RANZCOG 2021 ASM Overview
The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists 2021 Annual Scientific Meeting (RANZCOG 2021 ASM) was held virtually on held on the Sunday 14 to Thursday 18 February 2021, with pre meeting workshops and Diplomates Days to be held on the Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 February.
A total of 949 delegates attended the meeting workshops and main scientific program.
The theme, ‘A NEW vision for the Future,’ took a look ahead to the challenges we all face as our specialty continues to evolve – especially in these changing, and somewhat uncertain times.
Our invited speakers virtually presented the latest updates, controversies, and future strategies for this current age we live and practice in. At the forefront of our minds was how we’ve all had to adapt to new social distancing rules and use digital platforms to deliver medical care, and of course, though somewhat in the shadow of this recent pandemic, the climate emergency, and its effect on women’s health.
The program addressed gender equity issues on a local and global scale, and as opportunities arise for women in alternative fields, what this means in a practical sense. We brought you the latest in translational research and explained the ongoing dilemma of how to ensure appropriate surgical exposure for our trainees – so many of these topics more relevant now than ever.
FREE COMMUNICATIONS, Platform Posters and ePosters
A total of 426 abstracts were received for consideration for Free Communication (oral presentation), Platform Poster or ePoster presentation. Abstracts were assessed by nominated members of the Organising Committee and volunteer judges, against pre-defined assessment criteria. The authors were notified of their inclusion on the program or otherwise in December 2020.
During the main program days, 283 ePosters and Platform Posters were displayed on the VASM platform. The Norman Beischer Medical Research Foundation sponsored the ePoster platform. An additional 18 abstracts authors were invited to present their abstracts as Free Communications on the main scientific program.
Awards were presented for the Best Diplomate Early Career Researcher Presentation, Best Early Career Researcher Presentation, Best Platform Poster and Best Free Communication Oral Presentation (Aldo Vacca Award). Free Communication Oral Presentations and Platform Posters were assessed on criteria including significance to the discipline of obstetrics and gynaecology or perinatal medicine; research design and methodology; and clarity of presentation. Sponsored by Wiley, the awards were presented by Dr Vijay Roach, during the meeting closing session.
Best Free Communication
Oral Presentation
Aldo Vacca Award
The award for Best Free Communication (Oral Presentation) – Aldo Vacca Award, and prize was awarded to Dr Lisa Hui for the presentation titled: A Collaborative Maternity and Newborn Dashboard (CoMaND) for the COVID-19 Pandemic: Real-time Monitoring of Perinatal Services Performance Indicators in Victoria.
Best Static
Poster Award
The award for Best Platform Poster, was presented to Dr Demi Beneru for the poster titled Caesarean Sections at Full Dilatation Before and After Mandatory Consultant Presence.
Researcher Awards
RANZCOG Early Career Researcher Award
The RANZCOG Early Career Researcher Award prize went to Dr Teresa MacDonald for the presentation titled Reduced Growth Velocity from the Mid-trimester is Associated with Placental Insufficiency in Fetuses Born at a Normal Birthweight.
Diplomate Researcher Award
The RANZCOG Diplomate Researcher Award was presented to Dr Kathrina Chooi for the presentation titled Neonatal Outcomes Following the Introduction of the Fetal Pillow at a Tertiary Maternity Hospital: A Retrospective Study.