India’s ENDO ATM Meeting Attracts 700+
The Indian Association of Gynaecological Endoscopists (IAGE) held its Annual National Conference this past June. This year’s conference, “ENDO ATM” (Adolescence to Menopause) attracted more than 700 participants from five countries. This was a fantastic turn out of endoscopic surgeons from across India and included several past Presidents of IAGE. The theme of this year’s conference was E = mc2 (Endoscopy = mastering challenges2).
A major highlight of the conference was the association and exchange in knowledge between AAGL and IAGE. A large number of AAGL Board members were also in attendance including Drs. Marie Fidela R. Paraiso, Jubilee Brown, Jonathon Solnik, Shailesh Puntambekar, and AAGL Executive Director Linda Michels. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Presidents of the two organizations and the two spoke optimistically about future collaborations.
Surgical workshops transmitted 42 surgeries live between two halls. A wide variety of laparoscopic, hysteroscopic and vaginal procedures were demonstrated from five operating theatres. The laparoscopic surgeries included radical hysterectomy, TLH, conservative surgery for endometriosis, tubal recanalization, dermoid cystectomy, pectopexy, sacrocolpopexy, myomectomy and ovarian cystectomy. In addition, a variety of hysteroscopic procedures were demonstrated as well as vaginal surgeries (hysterectomy, pelvic floor repair, and cervical amputation).
In addition to incredible live surgeries, the scientific program included 115 stimulating lectures and six panel discussions. Three tremendous orations were delivered by Dr. Marie Fidela R. Paraiso, President, AAGL; Dr. Rishma Dhillon Pai, President IAGE 2018-2019 and Dr. Sunita Tandulwadkar, President IAGE 2019-2020. The group was also treated to 40 abstracts presented as E-posters, and the finals of the IAGE Future awards.
Saturday evening held a grand and colorful inauguration ceremony featuring the installation of the new team of IAGE for 2019-2020. Dr. Rishma Dhillon Pai handed the baton of Presidential responsibilities to Dr. Sunita Tandulwadkar for the tenure 2019-2020. Dr. Bhaskar Pal was appointed as the General Secretary, Dr. Atul Ganatra as Honorary Treasurer and Dr. Pandit Palaskar as Joint Secretary. Other appointments included a team of 16 Managing Committee members. Dr. Tandulwadkar presented her Presidential Activities plan for the upcoming year. The first of the 7 pen STAR Drives, educational videos described in her plan, was released on the topic of Myomectomy.
The ENDO ATM conference was a huge success with rich academic content and a lot of satisfied delegates. Many congratulations to the organizing team whose hospitality provided a warm and personal touch to the whole experience.
