Virtual platforms as a vehicle to promote international collaboration

Homa K Ahmadzia; Elaine B Hynds; Elizabeth Stringer; Vincenzo Berghella; Blair J Wylie; Jorge E Tolosa

doi:10.1016/j.xagr.2021.100016

Virtual platforms as a vehicle to promote international collaboration

AJOG Glob Rep. 2021 Jul 30;1(4):100016. doi: 10.1016/j.xagr.2021.100016. eCollection 2021 Nov.

Authors

Homa K Ahmadzia^{1

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3

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7}, Elaine B Hynds^{1

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7}, Elizabeth Stringer^{1

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7}, Vincenzo Berghella^{1

2

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7}, Blair J Wylie^{1

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5

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7}, Jorge E Tolosa^{1

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7}

Affiliations

¹ Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC (Dr Ahmadzia).
² School of Medicine and Health Sciences, The George Washington University, Washington, DC (Ms Hynds).
³ Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC (Dr Stringer).
⁴ Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA (Dr Berghella).
⁵ Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Dr Wylie).
⁶ Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR (Dr Tolosa).
⁷ Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Luke's University Health Network, Bethlehem, PA (Dr Tolosa).

Abstract

This survey study was conducted to better consider ways that the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine (SMFM) can increase their international outreach. Most survey respondents indicated that international representation could be improved and cited barriers of cost and physical distance to annual meetings. This study highlights support for continuation of virtual conferencing to improve international representation and proposes a hybrid model of scientific engagement moving forward.

Keywords: SMFM; access; conferencing; international; representation; virtual.

Publication types

Case Reports