ISUOG's new President, Prof. Liona Poon, shares a welcome message to all ISUOG members at the start of her presidency.
It is a tremendous honour to begin my term as President of ISUOG.
Having been part of this remarkable Society for many years, I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve a community that has played such an important role in my professional journey. ISUOG has long been a source of inspiration, education and friendship, bringing together clinicians, researchers, educators and innovators from around the world with a shared commitment to improving the health of women and their babies.
This commitment to women's health has been with me since I was 14 years old. As a teenager, I decided that I wanted to become an obstetrician and gynecologist because I believed women deserved better healthcare and stronger advocates. That aspiration shaped many of the decisions that followed, including my move to the United Kingdom to pursue medical training and further education. Looking back, that youthful ambition set me on a path that has defined my career, from caring for women and their families to conducting research, developing innovations, and advocating for improvements in maternal healthcare around the world.
I would like to thank our immediate Past President, Prof. Reem Abu-Rustum, and all previous leaders whose vision, dedication and hard work have helped establish ISUOG as the global leader in ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology. I look forward to building on this strong foundation alongside our Board of Trustees, committees, volunteers and staff.
As I begin my presidency, I find myself reflecting on both how far our field has come and the opportunities that lie ahead.
Over the past three decades, advances in ultrasound have transformed clinical practice. Through pioneering research, high-quality education, evidence-based guidelines and a commitment to excellence, ISUOG has helped shape standards of care that have benefitted women and families worldwide.
Yet despite these achievements, significant disparities in access to healthcare remain. While ultrasound has become an essential component of pregnancy care in many parts of the world, millions of women still face barriers to accessing timely and high-quality ultrasound services. These inequalities remind us that our work is far from complete.
My long-term vision has always been simple: every woman should have access to appropriate ultrasound care, and every healthcare professional performing ultrasound should be properly trained and supported to deliver safe and effective care.
Achieving this vision will require us to continue strengthening the pillars that define ISUOG: education, research, clinical standards and global collaboration. We must continue expanding access to high-quality training, particularly in regions where healthcare resources are limited. We must continue to support scientific excellence and promote the translation of evidence into clinical practice. And we must continue working together across borders, specialties and healthcare systems to improve outcomes for women and their families.
At the same time, we are entering an exciting era of innovation. Emerging technologies, including point-of-care ultrasound and artificial intelligence, have the potential to help expand access to essential ultrasound services and support healthcare professionals in a wide range of clinical settings. While these advances are promising, their success will depend on rigorous evaluation, education, appropriate implementation and an unwavering commitment to patient safety. As the leading global society in our field, ISUOG has an important role to play in helping ensure that innovation is harnessed responsibly and equitably.
Above all, I believe that technology is only meaningful if it improves lives. Our responsibility is to ensure that scientific progress benefits all women, not only those fortunate enough to live in the most well-resourced healthcare systems.
The strength of ISUOG has always been its people. I have been continually inspired by the generosity, expertise and passion of our members and volunteers around the world. Together, we have built an extraordinary community, and together we can continue to advance science, strengthen education, promote excellence and improve women's health globally.
I am excited about what we can achieve over the next two years and look forward to working with all of you as we continue to shape the future of ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology.
Thank you for your trust, your support and your commitment to our shared mission.