This year's Travel Grant scheme allowed 5 abstract submitters from low-resource countries to attend the ISUOG World Congress. Read their profiles and testimonials below:
The 2024 Travel Grant winners (click to expand)
Dr Ahmed Essa is an obstetrician/gynecologist and maternal-fetal medicine sub-specialist. He completed both undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Ethiopia (Africa). His greatest interest is in research on fetal medicine and high-risk pregnancy.
"I am great in prenatal screening, first/second trimester anatomic scan, fetal echocardiography, preterm birth and preeclampsia screening and management. Currently I am looking for an environment that will help me acquire more knowledge and skills in perinatal medicine and, at the same time, to utilise my skills for the betterment of my clients and organization."
Professor Alba Esquivel is a gynecologist, obstetrician, university professor and researcher in her field in Colombia.
"I am very grateful for the fantastic opportunity that ISUOG is giving me through the travel grant. I will be able to give an in person update, with international expert professors such as: Mathew Leonardi, Juan Luis Alcazar, George Condous among others. I am excited to expose part of our clinical experience, guided by their publications. I will express my admiration to Latin researchers such as Professor Jezid Miranda. I will attend with the conviction to share this unique event with my colleagues and students upon my return. All this, enjoying the academic and cultural exchange between specialists from all over the world, and taking the opportunity to explore the history and idiosyncrasy of Budapest."
Professor Andres Sarmiento MD currently works in Bogota. He is an obstetrician and gynecologist fully dedicated to prenatal diagnosis.
He has 30 years of experience in academic and clinical practice. For over 20 years he has been working as a professor at Universidad de Los Andes Medical School where he is an associated professor with a full time dedication al Hospital Universitario Fundación Sante Fe de Bogotá. He has been an ISUOG member for many years, attending the annual Congress when it’s financially feasible.
"I am privileged to receive this travel grant since information and technology updates really can make a difference for physicians and educators working in global south countries. It's a very efficient and clever way to make a difference. I am looking forward to participating."
Dr. Mariam Raafat Louis Bouls is an assistant professor of radiodiagnosis at the 'Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Department', Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University. She is a radiology consultant in the female imaging unit; specialising in breast and obstetrics and gynecology imaging.
Academic qualifications: M.B.,B.ch (Medical Degree) with excellent degree, MSc.(Master Degree in Radiodiagnosis) and MD in Radiodiagnosis.
Dr Thai Giang Nguyen qualified as a general doctor in 2004, finished his residency in gynecology and obstetrics in 2008 and completed the PhD program in 2020 at Hanoi Medical University, Vietnam. His thesis studied the hypothesis “whether the uterine artery pulsatility index (UAPI) could be a predictor of methotrexate resistance in low-risk gestational trophoblastic neoplasia."
He is a lecturer at Hanoi Medical University and has also been a doctor at the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology since 2009. Dr Thai Giang Nguyen is an experienced and highly skilled gynecologist with over 15 years of experience in providing care to women with cancer.
He is adept in providing professional antenatal care and managing deliveries. He is knowledgeable in performing a wide range of tasks, including antenatal care of high-risk pregnancy, fetal ultrasounds and gynecologic oncology. Dr Thai Giang Nguyen is an active member of the IGCS (International Gynecologic Cancer Society) and ISUOG.
Testimonials:
"My testimony as a grant participant is very positive and gratifying. ISUOG's commitment with the global south and the support to academic and research issues is clear. I’ve been to ISUOG meetings before, where I’ve learned, referenced, made connections and put in perspective my academic career as a professor. However, attending is very expensive and the hospital resources for supporting research and traveling are limited. This has been a great opportunity for me and my research team back at home. Motivation is the best word. Thank you !!! Now I know what I can do for ISUOG since I know what ISUOG can do for us in Colombia."
- Prof Andres Sarmiento (Colombia)
"I was glad to get the opportunity to attend the 34th World Congress which was held in Budapest through winning the travel grant. It was really an amazing and fruitful experience where the conference was rich with different lectures in the most recent updates in Obstetrics and Gynecology, as well as meeting the experts sessions and scan demonstrations which was of utmost benefit for me being a radiologist specialised in Obstetrics and Gynecolgy imaging. I would like to thank the organizing committee and all who helped doctors from developing countries to share such an experience."
- Dr Mariam Bouls (Egypt)
"I am an obstetrician and gynecologist with further training in fetal medicine from Ethiopia, Africa. The ISUOG conference in Budapest was exceptional. It was a great time to learn recent updates, and opportunity to meet world leaders in this field. The composition of the lessons was wider than I expected. It was well coordinated conference. My journey as a travel award attendee was amazing. The process from abstract submission to return back home was well supported by the event coordinator. I am really thankful for ISUOG team. The travel award helped me to cover all my major expenses, it wouldn't be possible if I didn't get it. Thank you ISUOG!"
- Dr Ahmed Essa (Ethiopia)
"I am Dr. Thai Giang Nguyen, working at Hanoi Medical University and the National Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Vietnam. I would like to express my deep gratitude to the ISUOG Scientific Committee for giving me the Travel Grant and I had a chance to present my work in the 34th annual congress of ISUOG. Joining the full 4 days of the scientific congress, I didn’t feel tired, everyday I read the program enthusiastically and always found new things that I wanted to discover. I also had the chance to share my study in the imaging cancer session of the ISUOG World Congress. It is an unforgettable moment of my life. Budapest is an attractive city, but the new ideas I acquired, the new people I met from many parts of the world (such as Albania) and especially meeting most of the leading experts of ISUOG in-person, attracted me more. I would recommend the ISUOG Congress for everyone working in the field of obstetrics and gynecology, maternal fetal medicine and diagnostic imaging. As a Travel grantee, It will be my honor to share my experiences of the ISUOG Congress with every person I meet. Be ready for the annual Congress, besides the enjoyable scientific program, ISUOG professional staff will take good care of you in every step. I am truly happy to be a member of ISUOG and I will definitely benefit from the internet resource documents of the organisation."
- Dr Nguyen Thai Giang (Vietnam)
"I am very grateful for the wonderful opportunity I had to participate in the Travel Grant. I enjoyed fantastic lectures on gynaecological ultrasound, shared with colleagues who I admire for their publications. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to know some of the Hungarian culture in Budapest and colleagues from all over the world. The organisation, technology and logistics were phenomenal. I returned to my university hospital very enthusiastic about sharing concepts learned for the well-being of our patients and better use of resources. The subject matter was so interesting that it was difficult for me to choose which area to enter: obstetrics or gynaecology. One of the advantages of attending in person is that you can enjoy the recorded lectures for a while. My greatest joy was having Dr. Mathew Leonardi and Dr. George Condus as session chairs for my presentation on superficial endometriosis."
- Prof Alba Esquivel (Colombia)