2023 Board of Directors Candidates

Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology

IGCS Activities:

• Active Member
• Attended IGCS Annual Meetings, Educational Webinars and Advocacy Events

Personal Statement:

I have been an IGCS member since 1993 and am a member of the national organization in the society of gynecologic oncology of the Philippines where I served as president in 2020. I mentor our younger colleagues who are training in gynecologic-oncology and doing research. I have always advocated that education and increasing awareness of female cancers is key to prevention or at least a better outcome. I have been involved in the society by providing lay lectures in female cancers in the underserved Filipino communities. I go on surgical missions to these communities. As president of the Philippine society of cervical pathology and colposcopy, part of my duties was doing cervical cancer screenings, training health workers, and giving lay lectures. My experiences in the national organization enabled me to foster and promote the prevention of gynecologic cancer by screening and education to better care for our women.

I want to serve as a member of the IGCS Board of Directors because I want to continue my advocacy for prevention and education to better care for our patients.

I hope to pursue relevant and impactful research for gynecologic oncology in low- and middle-income communities and effectively disseminate findings that will raise gynecologic cancer awareness. It would be a great opportunity to be part of the IGCS Board of Directors as it will provide me with a larger platform to collaborate on research, training for fellows, and share insights that would hopefully find measures that would help our patients in the low- and middle- income communities to attain equitable services and health care.

Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology

IGCS Activities:

• Active Member
• Attended IGCS Annual Meetings

Personal Statement:

I believe that I can make a great contribution to the IGCS. The world is currently facing many challenges such as great disparities, poverty, war, and environmental changes. Medical care as practiced in developed countries cannot be taken for granted, and I believe that the IGCS has a mission to help gynecological cancer patients around the world, who live in many different environments, through its full understanding of cultural differences internationally and differences due to the circumstances in which different countries are placed.

If elected, I will use my experience gained in establishing the Asian Society for Fertility Preservation (ASFP) with colleagues from 16 countries in Asia and Oceania in 2015 to promote activities to save gynecological cancer patients around the world. I am currently serving in my fourth year as the Executive Director of General Affairs Committee of the Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology (JSGO). I have served as JSGO’s Executive Director of General (3 years), Executive Director of Treasurer (4 years), and Executive Director of Education (4 years) and continue to be involved in the development of the field of gynecologic oncology in Japan.

I also serve on the Board of Directors of the Asian Society of Gynecologic Oncology and am the representative of the Special Task Force on Fertility Preservation in Gynecologic Cancer Patients. In the field of oncology, gynecologic oncologists, who are forced to remove the uterus and ovaries, fight cancer together with adolescent and young adult (AYA) cancer patients, in whom preservation of fertility is most difficult.

As a gynecologic oncologist, it is a matter of course for us to provide our patients with multidisciplinary treatment using surgical therapy, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. While providing these usual treatments, I have been always promoting activities of supportive care that contribute to improving cancer survivorship among cancer patients. These activities are (1) Oncofertility (the 1st president of the Japan Society for Fertility Preservation (2012-2023) , the 1st president of the ASFP (2015-2020) , and the 8th president of the International Society for Fertility Preservation (2023-)), and (2) Palliative medicine (attending the Symptom and Benefit Committee Meeting of the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup in Athens in 2019 as Vice Chair of the Japanese Gynecologic Oncology Group’s Supportive and Palliative Medicine Committee). In addition, I have been working to improve cancer survivorship not only for gynecological cancer patients but also for pediatric and AYA generation cancer patients.

I believe that my qualities and experience will ensure that the IGCS can deliver on its belief that it enhances benefits to women not only in optimal but also in the most challenging circumstances and environments. I am looking forward to working as one of the IGCS Board of Directors. The leadership I have demonstrated at Asian and international conferences described above will be of great benefit to IGCS members. I believe that I will be able to contribute to the IGCS through “education for young gynecologic oncologists” and “penetration of supportive care to improve survivorship of cancer patients,” which I have cultivated through my international activities to date.

Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology

IGCS Activities:

• Active Member
• International Mentor for IGCS Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Training Site in Ibadan, Nigeria
• IGCS Project ECHO faculty
• Scientific Program Committee Member, 2022 IGCS Annual Global Meeting
• Attended IGCS Annual Meetings

Personal Statement:

Most of my early education all the way to medical school took place in south-western Nigeria. After graduating from the Premier University of Ibadan, I moved to the United Kingdom to pursue post graduate training with the RCOG. As a senior registrar at the University College, London, my focus was the care of women diagnosed with gynecologic cancers. Relocating to the United States was to pursue this focus and in order to be eligible for gynecologic oncology fellowship training; I had to go through residency training at the SUNY at Buffalo after which I moved to Boston Massachusetts for fellowship training at the MGH and Harvard Medical School.

I am based at UPMC Magee-Women’s Hospital where I am the Vice Chair for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences. I am also the Director of gynecologic cancer research and the Director of minimal access gynecologic oncology.

I have been an active member of the IGCS for many years. I network extensively with other IGCS members, I am an International Mentor for the IGCS Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship Training site in Ibadan, Nigeria and I have served multiple times as a member of the Scientific Program Committee for the IGCS meetings.

At the SGO, I have led the production of two white papers and have contributed to the production of 4 others. I served as the SGO liaison to the AJCC and was retained as an at large member. I am the current Chair of the AJCC Education and Promotions Committee, The Chair of the AJCC Female Reproductive Expert Panel and a member of the AJCC Executive Council.

At ASCO, I am a member of the guidelines development committee.

At the NRG and the Gynecologic Oncology Group Foundation, I have been privileged to be appointed to the National Cancer Institute’s Gynecologic Cancer Steering Committee Cervical Cancer Task Force on which I still serve. I am a member and an Associate Director of the Gynecologic Oncology Group Foundation’s Board of Directors.

At the FIGO Committee for Gynecologic Oncology, I led the updating of staging for carcinoma of the vulva and the vulvar cancer management update, I contributed to the revision of the cervical cancer staging.

Alliances and collaborations towards advancement of gynecologic cancer care must take place across departments/institutions, states, international and intercontinental borders. It is easily clear to me that the IGCS is uniquely positioned and well equipped to facilitate these critically needed alliances and collaborations hence my desire to serve on the board of the IGCS.

My hope is to help take IGCS to greater heights with regards to projects' expansion, new initiatives, and enhanced collaborations across the globe.

I believe in leading by serving. I am an ardent believer in diversity and inclusion which aligns with IGCS' determination to have a positive impact in all world regions. I find it easy to form relationships with practically anyone I come across. Lastly, I am a deep listener. I am sincerely grateful for your support.

Specialty: Gynecologic Oncology

IGCS Activities:

• Active Member
• Chair, IGCS-IGCAN Uterine Cancer Awareness Month Initiative
• Scientific Program Committee Co-Chair for IGCS 2022 Annual Global Meeting
• Scientific Program Committee Advisor for IGCS 2023 Annual Global Meeting
• IGCS Project ECHO faculty
• Attended IGCS Annual Meetings and Advocacy Events

Personal Statement:

The mission of the IGCS is to enhance the care of patients with gynecologic cancer worldwide through education, training, and public awareness. My interest to serve on the IGCS Board of Directors stems from my alignment with this mission. Educating our constituents, training the next generation of health care providers, and informing the populations that we serve will allow us to offer the best care throughout the world.

One highlight of my career was serving as a co-Program Chair of the 2022 IGCS Annual Meeting. For over a year, co-chair, Audrey Tsunoda, and I worked tirelessly with the IGCS team to have a record-breaking meeting that featured world-renowned speakers (including one of the developers of the COVID vaccine). I am committed to further developing these types of educational events and to make future conferences better. In 2023, I am excited to serve as an advisor for the Annual Meeting in Seoul.

Training the next generation of providers is vital part of my career. I am proud of co-developing an IGCS twinning fellowship between the University of the West Indies - Bahamas and the University of Miami. Furthermore, my international relationships have created opportunities to lecture throughout the world.

As an international organization, we need to continue to integrate into our communities and raise awareness about gynecologic cancers. This year, I was selected to serve as the Chair of the Uterine Cancer Awareness Month Initiative within the IGCS. Every year, the month of June will become Uterine Cancer Awareness Month. This campaign will have a global impact and will inform our communities about the most common gynecologic cancer.

I have been a leader in research through my work on the Board of Directors of the GOG Foundation and as the Clinical Trial Lead for Endometrial Cancer within GOG Partners. It is exhilarating to be a part of successful trials that lead to new therapies that change the standard of care and allow our patients to live longer.

As a member of the Board, I will work to continue to develop IGCS as a preeminent society in our field. I have always been an "outside of the box" professional that persists to overcome barriers of success. The individual chosen for this key leadership position must bring these and other key characteristics that will ensure that the continued success of our organization.  As a member of the Board, I will be 100% dedicated to the success of the organization and I will work diligently to reach our goals.

Specialty: Radiation Oncology

IGCS Activities:

• Active Member
• Scientific Program Committee Member, 2022 IGCS Annual Global Meeting
• Attended IGCS Annual Meetings

Personal Statement:

I firmly believe that the best cancer treatments are not good enough, and I am committed to advancing the mission of IGCS through education, outreach, investigation, and training. I know that working together we can accomplish a great deal and advance gynecologic care for women.

I currently serve as Professor and Vice-Chair of the University of Utah, Department of Radiation Oncology. I have served nationally and internationally in many leadership roles in Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup, RTOG, NRG Oncology, American College of Radiology, American Board of Radiology, American Brachytherapy Society, American Society of Radiation Oncology, and NCI’s Gynecologic Cancer Steering Committee (USA). I was fortunate enough to be the inaugural Chair of the Cervix Cancer Research Network which developed from the GCIG. We were able to hold educational meetings globally with the express goal of increasing accrual to international cervix clinical trials.

I am passionate about the right therapy in the right amount at the right time. This is an exciting time in health care with multiple new therapeutics. There is a great need for education in women's health, and I would like to aide IGCS in its educational and outreach goals. I have broad experience with multiple organizations. I hope that I display traits of a servant leader. I endeavor to listen to my valued colleagues and then lead "from the front". Thank you for your consideration.

Specialty: Radiation Oncology

IGCS Activities:

• Active Member

Personal Statement:

In the United States, training in brachytherapy for gynecologic malignancies is on the decline, as is its overall utilization. This has been reflected in ACGME Residency surveys, American Brahcytherapy Society workforce reports, and national cancer database analyses. Recent clinical trials have even attempted to replace brachytherapy for cervical cancer with stereotactic body radiation therapy at the expensive of both disease outcomes and safety. This is a crucial component of care for women who often come from underserved socioeconomic circumstances. Within the United States, we have an opportunity to broaden access to training in gynecologic brachytherapy in a fashion similar to what the American Brachytherapy Society is doing for prostate brachytherapy training -- creating a consortium of providers who are willing to take trainees in for an intensive, hands-on clinical rotation so that they can incorporate the techniques into practice. At the same time, the imaging, brachytherapy applicator technology and planning is improving at a significant rate. This creates an opportunity to bring international trainees and practitioners who see a higher volume of advanced GYN malignancies which require brachytherapy for a similar type of intensive training.

My goal as a member of the IGCS Board of Directors is to begin laying the foundation for such a consortium of mentors and to develop funding opportunities to support the travel and expenses for those who stand to benefit from such mentorship. Beyond the clinical applications which I envision developing from the position, I would also hope to develop deeper multi-institutional and multi-national research collaborative efforts. I have an interest in the impacts of socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors on outcomes of cancer care in the United States and have written on the impact of race on cancer outcomes in endometrial cancer. Using the network of the IGCS to develop multi-institutional analyses that take deeper dives into the genetic underpinnings of GYN malignancies in different populations may help us further understand the most appropriate treatment algorithms in our patient population.

Compassion, commitment, and flexibility are the three qualities with which I identify with best. I am comfortable taking the lead on projects, but equally happy to join an effort as ancillary support. Given the variety of personalities and backgrounds represented in collaborative groups, differences of opinion are to be expected; I often find myself attempting to bridge these gaps to come to a common solution by listening to all parties and considering each point of view. By diffusing any frustrations through making sure all parties feel heard and understood, solutions often present themselves much more readily. Whichever role I may be taking on in a leadership group, I remain focused on the goals of the team and lend support wherever I can, whether it be with part of the work load or by simply listening to a colleague. My general personality is upbeat and I try to inject humor whenever possible when I can sense tension in a group. I believe I will be able to constructively contribute to the IGCS mission in advancing the care for women with gynecologic malignancies and to assist in development of academic and clinical offerings which benefit clinicians across the world.