45th Annual General Meeting

Welcome message

Dear Esteemed Members,

Welcome to the 2024 Annual General Meeting of The Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada in Edmonton!

As we gather here today for our AGM, I am filled with both a sense of gratitude and nostalgia. Gratitude for the incredible strides we have made together during my tenure as President, and nostalgia as I reflect on the cherished moments and impactful initiatives we have undertaken as a community. It is with a mixture of pride and humility that I address you today, for this marks my final AGM as President of this esteemed society.

Our theme for this year's meeting, "Medical Progress in Motion: Paving the Way for the Future," could not be more fitting. It encapsulates the essence of our collective mission—to push boundaries, foster innovation, and continuously strive for excellence in the field of gynecologic oncology. Together, we have been agents of change, driving progress and shaping the future of women's health care in Canada and beyond.

I am particularly delighted to announce the recipient of this year's Presidential Medal, Dr. James Bentley. Dr. Bentley's unwavering dedication, groundbreaking research, and exceptional leadership have not only advanced our understanding of gynecologic oncology but have also inspired countless colleagues and patients alike. Please join me in congratulating Dr. Bentley on this well-deserved honor.

Throughout this AGM, we will have the opportunity to engage in insightful discussions, exchange knowledge and expertise, and celebrate our collective achievements. As we look ahead to the future, let us remain committed to our shared vision of improving outcomes for women affected by gynecologic cancers.

I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you—for your tireless efforts, your passion, and your unwavering commitment to the GOC. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve as your President, and I am profoundly grateful for the trust and support you have placed in me.

I wish you all a productive and enriching AGM, filled with meaningful connections and inspiring moments.

With warm regards,

Alon Altman, MD

President, GOC

Run For Her Life

We are pleased to invite you to register for our "Run for Her Life" fun run/walk to be held on Friday June 14 in Edmonton during our Annual General Meeting. This event will be fun, a statement of commitment to healthy lifestyles, raise awareness of gynecologic cancers and raise money for charity. So that all members can participate, there will be a choice between a 5K run and a 3K walk, We wholeheartedly encourage everyone to take part!

Click here to register Run for Her Life 2024 - Campaign (albertacancer.ca)

Agenda

Program learning objectives

At the end of the program, participants will be able to:

Examine the current state of research in Gynecologic oncology in Canada
Interpret the future of endometrial cancer treatments
Review the current data and next steps in the role of MIS/Robotic surgery in Ovarian cancers
Determine the stage for an update on Canadian research focused on gynecologic oncology.

June 14, 2024
June 15, 2024

June 14, 2024

Main Schedule

6:15 AM - 7:30 AM

Run for Her Life

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM

Breakfast

Empire Foyer

8:30 AM - 8:40 AM

Welcome and Announcements

Empire Ballroom

Dr. Alon Altman (Professor, Gynecologic Oncology at University of Manitoba, Cancercare Manitoba)

8:40 AM - 9:15 AM

3 Oral Abstract Presentations - Session 1

Empire Ballroom

9:15 AM - 10:15 AM

Journal Development featuring Dr. Pedro Ramirez

The Learning Objectives are as follows:
1. Discuss the final results of the LACC trial with all eligible patients followed for a total of 4.5 years with an emphasis on overall survival analysis

2. Describe the results of the exploratory analysis of patients from the LACC trial as it pertains to impact of cervical conization, tumor size, and and residual disease on outcomes based on surgical approaches.

3. Identify key elements on the interpretation of the ConCerv and SHAPE trial as it pertains to the surgical approach (minimally invasive vs open) when performing simple hysterectomy

Empire Ballroom

Pedro Ramirez (Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologic at Houston Methodist Hospital)

10:15 AM - 10:30 AM

Health Break

Wedgwood Room

10:30 AM - 11:45 AM

Debate - SHAPE/GOG 278 and MIS featuring Dr. Marie Plante & Dr. Ericka Wiebe & Dr. Yvette Drew

Learning objectives:
- Apprehend the rationale for less radical surgery in early-stage cervical cancer
- Know the study criteria in the SHAPE trial
- Recognize the importance of careful patient selection

Empire Ballroom

Dr. Marie Plante (Full Professor and Gynecologic Oncologist at Laval University and L’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec)

11:45 AM - 12:35 PM

Poster Presentation Group 1

Galleria Room

12:35 PM - 1:35 PM

Lunch

Wedgwood Room

1:35 PM - 2:30 PM

4 Oral Abstract Presentations - Session 2

Fellow Moderators for Oral

Empire Ballroom

2:30 PM - 3:15 PM

Poster Presentations Group 2

Galleria Room

3:15 PM - 3:45 PM

Afternoon Networking Break

Wedgwood Room

3:45 PM - 4:30 PM

Advancing gynecologic cancer impact: Toolkits and strategies to support accessible, equitable, evidence-informed practice across Canada

By the end of this session, the learner will be able to:
1. Clearly articulate the current practice standards for molecular stratification of endometrial and vulvar cancers.
2. Identify resources (e.g. toolkits) to support practice change/molecular classification of endometrial and vulvar cancers.
3. Identify and overcome barriers to implementation of this practice change.

Empire Ballroom

Dr. Jessica McAlpine (Surgeon-Scientist at University of British Columbia and BC Cancer)

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM

3 minutes 3 slides

Empire Ballroom

5:00 PM - 5:15 PM

Video

Empire Ballroom

5:15 PM - 5:25 PM

Closing Remarks

Empire Ballroom

6:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Cocktail Hour

Empire Foyer

7:00 PM - 11:55 PM

Dinner & Entertainment

Dinner, president medal and entertainment

Speakers

Dr. Alon Altman

Professor, Gynecologic Oncology at University of Manitoba, Cancercare Manitoba

Yvette Drew

Medical Oncologist at British Columbia Cancer Agency Vancouver

Dr. Paige Fox

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon and Associate Professor at Stanford University

Dr. Jessica McAlpine

Surgeon-Scientist at University of British Columbia and BC Cancer

Dr. Marie Plante

Full Professor and Gynecologic Oncologist at Laval University and L’Hôtel-Dieu de Québec

Pedro Ramirez

Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologic at Houston Methodist Hospital

Dr. Claire Temple

Professor of Surgery and Oncology at University of Calgary

Ericka Wiebe

Radiation Oncologist at Cross Cancer Institute

Dr. Altman is the President of the Society of Gynecologic Oncology of Canada (GOC), the program director for the department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, chair of the University Medical Group (UMG), vice chair for the Medical Management Safety Committee (MMSC) at CancerCare Manitoba, the current Gynecologic oncology track lead for the FIGO 2021 Scientific planning committee and the previous co-chair of the Canadian Obstetrics and Gynecology Review program (COGRP). Dr. Alon Altman is a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the Rady Faculty of Health Sceinces. He is also a gynecologic oncologist at the Health Sciences Centre/Cancercare Manitoba. He has a strong interest in undergraduate/postgraduate education and research. He is actively involved in multiple university, national and international committees.

Dr. Pedro T. Ramirez is Chair of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecologic at Houston Methodist Hospital. He is also the recipient of the Alan L Kaplan, MD Chair in Obstetrics & Gynecology.

He has published a total of 323 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, including the New England Journal of Medicine and has published a total of 19 book chapters. In addition, he is the Editor for the textbook titled Principles of Gynecologic Oncology Surgery. Dr. Ramirez is also the Editor-in-Chief of the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer.

He has published extensively on the subject of ERAS in numerable high-impact peer-reviewed journals. Of significant note, he co-authored the current Guidelines for ERAS Programs entitled “Guidelines for pre- and intraoperative care in gynecologic/oncology surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society recommendations-Part I”, and “Guidelines for postoperative care in gynecologic/oncology surgery: Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS) Society recommendations-Part II”. He is also Co-Editor of a textbook published in 2022 titled The ERAS Society Handbook for Obstetrics & Gynecology.

Dr. Ramirez is the Principal Investigator in the LACC Trial: A Phase III Randomized Clinical Trial of Laparoscopic or Robotic Radical Hysterectomy versus Abdominal Radical Hysterectomy in Patients with Early Stage Cervical Cancer. The study accrued a total of 631 patients and was an international collaboration involving 33 sites throughout the world. This landmark study showed that minimally invasive radical hysterectomy in patients with early-stage cervical cancer was associated with a worse disease-free survival, recurrence rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival when compared to the open approach. These results have been practice changing and all guidelines have changed to the open approach as the standard of care when performing radical hysterectomy. The study was published in The New England Journal of Medicine.

Most recently, Dr. Ramirez was made member of the IDEAL Council at Oxford University in England. In this role, he collaborates with leaders in the field of surgical research on developing strategies to integrate innovative surgical tools to the standard of care practice in patients with gynecological cancers.

Dr. Claire Temple-Oberle is a professor of surgery and oncology at the University of Calgary. She completed her medical training at Queen’s University, her plastic surgery residency at Western University, and her fellowships in microvascular surgery and cutaneous oncology at the MD Anderson and Tom Baker Cancer Centre respectively. Dr. Temple-Oberle completed her Masters in Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health and her Masters of Medical Education at the University of Dundee.

Her practice focuses on melanoma, immediate lymphatic reconstruction, and breast reconstruction. She is the lead of the Alberta Cutaneous Tumour Team. Her research focuses survivorship quality of life, such as minimizing morbidity of surgical therapies for melanoma and breast cancer.

Thank you for registering.

Early bird prices will be available until May 6th, 2024 at 11:55pm EST. Note that the listed price does not include taxes. HST will be added at the end of your checkout as the event takes place in Edmonton, AB.

Cancellation and refund policy

All registration fees are non-refundable.

GOC Member Physicians - AGM only

Member Early Bird PriceCAD $500

Member PriceCAD $575

GOC Member Fellows - AGM only

Member Early Bird PriceCAD $325

Member PriceCAD $375

Other GOC Members - AGM only

Member Early Bird PriceCAD $250

Member PriceCAD $325

Non-Member Physicians - AGM only

Early Bird PriceCAD $575

Public PriceCAD $650

Non-Member Fellows - AGM only

Early Bird PriceCAD $375

Public PriceCAD $425

Other Non-Members - AGM only

Early Bird PriceCAD $315

Public PriceCAD $400

Sponsors and Partners - AGM only

*This fee is for additional registrants outside the sponsorship complimentary registrations.*

Early Bird PriceCAD $575

Public PriceCAD $650

Retired GOC Members - AGM only

Early Bird PriceCAD $150

Public PriceCAD $200

Residents/Students - AGM only

Medical students, Undergraduate students and PhD students.

Early Bird PriceCAD $150

Public PriceCAD $200

GOC Member - Gala Ticket

Member PriceCAD $165

Non-Member - Gala Ticket

Public PriceCAD $260

GOC Executive - AGM only

This ticket is only for GOC Executive Members.

Member PriceComplimentary

GOC Executive - Gala Ticket

Member PriceComplimentary

Invited Partner Rep

This ticket is only for partners who have received a special invitation letter.

Public PriceComplimentary

AGM Speaker

Public PriceComplimentary

GOC Staff-AGM full event

Public PriceComplimentary

Sponsor allocation-AGM only

Public PriceComplimentary

Sponsor Allocation-Gala event

Public PriceComplimentary

Inivited partner rep - Gala

Public PriceComplimentary

Staff-Gala

Public PriceComplimentary

Presidential Medal Award

Accomodation and Travel

For more than 100 years, Fairmont Hotel Macdonald has effortlessly delivered timeless luxury in the heart of downtown Edmonton. Nestled upon the North Saskatchewan River Valley, the hotel's charm and ever-evolving elegance has earned it the spotlight as one of the city's most sought-after destinations. Edmonton's only historic, 4-star "Chateau on the River" offers a peaceful retreat with luxury accommodations, premium amenities and sweeping views of North America's largest expanse of urban parkland.

We have negotiated room discounts and secured a limited number of group-rate hotel rooms. The group rate rooms are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Book early for the best selection and price by clicking on the image above.

A valid credit card is required to secure a group rate.

Discounted Rate

https://book.passkey.com/go/GOCAnnualGeneralMeeting

CANCELLATION

Cancellation policy 24 hours prior to arrival.

CHILD POLICY

Children 18 years and under stay free when sharing parents' room. Ages 19 and up are considered adults. If guest is on a package which includes meals and or activities, extra charges will apply.

Program Planning Committee

The members of GOC's AGM Program Planning Committee are healthcare experts from various fields with a focus on gynecologic oncology care and research. The primary objective of the committee is to represent the interests of the intended audience at AGM by ensuring that the educational content of the conference aligns with the overall goals of all internal and external stakeholders attending this conference. The committee is responsible for organizing and creating the conference content while also recruiting the required faculty members.