Anatomy Review Course
Saturday, September 6, 2008
2:00 - 4:00 pm
Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers

Come experience this unique opportunity to learn about female pelvic floor anatomy from a world-renowned expert. Learn directly from the folks who have defined this anatomy. Registration is free! Learn more...

Task Force Update
The AUGS Fellows Task Force is continuing to work on issues important to fellows.  These issues include: 

• Accreditation Process- Dr. William Steers continues to keep AUGS Fellows updated.  The process continues, but no dates have been announced.
• Standardized Electronic Fellowship Application - Plans are underway to move to a standardized electronic web-based application form and then eventually to ERAS.
• Fellow-to-Fellow Guide on the Job Search Process – This resource is being created and will be available on the AUGS Web site this summer. 

AUGS 29th Annual Scientific Meeting
The 2008 AUGS Annual Scientific Meeting is fast approaching.  The meeting will take place September 4-6 at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers in Chicago, IL. 

This meeting is a great opportunity to network with experts in the field and experience the latest research.  This year, in addition to the fellows reception and luncheon events, there will two new fellows focused sessions; a post-graduate course entitled “Show me the Money" - Understanding Medical Billing Practices and an Introduction to Personal Finance for Fellows presented by Elizabeth Mueller, MD and an anatomy review course led by John DeLancy. 

The meeting also offers several other post-graduate courses ideal for Fellows including:

“Managing Pelvic Floor Dysfunction for the Healthcare Professional” Course Directors: Rhonda Kotarinos, PT and Karen Sasso, NP

“Minimally Invasive Urogynecology: Robotic Surgery, Laparoscopy, and New Mesh Delivery Procedures” Course Director: Anthony Visco, MD

“Ultrasound Imaging of the Pelvic Floor” Course Director: Tom Gregory, MD

“Tools for Research and Career Success:  2008 AUGS Junior Faculty Retreat” Course Director: Victoria Handa, MD

We encourage you to attend the Annual Meeting and take advantage of both the educational opportunities and the social events such as the AUGS Foundation Fun Run. To learn more, click here.

Fellows Pelvic Research Network
Another research initiative available for fellows to participate in is the Fellows Pelvic Research Network (FPRN) sponsored by the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS).  The FPRN was created to promote high quality research training and to expose fellows to multi-center studies.  The aims of FPRN are to:

1) Create an environment for fellows to participate in collaborative research and conduct multi-center studies as primary investigators. 
2) Enhance fellows’ knowledge and skills in study design, implementation of multi-center studies, data management and statistical analysis. 
3) Provide an environment for fellows to develop professional relationships which will be sustained after graduation.   

The FPRN currently has 43 fellow members from 26 different programs around the country.  The FPRN and its research projects operate under the mentorship and supervision of an advisory board consisting of a subgroup of the SGS Research Committee and a Steering Committee consisting of fellows.  The FPRN meets biannually at the AUGS and SGS annual meetings to discuss ongoing research and new proposals. In addition, speakers are invited to lecture on ‘hot topics in urogynecology research’ and multi-center research studies.  There are three active multi-center research projects underway:

1) “The Effect of Pelvic Organ Prolapse on Sexual Function and Genital Image” (PI Loir Lowenstein MD, Loylola), 
2) “Sexual Activity and Function in Women with Pelvic Floor Disorders” (PI Tola Omotosho MD, University of New Mexico),
3) “Anatomical Outcomes of Surgical Treatment for Apical Pelvic Organ Prolapse” (Tatiana Sanses MD, Greater Baltimore Medical Center). 

All fellows are welcome to join the FPRN – please contact Heidi Harvie at hharvie@obgyn.upenn.edu for further information.

Call for Research Grants

The American AUGS Foundation has announced their request for grant proposals. They are seeking to identify future academic leaders and to stimulate their development through the support of research grants. The grant application process officially opens in July. Click here to read more.

Resident Scholars Award

The nomination deadline for the AUGS Resident Scholars award is July 1, 2008.  The Resident Scholars Award Program is for third-year Ob/Gyn residents and fourth-year urology residents who have demonstrated an interest in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery.   Click here for more information.