Message from the President – September 2024
As I reflect back on my first three months as your SOGC President and look forward to what the next year will bring, I want to convey how honoured I am to be in this position and have the opportunity to promote the SOGC and the work that we do.
I come to this position with the benefit of having worked with many SOGC members on the ground. In the last two years, I’ve have done locum work in various regions and that has given me the opportunity to witness first-hand the diverse challenges and opportunities faced by our colleagues across different settings and different regions. What I’ve observed is that the issues affecting our specialty are similar across Canada.
One key theme I’ve heard involves pay equity. There is clear evidence that OB/GYNs are often paid less than their counterparts in other specialties for similar surgeries. Another major concern is the lack of access to care. Access to operating rooms is scarce and funding for women’s health care is inadequate. It’s important to open a dialogue about such disparities to not only address equality issues in our profession, but also to ensure the voices of our members are being heard. Throughout the year, I will be meeting with government and organizations to advocate for women’s health care and their providers.
One of my primary goals as President is to focus on the members. The essence, or the foundation of the SOGC, that allows us to carry out the important work we do is the members. The SOGC exists because of its members and is ultimately, for the members. I will work to improve the communication and relationship between this organization and its members. I want to ensure your voices are heard and reflected in our work.
I look forward to engaging with you to hear what you need from the SOGC and – as important – what do you want to contribute. Whether you are a sub-specialist, generalist, nurse or affiliate, our organization has something for everyone, and your input is invaluable in shaping our future. Without a strong membership base, we will cease to remain relevant. As we develop our new strategic plan, I ask that you add your voice by completing the survey that will be sent members.
My second area of focus as President is perinatal loss. I’ve seen the absolute devastation that stillbirth and pregnancy loss causes in parents, families and caregivers. I feel very passionate that we need to shed more light on this issue, because the effects are so deeply felt and have impacts on patients and caregivers across a wide spectrum. One of the initiatives that I am working with Dr. Jocelyn Cook is a needs assessment for a consistent, national framework to accurately capture and address the causes of stillbirths in Canada. This also includes advocating for improved national data collection. A national perinatal/maternal health database that has consistent pan-Canadian data is needed to improve perinatal/maternal care. We are also reviewing perinatal/maternal guidelines and processes that are needed to improve care to patients and families experiencing perinatal loss. Lastly, we will look at what can assist caregivers to improve care to this unique population, increasing awareness of the issues women face when accessing care for perinatal loss
In closing, I look forward to connecting with you in the year ahead. Please reach out at president@sogc.com.
Dr. Lynn Murphy-Kaulbeck
SOGC President