The Education Committee comprises the core Committee and seven Sub-Committees (former Task Forces). It is responsible for the effective progression and maintenance of the various educational activities of the Society. These include ISUOG Education courses, ISUOG Approved courses, VISUOG and the development of new education media.
Core Committee Members
Honours Committee Member
Prof. Angela Ranzini is a Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at The MetroHealth System in Cleveland, Ohio, USA and full professor of Reproductive Biology at Case Western Reserve University. Her special interests include anomaly identification, prediction of prematurity, Twins, Teaching processes and Quality control. Angela completed her MD at Medical College of Virginia (VCU), her Ob/Gyn residency at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY and her Fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine at Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA.
Angela is the Director of the Fetal Diagnostic Center at the MetroHealth System and the Program Director for the Maternal Fetal Medicine Fellowship at the MetroHealth/Case Western Reserve University joint fellowship with University Hospitals. She is a Fellow member of AIUM and is a reviewer for Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology and Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine. She is currently the Chair of the Education Committee, the Project Lead for the Rwanda Outreach program and serves as the VISUOG Abdomen section editor. She has been involved in many Committees and Task Forces of ISUOG.
Country: USA
Field: Obstetrics; Imaging; Fetal Medicine
Specialties: Fetal anomaly screening; fetal biometry and wellbeing; aneuploidies; fetal anomalies; fetal growth restriction; maternal and fetal Doppler; multiple pregnancy
Languages: English
Maya Al-Memar is a Consultant Gynaecologist at Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust, with specialist clinical interests in complex benign gynaecology, acute diagnostic services including early pregnancy and acute gynaecology, rapid access for suspected gynaecological cancer, and paediatric & adolescent gynaecology. She completed her training in Obstetrics and Gynaecology in North-West London including specialty training at Queen Charlotte’s and Chelsea Hospital, and St Mary’s Hospital. Having worked in the largest gynaecology & reproductive medicine service in London at Imperial, she has experience in managing complex patients. Her focus is to provide the best possible care for women using high quality diagnostics ultrasound skills to streamline care. She graduated from Imperial College School of Medicine with first class honours in 2007, where she also completed her PhD and is now an honorary clinical lecturer. She is widely published in peer-reviewed journals. She currently has on-going research projects in the fields of early pregnancy, miscarriage, ovarian cysts and use of ultrasound to improve diagnosis of ovarian masses.
Country: UK
Field: Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Specialties: Early pregnancy and gynaecology imaging, adnexal masses, paediatric and adolescent gynaecology
Languages: English, Arabic
Specialist in fetal medicine and surgery, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Lebanon
Co-Founder of CéBB (Centre d’échographie Boulogne-Billancourt) and Centre SFFERe (Spécialiste Fœtus, Femme Enceinte et Reproduction). Part timer in the Fetal surgery center, Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris, France.
Dr Gihad E. Chalouhi MD, PhD is an Obstetrics and Gynecology specialist. He worked for 8 years with Prof. Yves Ville Y and Prof. Laurent Salomon in Necker-Enfants Malades Hospital, Paris and is subspecialized in in prenatal diagnosis, fetal medicine, fetoscopy and fetal surgery with more than 300 performed fetoscopies. He is specialized in fetal imaging and obtained his PhD in fetal functional MRI in Paris Descartes University and INSERM unit U970. He is a member of the CNGOF (French National College of obstetrics and Gynecology), the LSOG (Lebanese Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology) and the CFEF (French College of Fetal Ultrasound).
He is a pioneer in the implementation of simulation in obstetrical and gynecological ultrasound education, and remains actively involved in this integration. He is an active member of ISUOG's Basic Training Task Force, and leader of the Simulation Work Group. For the last five years he has worked as part of ISUOG's Clinical Standards Committee for the establishment of ISUOG’s Guidelines.
He is the co-founder and President of SimECHOle, the school for ultrasound training and education using simulators in Paris, France.
Notable Publications: Dr Chalouhi has co-authored more than 70 scientific publications in internationally renowned journals and more then 10 chapters.
Use of simulators for the assessment of trainees' competence: trendy toys or valuable instruments?
Tolsgaard MG, Chalouhi GE. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2018 Apr 17. doi: 10.1002/uog.19071. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 29667240.
"Fake it until they make it": Practical obstetrical and gynecological ultrasound education nowadays in France.
Chalouhi GE, Gueneuc A, Levaillant JM, Ville Y. Gynecol Obstet Fertil Senol. 2017 Nov;45(11):579-581. doi: 10.1016/j.gofs.2017.09.008. Epub 2017 Nov 3. French. PubMed PMID: 29108903.
Evaluation of trainees' ability to perform obstetrical ultrasound using simulation: challenges and opportunities.
Chalouhi GE, Bernardi V, Gueneuc A, Houssin I, Stirnemann JJ, Ville Y. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2016 Apr;214(4):525.e1-525.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2015.10.932. Epub 2015 Nov 10. PubMed PMID: 26546849.
Ultrasound simulators in obstetrics and gynecology: state of the art.
Chalouhi GE, Bernardi V, Ville Y. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2015 Sep;46(3):255-63. doi: 10.1002/uog.14707. PubMed PMID: 25346451.
Country: Lebanon and France
Field: Obstetrics/Gynecology/Fetal medicine and surgery
Specialties: Fetal anomaly screening 1st trimester and 2nd trimester; fetal biometry and wellbeing; fetal anomalies screening; aneuploidy screening; fetal anomalies; fetal heart; fetal growth restriction; maternal and fetal Doppler; fetal interventional procedure; multiple pregnancy; early pregnancy; fetal growth; education in Ob-Gyn ultrasound; fetal MRI and functional MRI; fetal surgery.
Languages: French; English; Arabic
Dr Simon Meagher is consultant sonologist at the Perinatal department, Mercy Hospital for Women, Melbourne. He also serves as Medical Director of Monash Ultrasound for Women where he oversees a team of 50 sonologists, sonographers, genetic counsellors, phlebotomists and administrative staff in delivering a tertiary level ultrasound service across south east Melbourne. Dr Meagher has dedicated 30 years of his term as Medical Director, teaching and lecturing in obstetric and gynaecological ultrasound both locally and overseas. He has delivered over 800 lectures, across 17 countries, and 43 cities worldwide. In 2015, he was awarded ‘Sonologist of The Year’ by the Australian society of Ultrasound in medicine (ASUM) in recognition of his teaching skills and his commitment to hands on training within the hospital setting at the Mercy Hospital for Women and for his commitment and contributions to ASUM.
His interest in clinical research has focussed on early pregnancy screening and diagnosis he has published over 100 articles in peer review journals, including 15 articles in the last 3 years focusing on first trimester pregnancy screening and diagnosis. Dr Meagher has described five original sonographic fetal markers during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy. He is now focusing his interest on aneuploidy and embryo development from seven to 10 weeks as we approach the dawn of a new era of genetic screening via free fetal DNA analysis.
Dr Meagher has taken on multiple leadership positions - early in his career as the Chair of the Standards of Practice Committee at ASUM, examiner and executive board member for the ASUM Diploma of diagnostic ultrasound and later as council member of ASUM. Thereafter he served as Chairman of the Victoria Obstetric Sonologists group and on several ISUOG Sub-Committees at the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetric and Gynaecological Ultrasound.
Country: Australia
Field: Obstetrics and Gynaecology
Specialties: Prenatal Diagnosis. First and Second Trimester Fetal anomaly screening. Aneuploidy screening and diagnosis. NIPT and prenatal Exome sequencing. Maternal and Fetal Doppler Ultrasound. Invasive Prenatal Procedures. Ultrasound and Infertility. Tubal Patency Testing.
Languages: English
Prof. Hisham Mirghani did his fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine in Toronto, Canada in 1999. He received his Master in Health Professionas Education and is currently Professor of OB/GYN at United Arab Emirates University. He is also ISUOG's Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates and the Middle East.
Notable publications:
Begam MA, Alsafi W, Bekdache GN, Chedid F, Al-Gazali L, Mirghani HM. Stuve-Wiedemann syndrome: a skeletal dysplasia characterized by bowed long bones. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2011;38(5):553-8.
Mirghani H, Begam M, Bekdache G, Khan F. Specialised fetal and maternal service: outcome of pre-gestational diabetes. Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2012;32(5):426-9.
Country: United Arab Emirates
Field: Obstetrics
Specialties: Fetal anomaly screening 1st trimester and 2nd trimester; fetal biometry; fetal anomalies screening; aneuploidy screening; fetal anomalies; fetal heart; fetal growth restrictions; maternal and fetal Doppler; multiple pregnancy; early pregnancy; detection of fetal and neonatal growth abnormalities.
Languages: English; Arabic
"It gives me great pleasure to accept the invitation to become an ISUOG Ambassador. I hope I will be able to contribute to ISUOG training, educational, and research activities in my region. I believe that the potentials for ISUOG in the region and other parts of the world with similar backgrounds are huge."
Education Committee
Prof. Nikos Vrachnis is an Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Athens Medical School, Attiko University Hospital in Athens, and Chair of the ISUOG Validation Task Force. Currently, he serves as President of the Hellenic Authority for Medically Assisted Reproduction. He is also a Visiting Reader in Obstetrics and Fetal Medicine at St George’s University Hospital, NHS Foundation Trust, London.
Nikos has written or edited 15 books, has more than 150 scientific publications and has been awarded four times for his research work. He has a special interest in medical education, simulation and training, preterm labour, Down’s syndrome, fetal anomalies and 3D/4D ultrasound. Has run more than 100 practical courses in Greece and Cyprus, including Obstetric and Gynecologic Ultrasound courses, as well as courses in Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Presently serves as President of the Hellenic Society of Obstetric and Gynecologic Emergency.
Within the ISUOG he is a member of the Educational Committee, of the Basic Training Task Force and of the Patient Leaflets task force.
Notable publications
Soluble Fas and Fas-ligand levels in mid-trimester amniotic fluid and their associations with severe small for gestational age fetuses: a prospective observational study.
Vrachnis N, Dalainas I, Papoutsis D, Samoli E, Rizos D, Iliodromiti Z, Siristatidis C, Tsikouras P, Creatsas G, Botsis D. J Reprod Immunol. 2013 Jun;98(1-2):39-44
The fetus that is small for gestational age.
Vrachnis N, Botsis D, Iliodromiti Z. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Dec;1092:304-9
Elevated mid-trimester amniotic fluid ADAM-8 concentrations as a potential risk factor for preterm delivery.
Vrachnis N, Malamitsi-Puchner A, Samoli E, Botsis D, Iliodromiti Z, Baka S, Hassiakos D, Creatsas G. J Soc Gynecol Investig. 2006 Apr;13(3):186-90.
Resistin in mid-trimester amniotic fluid in trisomy 21.
Vrachnis N, Gkogkas L, Iliodromiti S, Grigoriadis C, Samoli E, Iliodromiti Z, Pangalos C, Pappa KI, Drakoulis N, Creatsas G, Botsis D. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2013 Nov;26(16):1576-80
Three-dimensional ultrasound and three-dimensional power Doppler improve the preoperative evaluation of complex benign ovarian lesions.
Vrachnis N, Sifakis S, Samoli E, Kappou D, Pavlakis K, Iliodromiti Z, Botsis D. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol. 2012;39(4):474-8.
Hospital visiting in obstetrics and gynecology: a tool for the advancement of training.
Creatsas G, Vrachnis N. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2006 Dec;95(3):298-301
Placental growth factor (PlGF): a key to optimizing fetal growth.
Vrachnis N, Kalampokas E, Sifakis S, Vitoratos N, Kalampokas T, Botsis D, Iliodromiti Z. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2013 Jul;26(10):995-1002.
Doppler assessment of the intrauterine growth-restricted fetus.
Botsis D, Vrachnis N, Christodoulakos G. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2006 Dec;1092:297-303
Country: Greece
Field: Obstetrics, Gynecology, Fetal-Maternal Medicine
Specialties: Preterm labour, Down’s syndrome, fetal anomalies, and 3D/4D ultrasound
Languages: Greek, English
Sub-Committees
The following Sub-Committees come under the umbrella of the Education Committee, and are responsible for developing specific areas of ISUOG's educational activities.
Basic Training Sub-Committee
The Basic Training Sub-Committee is responsible for the development and maintenance of ISUOG’s state-of-the-art Basic Training modules and education material for dissemination. These modules provide trainees that are new to ultrasound an introduction to essential topics in obstetrics and gynecology.
CME Sub-Committee
The CME Sub-Committee is responsible for directing ISUOG’s project for CME accreditation of its online content, and ensuring this content is both current and of the highest quality, in order to provide members with a comprehensive and interactive learning experience.
Courses Sub-Committee
The Courses Sub-Committee is responsible for planning and developing ISUOG’s intensive and approved course portfolio, based on the pedagogical needs of our members.
Online Education Sub-Committee
The Online Education Sub-Committee is responsible for the review and restructuring of the existing and future education content of the Society into a comprehensive modular teaching framework.
Patient Information Sub-Committee
The Patient Information Sub-Committee is responsible for developing patient friendly information for broad dissemination to the general public.
VISUOG Sub-Committee
The VISUOG Sub-Committee is responsible for the development and expansion of VISUOG, ISUOG's visual encyclopedia, which aims to provide medical professionals with up-to-date information on the clinical use of ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology.
Accreditation & Certification Sub-Committee
The Accreditation & Certification Sub-Committee supports the Office based staff by developing a comprehensive accreditation and certification tools for our education portfolio. It supports the effectiveness of ISUOG’s curricula by setting standards for learning objectives and developing assessment through a formal accreditation / certification program.
Secretariat Liaison
