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Physicians Hold Leadership Positions in Three Major Societies

Release Date: 01/05/2017

In the field of medicine, physicians and researchers take tremendous pride in being part of professional organizations and societies. These societies represent a collection of professionals all working toward a common goal of promoting and improving health care by providing resources, information and opportunities for collaboration.  

Physicians in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, a Care New England hospital, and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University are currently serving in leadership positions in three of the major surgical societies within the field of obstetrics and gynecology. Vivian Sung, MD, FACOG, is president of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons (SGS); Charles Rardin, MD, FACOG, is president-elect of the American Urogynecologic Society (AUGS); and Gary Frishman, MD, is vice president of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL).

“Women & Infants attracts leaders in our field, supporting and fostering participation in the most important societies and organizations within obstetrics and gynecology,” said Maureen G. Phipps, MD, MPH, chair and Chace-Joukowsky Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology and assistant dean for Teaching and Research in Women’s Health at the Alpert Medical School, professor of epidemiology at the Brown University School of Public Health, and chief of obstetrics and gynecology at Women & Infants Hospital and Care New England Health System. “There are many strong residencies and departments around the country, but these accomplishments truly reflect the stature and leadership of our department, our programs, and our physicians. We are not aware of any other department of obstetrics and gynecology in the country that can claim such concurrent leadership representation within our professional organizations.”

Vivian W. Sung, MD, FACOG, a board certified urogynecologist in the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery at Women & Infants and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Alpert Medical School, is president of the Society of Gynecologic Surgeons. The mission of the SGS is to promote excellence in gynecologic surgery through acquisition of knowledge and improvement of skills, advancement of basic and clinical research, and professional and public education. Research and educational missions are fulfilled through programs including the Systematic Review Group, the Fellow's Pelvic Research Network(TM) and the Pelvic Anatomy Group.

Charles Rardin, MD, FACOG, also a urogynecologist in the Division of Urogynecology and Reconstructive Pelvic Surgery and director of the Robotic Surgery Program for Women at Women & Infants, director of Minimally Invasive Surgery at Care New England, and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Alpert Medical School, is currently vice president of the American Urogynecologic Society and will be president in 2017. AUGS, founded in 1979, is the premier non-profit organization representing more than 1,900 members including practicing physicians, nurse practitioners, physical therapists, nurses and health care professionals, as well as researchers from many disciplines, all dedicated to treating female pelvic floor disorders. As the leader in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery, AUGS promotes the highest quality patient care through excellence in education, research and advocacy.

Gary N. Frishman, MD, associate director of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility and residency program director at Women & Infants Hospital, and professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Alpert Medical School, has been serving as vice president of the American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists and will be president in 2018. Established in 1971, the AAGL is the leading association promoting minimally invasive gynecologic surgery among surgeons worldwide. Today with a membership extending to over 100 countries, the AAGL is an internationally recognized authority in minimally invasive gynecology. With 7,800 members worldwide, the association is proud to count among its membership the foremost authorities in gynecology and pioneers in technique and procedures.

 

About Women & Infants Hospital 

Women & Infants Hospital of Rhode Island, a Care New England hospital, is one of the nation’s leading specialty hospitals for women and newborns. A major teaching affiliate of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University for obstetrics, gynecology and newborn pediatrics, as well as a number of specialized programs in women’s medicine, Women & Infants is the 9th largest stand-alone obstetrical service in the country and the largest in New England with approximately 8,500 deliveries per year. A Designated Baby-Friendly® USA hospital, U.S.News & World Report 2014-15 Best Children’s Hospital in Neonatology and a 2014 Leapfrog Top Hospital, in 2009 Women & Infants opened what was at the time the country’s largest, single-family room neonatal intensive care unit.

Women & Infants and Brown offer fellowship programs in gynecologic oncology, maternal-fetal medicine, urogynecology and reconstructive pelvic surgery, neonatal-perinatal medicine, pediatric and perinatal pathology, gynecologic pathology and cytopathology, and reproductive endocrinology and infertility. It is home to the nation’s first mother-baby perinatal psychiatric partial hospital, as well as the nation’s only fellowship program in obstetric medicine.

Women & Infants has been designated as a Breast Imaging Center of Excellence by the American College of Radiography; a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology; a Center of Biomedical Research Excellence by the National Institutes of Health (NIH); and a Neonatal Resource Services Center of Excellence. It is one of the largest and most prestigious research facilities in high risk and normal obstetrics, gynecology and newborn pediatrics in the nation, and is a member of the National Cancer Institute’s Gynecologic Oncology Group and the Pelvic Floor Disorders Network.