The 65th Annual Clinical Meeting

The SOGC would like to offer its sincerest thanks to all of our participants, volunteers, speakers, special guests, and sponsors for helping us make the 65th Annual Clinical Meeting (ACM) in Halifax such an outstanding experience.

We hope to see you all next June in Montreal for our 66th Annual Clinical Meeting, hosted June 9-13, 2010.

 

2009 Highlights

This year, we were pleased to welcome over 800 health professionals in Halifax for the 2009 SOGC Annual Clinical Meeting, hosted June 17-21. Here are just a few of the many highlights from this year's event:

 

International Women's Health Symposium

As is tradition, we kicked off our meeting with our International Women's Health Symposium, a one-day event exploring the state of maternal health around the world. The year's event focused on the theme "Bridging Culture and Medicine: a multi-disciplinary approach to improving quality care for women", and featured expert speakers, moving documentaries, Q&As, and panel discussions.

The event featured expert speakers from Canada, the United States, Mexico, Ethiopia, and Haiti, and offered fascinating and varied perspectives on the issues of safe motherhood around the world. Many provided first hand insight into the work of Canadians and International NGOs to effect change through medical intervention and training. Others brought fresh views on the crisis in maternity care from a range of other disciplines such as economics and anthropology.

To conclude the day, speakers and participants enjoyed the chance to further the discussion at an intimate reception offering drinks, music and fascinating conversation.

Learn more about the SOGC's International Women's Health Program

 

Scientific Program

The ACM offered four days of world class accredited scientific sessions, including 17 Post-Graduate Courses, 21 Best Practice Sessions, 2 Sub-Specialty Meetings, and several international symposia sessions. Topics covered the entire spectrum of obstetrics/gynaecology, as well as meetings designed for subspecialists and practice management.

This year, the SOGC also unveiled a new level of interaction to one of its sessions. On Thursday, June 18, SOGC hosted PG2 session, titled "Urogynaecology - A Pilot Project in Education". The course offered participants the ability to uniquely shape the session around their needs and interests. Through a web-based component, participants were able to interact months in advance of the course, offering feedback, discussion and ideas for the course's content and focus. Initial response to the course has been very positive, and the SOGC will continue to explore innovative approaches to CME in the future.

 

Research and Innovation Program

For 2009, the SOGC offered a revised three-day schedule dedicated to highlighting the latest research in obstetrics/gynaecology and related fields. The program featured oral and poster presentations on cutting edge topics in Canadian research and the newest clinical techniques. The best presentations, as selected by a panel of judges, were awarded with special designation for their achievements.

View the list of winners of our 2009 Research and Innovation Program

 

Awards and New SOGC President

The ACM presents the ideal opportunity to welcome new members of our SOGC Council and our new President. This year, SOGC was pleased to welcome Dr. Michel Fortier, an ob/gyn based out of Quebec City, as our 66th President. The event also offered the opportunity to congratulate and thank our outgoing president, Dr. Scott Farrell.

Our presidents were not the only individuals honoured at the event. SOGC also had the chance to honour individuals for their commitment and dedication to improving the specialty and their care for women. In particular, the SOGC was pleased to recognize our President's Award Winner, and our honourary members:

Presidents Award

Dr. John Collins was presented with this year's President's Award, the most distinguished award that the SOGC presents. Dr. Collins was presented the award for his outstanding contributions to research and for his dedication to improving the specialty through his tireless work with numerous health organizations around the world.

Honourary Members

The SOGC was pleased to welcome Professor Mario Campogrande and Ms. Dawn Walker as honourary members of our society in 2009. Professor Campogrande is a pioneer in ultrasound technologies in Italy, and has worked extensively to support medical education and public health programs in the country. Ms. Walker has had a very distinguished career as an obstetrical nurse. She has also helped improve public health programs in underserved communities here in Canada, working as a special advisor to Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch.

 

Social Events - Having Some Fun in Halifax

Each year, the SOGC hosts several social events to mix business with pleasure, and to give our participants the chance to catch up with old friends. In addition to our Opening Reception, Council dinner, and Awards Gala, some highlights this year included:

The Maritime Lobster Feast

This year's ACM participants got a taste of Maritime hospitality, music and cuisine, all while supporting a good cause. The event was hosted at Halifax's historic Pier 21 - the gateway to the country through which millions of immigrants took their first steps onto Canadian soil. The night featured a performance by the Juno-nominated Barra MacNeils, some dancing, and, of course, an exquisite lobster feast. Some of the proceeds from the event went to support the Canadian Foundation for Women's Health.

Student Mixer & Resident Fun Night

SOGC hosted two events specifically designed for the next generation of leaders in ob/gyn:

The Student Mixer gave medical students the chance to mingle and network with residents in the field, gaining first-hand perspective on what life is like as a working ob/gyn resident.

Always a popular event, the Resident Fun Night set our resident participants loose on the town of Halifax for a fun night of drinks and fun at Halifax's Lower Deck Tap Room.

Kid's Camp

Designed just for the little ones, the SOGC Kid's Camp ensured that children of our participants had the chance to make the most of their trip to Halifax. Our young delegates visited museums, the Discovery science centre, Hatfield Farm, the Maritime Museum and historic Pier 21.

 

We want to hear from you!

Halifax was an event to remember. Thank you to all of our participants, honoured guests, speakers and sponsors for making this event so special. We hope to see many of you again for next year's meeting. .

As always, we love to hear from you about our continuing medical events! If you have any feedback on the 2009 ACM, or any comments or questions about upcoming SOGC educational events, drop us a line at helpdesk@sogc.com

Looking for more information about SOGC's CME events? Click here!

 

 

Last Updated July 15, 2009