This year's Travel Grant scheme allowed 6 abstract submitters from low-resource countries to attend the ISUOG World Congress. Read their profiles and testimonials below:
Dr. Joshi is a medical doctor with a special interest in sonology, particularly in the diagnosis and management of infectious diseases affecting women and pregnancy in developing countries. His work focuses on improving maternal and fetal health outcomes through team work in advanced ultrasound techniques and early detection of infections, contributing to better clinical decision-making in resource-limited settings.
Dr. Inessa Safonova, MD, PhD is a Professor of Radiology at NTU KhPI and ISUOG Ambassador for Eastern Europe. With over 25 years of experience in Ob/Gyn ultrasound, she has worked extensively in perinatology, fetal cardiology, gynecology, and oncogynecology. Dr. Safonova is a leading educator, having trained specialists across more than 20 countries and founded a dedicated ultrasound training center. She also manages a professional network of 10,000+ Ob/Gyn sonologists and has organized multiple international ultrasound conferences in Eastern Europe.
Dr. Oumayma Mejri is a hospital-university assistant in obstetrics and gynecology based in Ariana, Tunisia. She obtained her medical degree from the Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, and currently works at Mahmoud El Matri Hospital in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.. Her main areas of interest include prenatal care, obstetric ultrasound, and maternal health. Dr. Mejri is committed to advancing women's health and continues to develop her expertise through clinical practice and professional development initiatives
Fatima Alawneh is a registered nurse who graduated from the Lebanese University in January 2022. Since early 2023, she has been working at Al Hadi IVF Center as an OBGYN assistant, with a focus on ultrasonography and clinical research. Her work centers on reproductive medicine, fertility care, and the integration of advanced ultrasound techniques in patient management.
She is actively involved in research aimed at improving diagnostic protocols in infertility and prenatal care. In recognition of her dedication to women's health and medical imaging, she has been awarded the Travel Grant by ISUOG in 2025
She graduated from the Faculty of Medicine of Tirana in 2001 As a General Practitioner. She specialized in Obstetrics since 2015 near the Faculty of Medicine in Tirana, 2003-2007. She has worked as an Obstetrician at the Obstetrics hospital: “Koco Glozheni” in Tirana Albania for several years. She later completed the Doctorate entitled "Epidemiology of pregnancy complications in Albania” in 2018, After completing the doctoral studies she was employed as an external lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine in Tirana. Currently works as an effective lecturer at the University of Medicine in Tirana, Albania. She has published 15 scientific papers out of which 4 publications in the country and 11 outside the country, of which 10 are prestigious publications and medical journals with Impact Factor.
Dr. Ghanem Ahmed, 29 years old, is a resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Center of Maternity and Neonatology in Tunis, Tunisia—a leading referral center for maternal-fetal medicine in North Africa. Originally from Tunisia, he works under the mentorship of Professor Dalenda Chelli, ISUOG Ambassador for Africa.Dr. Ahmed has a strong clinical and academic interest in high-risk pregnancy management and fetal in-utero interventions. He is passionate about advancing prenatal diagnosis and promoting excellence in maternal-fetal ultrasound across the region.
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Testimonials:
" The Congress was incredibly helpful and inspiring. Taking part in the annual World Congress always gives me answers to many professional questions and challenges.
I had the chance to present my research during two sessions, take part in expert discussions, and get feedback both from colleagues and the audience. I also received suggestions for publishing in the White Journal and offers to collaborate internationally. It was a real honor to be invited by ISUOG President Reem S. Abu-Rustum to a meeting with the Trustees and top speakers, as well as to join the IOTA group gathering. As a doctor and university professor, I truly appreciate these new professional opportunities. This was actually my tenth ISUOG Congress, and I always share what I’ve learned with doctors across the region where I serve as an ambassador. I do this through our training courses, workshops, and professional social networks — reaching around 12,000 doctors from Eastern Europe and Central Asia. At the end of every year, we also host a big online meeting with OB/GYNs, radiologists, and sonologists to review the Congress and key scientific trends. For the past four years, we’ve used these webinars to raise charitable funds, which we donate entirely to Ukrainian military medics.
While in Cancun, many colleagues from around the world expressed their support for Ukraine and its people during this ongoing war. This kind of emotional support from the professional community means a lot to us. I’m very grateful to ISUOG for the support and for creating such a strong, welcoming global community. These connections, the knowledge exchange, and the inspiration I take from each Congress continue to shape my work and teaching every day. I’m looking forward to staying involved and contributing further in the future."
- Inessa Safonova (Ukraine)
"Thank you very much for your message and for the wonderful opportunity to attend the ISUOG World Congress 2025 in Cancun. It was an honour and a truly enriching experience to be part of such an inspiring international event. I would like to sincerely thank the ISUOG team for their professionalism and their constant support throughout the visa application process, which was not easy in my case. Their responsiveness and dedication made it possible for me to attend the Congress smoothly, and I am deeply grateful for that. The Travel Grant allowed me to participate in person, interact with experts from around the world, and learn about the latest advances in obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound. The sessions were highly educational, and I especially appreciated the opportunities for networking and sharing ideas with colleagues from diverse backgrounds. Upon returning to Tunisia, I had great pleasure in sharing the knowledge and insights I gained with my hospital team, which has already inspired new discussions and improvements in our daily practice."
- Oumayma Mejri (Tunisia)
"Attending the ISUOG World Congress 2025 was an invaluable experience. The Travel Grant enabled me to participate in a truly global forum where I could learn from leading experts, engage in hands-on workshops, and expand my professional network. The knowledge and insights I gained will directly enhance my clinical practice and research, particularly in advanced obstetric ultrasound techniques. I am deeply grateful to ISUOG for supporting my attendance, as the opportunity has inspired me to further contribute to the field and share these learnings with my colleagues at home."
- Ahmed Ghanem (Tunisia)