Kris Strohbehn, MD
SGS President, 2025-2026
Dear SGS Members,
If you haven’t yet done so, I encourage you to register for the SGS 52nd Annual Scientific Meeting in Phoenix!
We have an exciting program crafted by Scientific Program Committee, led by Chair, Dr. Peter Jeppson. The theme for this year’s meeting, Advancing Gynecological Surgery: Growth Through Adaptability and Accessibility addresses timely topics that we face as gynecologic surgeons, including artificial intelligence, gynecologic surgeon workforce projections, access to care and variation in the procedures we offer for our patients.
The format of the meeting will continue in the SGS tradition, with most abstracts and presentations in a common session without concurrent sessions. We continue to feel that this is part of the way to preserve what Past President, Vivian Sung coined as “the special sauce” of SGS. Each of the twenty selected oral presentations will have a discussant.
On Sunday, March 22, 2026, the meeting kicks off with three Post-Graduate Courses:
8–12 noon: Moderated by Anna Zelivianskaia, MD, FACOG Fellows/Young Attending Course 2026: Teaching and Billing and Marketing: Oh My! (Non-CME) This course aims to lay the foundation for young attendings to envision and develop a surgical practice after a benign gynecology surgical fellowship. The target audience will include trainees and recent graduates of Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery and Urogynecology and Reproductive Pelvic Surgery fellowships.
1-5 pm: Sharpening Skills, Shaping Practice: Advances in Teaching Gynecologic Surgery Course Director: Sara Wood, MD, MHPE Faculty: Katherine de Souza, MD & Rajiv Gala, MD. Designed for junior and senior faculty surgical educators involved in resident and fellow training, the course will explore practical tools such as simulation-based learning and gaming, structured feedback models, and progressive entrustment frameworks that promote operative preparedness and learner autonomy
1-5 pm: Billing & Coding in Gynecologic Surgery Course Director: Marc Toglia, MD Faculty: Jon Hathaway, MD, PhD, FACOG, FACS & Mitch Schuster, MD. This course is designed to equip gynecologists, urogynecologists, fellows, and coding professionals with the knowledge and practical skills necessary to navigate the complex landscape of billing and coding in gynecologic surgery.
The main scientific program kicks off on Monday with an exciting array of speakers, including:
SGS Spotlight #1 C. T. Lin, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer, University Colorado Health. “I’m Sorry Dave, I’m Afraid I Can’t Do That: Using Artificial Intelligence in Clinical Care.” Dr. Lin is an expert on artificial intelligence (AI) and recent applications to clinical practice. He even promises to bring his ukulele to his presentation!
Mark D. Walters, MD Annual Lecture: Sharon Malone, MD, “Menopause 101 – All Things Perimenopause and Menopause”. A passionate advocate for women’s midlife health, Dr. Malone addresses gaps in healthcare, racial disparities, and the stigma surrounding menopause. She is the New York Times bestselling author of “Grown Woman Talk: Your Guide to Getting and Staying Healthy (2024)”, a practical resource empowering women to navigate healthcare and advocate for themselves. Dr. Malone is a frequent media contributor, keynote speaker, and host of the podcast The Second Opinion with Dr. Sharon.
Panel Discussion – Contemplating Workforce Shortages, Access to Care, and Surgical Deserts in Gynecologic Specialty Care. Moderator: Kimberly Kenton, MD Speakers: Rajiv Gala, MD, Denise Howard, MD, MPH, Thomas Tsai, MD, MPH & Fidel Valea, MD
Equity Council Address: Sandra E. Brooks, MD, MBA, Chief Executive Officer, American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG). We are honored to have Dr. Brooks as our keynote speaker. Her title, “The Future of OB GYN Care : A Case for Collective Action”, is timely in our current environment. As most of you know, under Dr. Brooks’ leadership, ACOG in August 2025 announced that it would stop accepting federal funding for all programs, citing misalignment with federal policy changes.
Tuesday early risers are invited to join others for breakfast learning in the Innovation Simulation Room. Come see five presentations in an open “viewing” hour, talk with those presenting and vote for your favorite presentation!
Other featured speakers for Tuesday include:
SGS Spotlight #2: Cara King, DO, MS “Surgical Coaching” Dr. King is the former course director for the SGS Winter PG Course and is currently President of the Academy of Surgical Coaching. She inspires us with her energy and passion for surgery and surgical coaching.
Richard W. TeLinde Lecture: John O. L. DeLancey, MD. Dr. DeLancey will present, “True Confessions of a Surgeon-Scientist.” A Past President of SGS, Dr. DeLancey is the Norman F. Miller Professor of Gynecology and Professor of Urology at the University of Michigan. He has spent the last four decades in the operating room and conducting research trying to identify the structural and functional failures that cause pelvic floor disorders, how those affect surgical outcomes and how birth causes these injuries.
Part of SGS’ special sauce is the opportunities to network, mingle and socialize. Here are some opportunities to join with colleagues and mentors: Please join us Sunday evening for the Welcome Reception. Start off Monday morning with the Senior Members Engaging with Young Learners (SMEYL) Breakfast and that evening for the SGS Equity Council Presentation and President’s Awards Ceremony. Tuesday includes the 2nd Annual Pickleball Tournament, the annual Golf Tournament at the par 72 championship Mountain Golf Course; a hike on your own, or join Past President Andrew Walter for an informal hike on a trail conveniently located within walking distance of the hotel. On Tuesday evening, don’t miss our SHARE FUNdraising Event: Theme “Disco Cowboy” Join us for a fun night of food, music and your most urban cowboy disco moves. Led by our creative and energetic, Lauren Siff, it promises to be a fun night, filled with some healthy competition: it’s all about the costume, the dance steps and how much $ you can raise for SGS. Finally, consider yoga early Wednesday morning led by Mireille Truong.
Our meeting would not occur without the support of our exhibitors and sponsors. Please take time during the meeting to visit the exhibits, learn about new technologies and innovations that apply to your practice, and thank the sponsors helping to support our annual meeting. Lastly, I would like to continue the tradition started by Dr. Star Hampton last year and urge you all to support our new “Notes of Gratitude” program. This gives you the opportunity to thank mentors, colleagues, learners for their influence in your gynecologic training.
We are looking forward to an exciting meeting. Thank you all for your dedication and support of SGS. I hope to see you in Phoenix!
Best,
