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SOGC Annual Clinical Meeting, Ottawa, June 21 to 26, 2007

Over 1000 Women’s Health Experts Meet in Ottawa, June 21-26

WHY:	The 63rd Annual Clinical Meeting of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC).  Leading international and Canadian experts will meet to discuss the latest knowledge and advances in women’s health.
WHO:	Over 1000 delegates including obstetricians and gynaecologists, family physicians, general practitioners, nurses, midwives, residents, medical students and international experts.
WHAT:	Six days of sessions covering the latest topics in women’s health, including pregnancy/childbirth, menopause, HPV vaccination, natural child birth, gender testing and much more.
WHEN:	June 21-26, 2007 – 8:00 am to 6:00 pm
WHERE:	The Westin Ottawa Hotel, 11 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON

 
Please register on site at the SOGC registration desk located in the 4th Floor Foyer of the Westin Ottawa Hotel.

Conference Highlights

• International Women’s Health Symposium
  On Thursday, June 21st hundreds of Canadian and international obstetricians and gynaecologists, health professionals, world health leaders, and NGO representatives will meet to discuss why 20 years of global efforts have not been able to reduce the number of mothers and newborns dying needlessly during childbirth.  Canadian Dr. Dorothy Shaw, the president of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics and the Honourable Sylvia Ssinabulya. M.P., Parliament of Uganda are available to speak with media.
• Access to Childbirth is Declining in Canada
  A declining number of qualified obstetricians and gynaecologists available in medium to small and rural communities means that the safety of childbirth is also in decline, along with access to essential services such as cervical cancer screening. Outgoing SOGC President Dr. Don Davis is available to discuss what this human resource shortage means for women across Canada.
• Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunization
  The SOGC will release new recommendations as part of a national guideline for Canadian healthcare professionals on HPV vaccination. Produced by the SOGC in collaboration with national health organizations and multidisciplinary experts, the new guideline is the product of a comprehensive review of all scientific evidence regarding the management, treatment, and prevention of HPV.  The guideline will include recommendations for HPV immunization and the implementation of cervical cancer screening registries. Incoming SOGC President Dr. Guylaine Lefebvre is available to discuss these new recommendations on HPV.
• New Early Pregnancy Gender Tests May Lead to Gender-Selective Abortion in Canada
  New mail-order tests now available to Canadians can determine the gender of a woman’s baby just weeks into pregnancy. Outgoing SOGC President Dr. Don Davis will discuss the ethical questions raised by these tests and other technological advances that can potentially be misused for the purposes of selective abortion based on gender.
• “Freebirth” Puts Misinformed Women and their Children at Risk
  Promised a “natural” childbirth experience, some Canadian women are opting to deliver their baby at home, completely unassisted by a midwife or other healthcare professional. Outgoing SOGC President Dr. Don Davis is available to discuss the ethical, legal, and safety implications of this practice.

 

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About the SOGC

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) is one of Canada’s oldest national specialty organizations. Established in 1944, the Society’s mission is to promote excellence in the practice of obstetrics and gynaecology and to advance the health of women through leadership, advocacy, collaboration, outreach and education. The SOGC represents obstetricians/gynaecologists, family physicians, nurses, midwives and allied health professionals working in the field of sexual reproductive health. For more information, visit www.sogc.org.