Nation’s Obstetrician–Gynecologists Gather Virtually to Improve Women’s Health Care at Annual ACOG Meeting

Washington, DC – The nation’s leading health care professionals and researchers are convening virtually for the Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting (ACSM) of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), which opens today. This will be the 68th ACSM and the first to be held virtually. The three-day event will feature a variety of engaging live and on-demand educational content addressing pressing issues facing women’s health care and the latest in clinical developments and patient care practices. The 2021 meeting theme is Personalizing Care: A Way to the Future.

“The Annual Meeting is a critical gathering for our profession,” said Eva Chalas, MD, FACOG, FACS, president of ACOG. “I am thrilled that by convening a virtual meeting, we are gathering safely to share the knowledge, ideas, and strategies that will improve how we address key issues in women’s health and deliver the highest-quality care to our patients.”

Dr. Chalas will open the virtual meeting on Friday with the President’s Panel “Personalizing Care: A Way to the Future.” Joining her for the panel discussion are two leaders in women’s health research: Janine Austin Clayton, MD, National Institutes of Health (NIH) associate director for research on women’s health and director of the Office of Research on Women’s Health, and Douglas R. Lowy, MD, principal deputy director of the National Cancer Institute. The theme draws directly from Chalas’ presidential initiative to renew focus on preventive care and improve patient outcomes by delivering highly personalized care services.

The meeting’s keynote speakers, CDC Director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, MBA, and U.S. Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek H. Murthy, MD, MPH, will take the virtual stage on Saturday. Dr. Walensky will join ACOG CEO Maureen Phipps, MD, MPH, FACOG, for a conversation regarding the CDC’s latest COVID-19 response efforts, maternal mortality, and racism as a public health crisis. Dr. Murthy will join Amy Young, MD, FACOG, for a fireside chat about his reprisal of the role of surgeon general, combating misinformation in the era of COVID-19 and the importance of physician wellness.

Throughout the virtual event, attendees will have the opportunity to build a personalized schedule to join a variety of presentations, seminars, and expert EdTalks tailored to their professional interests and priorities. Attendees will also be able to explore an interactive exhibit hall where they can study nearly 600 ePosters covering different clinical focus areas and engage with the researchers behind the work. ACSM sessions will be available on demand for three months following the close of the event.

“This year’s event presents a unique opportunity for ACOG and obstetrician–gynecologists,” said Chalas. “As the pandemic continues to affect our profession and our patients, we need to stay updated with cutting-edge research and best practices in patient care and learn how to optimize delivery of care to all of our patients. My hope is that every obstetrician–gynecologist who attends the Annual Clinical and Scientific Meeting leaves with renewed excitement for their mission to provide the best care to patients and new knowledge and skills to provide those essential services.”