- Email: [email protected]
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
GUEST EDITORIAL
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Margaret Burnett, MD, FRCSC President, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
I
t is truly an honour to be elevated (perhaps I should say “propelled”) by some very impressive giants to the office of President. As I take this opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of our Society, I am humbled to be in the company of so many men and women of stature. Thank you for entrusting me with this position and for allowing me to represent you during the exciting year ahead. During the 2015 Annual Clinical and Scientific Conference, our Board was requested to “buttonhole” the attendees for a short survey about the SOGC. For those who allowed themselves to be buttonholed, thank you. For those who have not yet had the opportunity, call me! We have been fortunate in speaking with many of you in order to understand how you see the SOGC and what you perceive as our priorities for the future. The buttonhole survey has given us a real time perspective on what the SOGC has accomplished in the 71 years it has been in existence. You have spoken about guidelines, clinical meetings, advocacy, and alliances. Building upon these discussions, I have chosen two related themes for my presidential year. My overarching theme will be the promotion of excellence in knowledge translation and, particularly, bringing our unique skills to bear in order to assist women who are victims of violence. As leaders in women’s care, we have the privilege and the responsibility to advocate for the health of all women and to do so urgently for those who are at greatest risk. The success or failure of the SOGC depends on the engagement of members working towards a shared vision. In turn, our members look to our Society to expand its leadership role in women’s health, nationally and globally. This reciprocity between our Society and its members is the important driver in our ability to translate science into excellent patient care. All of us entered this profession with the firm belief that if we worked hard enough, studied long enough, and paid attention carefully enough, science would give us the ability to heal the sick. Heady stuff, indeed!
We are inundated with new knowledge all the time. More and more pieces of information bombard us with greater and greater frequency. We are confronted by an embarrassment of riches. There has never been a more urgent need to make sense of this knowledge and to translate it into a form that can be useful to our patients. As clinical care providers, we carry out knowledge translation every day. Our patients come to see us when they are vulnerable. We feel a duty to give each patient our best and to use every single resource at our disposal to help the women in our care. When we do this well, we are frequently rewarded in the process. Nothing compares to the “Aha!” moment when the diagnosis is clear, when the treatment works, or when that slippery newborn finally slides over the perineum. Our esteemed Society works hard to help us reach these happy moments. We benefit from reading the Journal and the guidelines and from attending world-class meetings such as the Annual Clinical and Scientific Conference. The SOGC plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between knowledge and clinical practice. I have been a proud SOGC member for more than 30 years, first as a family physician and later as a resident and practising obstetrician-gynaecologist. During those years, I have participated as a journal reader, a meeting attendee, a speaker, an author, a committee member, a reviewer, and a Board member. I have a feeling that I am approaching the 10 000 hour mark. I would like to acknowledge that there are many of our members who meet and exceed this milestone. We understand that by participating in the SOGC we can be greater than the sum of our parts. Our Society has taught us that there is power in numbers. We are collectively better because we have the power to advocate from an evidence-based perspective, supported by a broad national and interprofessional representation.
J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2015;37(9):769–770
SEPTEMBER JOGC SEPTEMBRE 2015 l 769
Guest Editorial
The Federal Minister of Health has invited the SOGC to be an integral part of her initiative to assist the victims of violence. We have been working with a national team to develop guidance for health professionals that will facilitate strategic intervention for women at risk. Individually and collectively we must be better at recognizing the signs and symptoms of intimate partner violence. And, once the diagnosis is made, we must be able to connect our patients with local resources that will help address this malignant condition.
770 l SEPTEMBER JOGC SEPTEMBRE 2015
Your new president is only one small person. But imagine the power of her team. Each of us has the ability to influence the health of individual patients and, by contributing to the SOGC, each has the opportunity to advance the care of women everywhere. The SOGC is all of us. We join together to advance the work that began 71 years ago. Our Society grows a little in stature because of the acts of each of its members. And, as a privilege of membership, we have the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of giants.
Standing on the Shoulders of Giants Margaret Burnett, MD, FRCSC President, Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada
I
t is truly an honour to be elevated (perhaps I should say “propelled”) by some very impressive giants to the office of President. As I take this opportunity to reflect on the accomplishments of our Society, I am humbled to be in the company of so many men and women of stature. Thank you for entrusting me with this position and for allowing me to represent you during the exciting year ahead. During the 2015 Annual Clinical and Scientific Conference, our Board was requested to “buttonhole” the attendees for a short survey about the SOGC. For those who allowed themselves to be buttonholed, thank you. For those who have not yet had the opportunity, call me! We have been fortunate in speaking with many of you in order to understand how you see the SOGC and what you perceive as our priorities for the future. The buttonhole survey has given us a real time perspective on what the SOGC has accomplished in the 71 years it has been in existence. You have spoken about guidelines, clinical meetings, advocacy, and alliances. Building upon these discussions, I have chosen two related themes for my presidential year. My overarching theme will be the promotion of excellence in knowledge translation and, particularly, bringing our unique skills to bear in order to assist women who are victims of violence. As leaders in women’s care, we have the privilege and the responsibility to advocate for the health of all women and to do so urgently for those who are at greatest risk. The success or failure of the SOGC depends on the engagement of members working towards a shared vision. In turn, our members look to our Society to expand its leadership role in women’s health, nationally and globally. This reciprocity between our Society and its members is the important driver in our ability to translate science into excellent patient care. All of us entered this profession with the firm belief that if we worked hard enough, studied long enough, and paid attention carefully enough, science would give us the ability to heal the sick. Heady stuff, indeed!
We are inundated with new knowledge all the time. More and more pieces of information bombard us with greater and greater frequency. We are confronted by an embarrassment of riches. There has never been a more urgent need to make sense of this knowledge and to translate it into a form that can be useful to our patients. As clinical care providers, we carry out knowledge translation every day. Our patients come to see us when they are vulnerable. We feel a duty to give each patient our best and to use every single resource at our disposal to help the women in our care. When we do this well, we are frequently rewarded in the process. Nothing compares to the “Aha!” moment when the diagnosis is clear, when the treatment works, or when that slippery newborn finally slides over the perineum. Our esteemed Society works hard to help us reach these happy moments. We benefit from reading the Journal and the guidelines and from attending world-class meetings such as the Annual Clinical and Scientific Conference. The SOGC plays a pivotal role in bridging the gap between knowledge and clinical practice. I have been a proud SOGC member for more than 30 years, first as a family physician and later as a resident and practising obstetrician-gynaecologist. During those years, I have participated as a journal reader, a meeting attendee, a speaker, an author, a committee member, a reviewer, and a Board member. I have a feeling that I am approaching the 10 000 hour mark. I would like to acknowledge that there are many of our members who meet and exceed this milestone. We understand that by participating in the SOGC we can be greater than the sum of our parts. Our Society has taught us that there is power in numbers. We are collectively better because we have the power to advocate from an evidence-based perspective, supported by a broad national and interprofessional representation.
J Obstet Gynaecol Can 2015;37(9):769–770
SEPTEMBER JOGC SEPTEMBRE 2015 l 769
Guest Editorial
The Federal Minister of Health has invited the SOGC to be an integral part of her initiative to assist the victims of violence. We have been working with a national team to develop guidance for health professionals that will facilitate strategic intervention for women at risk. Individually and collectively we must be better at recognizing the signs and symptoms of intimate partner violence. And, once the diagnosis is made, we must be able to connect our patients with local resources that will help address this malignant condition.
770 l SEPTEMBER JOGC SEPTEMBRE 2015
Your new president is only one small person. But imagine the power of her team. Each of us has the ability to influence the health of individual patients and, by contributing to the SOGC, each has the opportunity to advance the care of women everywhere. The SOGC is all of us. We join together to advance the work that began 71 years ago. Our Society grows a little in stature because of the acts of each of its members. And, as a privilege of membership, we have the opportunity to stand on the shoulders of giants.