15-18^th of November. The conference will be at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort. This is a beautiful and large hotel right on Waikiki beach. For hotel information and reservations, visit http://www.hiltonfamilyhawaii.com/hilton-hawaii-village.aspx. The Armed Forces has been given an excellent room rate at this resort, which will be cheaper than staying at the Hale Koa (military resort). Please make sure to book your room at the Hilton. 

Please make sure to visit the Junior Fellow website frequently as the number of valuable resources will continue to grow in the coming months: http://www.acog.org/acog_districts/dist_web.cfm?recno=23

Lastly, at the Annual Business Meeting held, May 4^th, the national officers were elected for the upcoming year. This year, AFD member, Dr. Kevin Kiley (Lt Gen Ret) was elected as the college treasurer. We would like to extend congratulations to Dr. Kevin Kiley for this outstanding achievement.

I look forward to seeing you all at the AFD meeting in November. Please do not hesitate to contact me or the other officers with any questions, concerns, or ideas on how we can better serve you.