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The NBA First-Round Draft
J Pediatr Adolesc Gynecol (2000) 13:155–156
The Editor’s Workshop The NBA First-Round Draft
From the pediatric adolescent gynecology perspective, what do the letters “NBA” stand for? N is for NASPAG, North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology; B is for BRITSPAG, or the British Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology; and A if for ALOGIA, the South American society that deals with our subspecialty. Since pediatric gynecology’s early inception, our team has progressed, beginning with Professor Peter in Prague, who on September 12, 1940 opened the first outpatient clinic dedicated to pediatric gynecology. This was the first such subspecialty clinic in Europe. Soon thereafter, in 1941, Dr. Goodrich Shauffler, a US citizen, published the first book on the subject. In 1962, a dedicated pediatric faculty was appointed at Charles University in Prague, with Professor Peter as the first Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics in the discipline. Other stalwart leaders included Dr. Elsie Carrington and Dr. Stewart Taylor, who wrote chapters for textbooks on the subject. Prominent authors included Dr. Warren Lang in Philadelphia and Dr. Leon Israel, also from Pennsylvania. I would be surprised if anyone with expertise in the area of pediatric and adolescent gynecology wasn’t familiar with the classic textbook The Gynecology of Childhood and Adolescence, by Dr. John Huffman, which appeared in its first edition in 1958. A number of European conferences on pediatric and adolescent gynecology were held, and Dr. Vincent Capraro joined Dr. Huffman on these occasions. Sir John Dewhurst, well know to our society, has been instrumental in sharing his expertise in the field and was a keynote speaker at our annual clinical meeting. A North NASPAG lectureship has been named in his honor. Dr. Alvin Goldfarb, executive director of NASPAG, has continued to wave the banner for quality in the field and serve as a role model. His enthusiasm for his work, dedication, and in sharing his expertise daily remains steadfast. Dr. Goldfarb first conceived of the idea of an organization in the States that would focus on education and pave the way for research in the area of pediatric and adolescent gynecology. We progress and identify a textbook that served as reference for many of us on numerous occasions: The Gynaecological Disorders of Infants and Children, edited by Sir Dewhurst. One other noteworthy individual is Dr. Paul McDonough, who along with Dr. Alvin Goldfarb was instrumental in the birth of NASPAG. Dr. McDonough, an accomplished reproductive endocrinologist and geneticist, organized in 1986 with Dr. Goldfarb the Eighth World Congress of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, which was held in Washington, D.C. Following this historic event, NASPAG was founded on a date to remember: October 8, 1986. Our journey identifies many other leaders in our field: Dr. Vessaly-Prague; Prof. WidholmHelsinki; Dr. Swrsiron-Paris; Dr. Huber-Innsbruck; Prof. Matsumoto-Tokyo; Dr. D. Goldstein-Boston; Dr. Gurucharri-Buenos Aires; Prof. Haspels-Utrecht; Prof. George Creatsas-Athens; Prof. Rauramo-Turku, Finland; Dr. A. Altchek, New York; and Dr. G. Gidwani, Cleveland. 2000 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Published by Elsevier Science Inc.
1083-3188/00/$20.00 PII S1083-3188(00)00058-9
156
The Editor’s Workshop
The current organizations, NASPAG, BRITSPAG, and ALOGIA were preceded by FIGIJ (Federation Internationale de Gynecologie Infantile et Juvenile), which had its origin in the early 1960s. Its international focus drew from expertise all around the world, with such famous physicians as Sir Dewhurst, Dr. Irmi ReyStocker, and Profs. Rauramo, Lauritsen, and Salomon-Bernard. FIGIJ became a corporate member of FIGO, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. ALOGIA’s existence has been a beacon of educational endeavor for the pediatric and adolescent gynecology sector of the universe. The programs held to date have made a distinct effort to link the North and South American continents sharing expertise, and practical educational goals and objectives. The newest of the pediatric adolescent societies comes from the United Kingdom—BRITSPAG. It is under the direction of Dr. Keith Edmonds, who is currently the organization’s president. These societies, along with FIGIJ (which has been under the leadership of Professor George K. Creatsas) have served to communicate research, and in the case of FIGIJ, board certification in the specialty. The European Congress of Pediatric Gynecology, which functions under the umbrella of FIGIJ, was last held in Prague and had representation from both North and South America. Now we enter a new era: an exciting time, with new philosophies and innovative talent. Just look at our annual clinical meeting. The enthusiasm abounds, the research is paramount, and the leadership is prepared to take us through the new century. Well, we may not be on the first round of the NBA, but pediatric adolescent gynecology is indeed approaching par with other national organizations, and in a sense achieving national recognition—just like the NBA. Joseph S. Sanfilippo, MD Editor-in-Chief
The Editor’s Workshop The NBA First-Round Draft
From the pediatric adolescent gynecology perspective, what do the letters “NBA” stand for? N is for NASPAG, North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology; B is for BRITSPAG, or the British Society of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology; and A if for ALOGIA, the South American society that deals with our subspecialty. Since pediatric gynecology’s early inception, our team has progressed, beginning with Professor Peter in Prague, who on September 12, 1940 opened the first outpatient clinic dedicated to pediatric gynecology. This was the first such subspecialty clinic in Europe. Soon thereafter, in 1941, Dr. Goodrich Shauffler, a US citizen, published the first book on the subject. In 1962, a dedicated pediatric faculty was appointed at Charles University in Prague, with Professor Peter as the first Professor of Gynecology and Obstetrics in the discipline. Other stalwart leaders included Dr. Elsie Carrington and Dr. Stewart Taylor, who wrote chapters for textbooks on the subject. Prominent authors included Dr. Warren Lang in Philadelphia and Dr. Leon Israel, also from Pennsylvania. I would be surprised if anyone with expertise in the area of pediatric and adolescent gynecology wasn’t familiar with the classic textbook The Gynecology of Childhood and Adolescence, by Dr. John Huffman, which appeared in its first edition in 1958. A number of European conferences on pediatric and adolescent gynecology were held, and Dr. Vincent Capraro joined Dr. Huffman on these occasions. Sir John Dewhurst, well know to our society, has been instrumental in sharing his expertise in the field and was a keynote speaker at our annual clinical meeting. A North NASPAG lectureship has been named in his honor. Dr. Alvin Goldfarb, executive director of NASPAG, has continued to wave the banner for quality in the field and serve as a role model. His enthusiasm for his work, dedication, and in sharing his expertise daily remains steadfast. Dr. Goldfarb first conceived of the idea of an organization in the States that would focus on education and pave the way for research in the area of pediatric and adolescent gynecology. We progress and identify a textbook that served as reference for many of us on numerous occasions: The Gynaecological Disorders of Infants and Children, edited by Sir Dewhurst. One other noteworthy individual is Dr. Paul McDonough, who along with Dr. Alvin Goldfarb was instrumental in the birth of NASPAG. Dr. McDonough, an accomplished reproductive endocrinologist and geneticist, organized in 1986 with Dr. Goldfarb the Eighth World Congress of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology, which was held in Washington, D.C. Following this historic event, NASPAG was founded on a date to remember: October 8, 1986. Our journey identifies many other leaders in our field: Dr. Vessaly-Prague; Prof. WidholmHelsinki; Dr. Swrsiron-Paris; Dr. Huber-Innsbruck; Prof. Matsumoto-Tokyo; Dr. D. Goldstein-Boston; Dr. Gurucharri-Buenos Aires; Prof. Haspels-Utrecht; Prof. George Creatsas-Athens; Prof. Rauramo-Turku, Finland; Dr. A. Altchek, New York; and Dr. G. Gidwani, Cleveland. 2000 North American Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology Published by Elsevier Science Inc.
1083-3188/00/$20.00 PII S1083-3188(00)00058-9
156
The Editor’s Workshop
The current organizations, NASPAG, BRITSPAG, and ALOGIA were preceded by FIGIJ (Federation Internationale de Gynecologie Infantile et Juvenile), which had its origin in the early 1960s. Its international focus drew from expertise all around the world, with such famous physicians as Sir Dewhurst, Dr. Irmi ReyStocker, and Profs. Rauramo, Lauritsen, and Salomon-Bernard. FIGIJ became a corporate member of FIGO, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics. ALOGIA’s existence has been a beacon of educational endeavor for the pediatric and adolescent gynecology sector of the universe. The programs held to date have made a distinct effort to link the North and South American continents sharing expertise, and practical educational goals and objectives. The newest of the pediatric adolescent societies comes from the United Kingdom—BRITSPAG. It is under the direction of Dr. Keith Edmonds, who is currently the organization’s president. These societies, along with FIGIJ (which has been under the leadership of Professor George K. Creatsas) have served to communicate research, and in the case of FIGIJ, board certification in the specialty. The European Congress of Pediatric Gynecology, which functions under the umbrella of FIGIJ, was last held in Prague and had representation from both North and South America. Now we enter a new era: an exciting time, with new philosophies and innovative talent. Just look at our annual clinical meeting. The enthusiasm abounds, the research is paramount, and the leadership is prepared to take us through the new century. Well, we may not be on the first round of the NBA, but pediatric adolescent gynecology is indeed approaching par with other national organizations, and in a sense achieving national recognition—just like the NBA. Joseph S. Sanfilippo, MD Editor-in-Chief