Our mission is to increase endometriosis awareness, fund landmark research, provide advocacy and support for patients, and educate the public and medical community.
Founders: Padma Lakshmi, Tamer Seckin, MD
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International Patient Conference 2021: The Path Towards A Cure

The Path Towards A Cure:
Connecting Patients with Science

Every year, the Endometriosis Foundation of America hosts a patient conference designed to equip patients with all the tools and information they need to live their best lives with endometriosis. This year, we’re delighted to partner with The International Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy (ISGE) on March 19-21 to bring you the 2021 Global Patient Conference: The Path Toward a Cure.

The virtual conference will be offered in several different time zones and will include panels by experts in fields ranging from extrapelvic endometriosis and fertility to mental health and nutrition. We believe that living with endometriosis requires a collaborative and interdisciplinary effort that prioritizes the patient's voice. We are excited to continue spotlighting patients who will take the virtual stage to tell their stories and share their toolkits for advocacy, management, and support.

Patient Day was created for and inspired by endometriosis patients and we invite you to share this day with your loved ones and support network. Together we can seek the information and support that the endo community deserves.

 

Speakers

Lida Ahmady, LAc

Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Herbalist

Zara Altbach

Endo Patient

Mike Armour, PhD, BHSc BSc (Hons)

Senior Research Fellow | Higher Degree Research Coordinator

Merve Aypak

Endo Patient

Kim Bendheim

Endo Patient

Shan Biscette, MD

Assistant Professor, Dept OB-GYN, and Women's Health

Deborah Bush, MNZM QSM

Chief Executive Endometriosis New Zealand Director, EPP Coaching World Endometriosis Society Board Trustee

Winnie Chan

EndoFound Patient Advisory Committee

Alison Chemla

Endo Patient

Sarah Choi, FRANZCOG

Gynaecologist and Advanced Pelvic Surgeon

Margaret Cianci

Endometriosis Foundation of America

Michael Dahan, MD

McGill University in Montreal, QC, Canada

Diana Falzone

EndoFound ambassador and Executive producer for Endo TV

Simone Ferrero, MD, PhD

Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Genova, Italy

Victor Gomel, MD

Professor Emeritus in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of British Columbia

Tracey Haas, DO

Clinical Instructor, University of Washington School of Medicine, EndoFound Board of Directors

Anna Hagood

Endo Patient

Nikki Hartzoulakis

Endo Patient

Kym Jackson

Endo Patient

Neil Johnson, MD

Professor of Reproductive Health, Gynaecologist and REI Subspecialist, President of the World Endometriosis Society

Judy Joo

Chef, Restaurateur, Author and TV Personality

Shaheen Khazali, MD

Centre for Endometriosis and Minimally Invasive Gynecology (UK)

Kathleen King

Endo Patient

Lori Konecni

Endo Patient

Padma Lakshmi

Actor, Writer, Producer, EndoFound Founder

Brian Levine, MD

CCRM New York Fertility Clinic (USA)

Li Ma, MD

Associate Consultant, Division of Benign Gynaecology, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, National University Hospital

Debbie Madigan

Endo Patient

Christine Madigan

Endo Patient

Dan Martin, MD

EndoFound Scientific and Medical Director

Zaher Merhi, MD

Medical Director, CEO, Founder of Rejuvenating Fertility Center (RFC)

Doris Murimi

CEO at Endo Sisters East Africa Foundation

Jessica Murnane

Author Know Your Endo and One Part Plant Cookbook; Founder of Know Your Endo

Laura Payne, PhD

Director of the Clinical and Translational Pain Research Laboratory at McLean Hospital

Karli Provost Goldstein, DO, FACOG

Minimally Invasive Surgeon,
Lenox Hill Hospital, NY

Amira Quevedo, MD

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Women’s Health

Tanya Raymond

Endo Patient

Lane Rechan

Endo Patient

Neve Rechan

Endo Patient

Meredithe Rechan

Endo Patient

Harry Reich, MD

Honorary Medical Director Emeritus and Senior Medical Advisor to EndoFound

Dearne Richards

Endo Patient

Erik Rieloff

Endo Patient's Husband

Karen Robinovitz

Endo Patient

Tamer Seckin, MD

Attending physician Lenox Hill Hospital, Founder and President of Endometriosis Foundation of America

Anil Sharma, MD

Gynaecologist, Auckland, New Zealand

Tomer Singer, MD

Shady Grove Fertility New York Medical Director and Board Certified Reproductive Endocrinologist

Hanne Vedsted-Hansen

Mindful Self-Compassion Teacher

Smitha Vilasagar, MD

Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgeon, Carolinas Healthcare System Mercy Women's Center for Pelvic Health

Arnold Wilson, Ph.D.

Lecturer of Psychiatry, Columbia University School of Medicine, NY,
Training and Supervising Psychoanalyst at the Institute for Psychoanalytic Training and Research

Charlotte Woska

Endo Patient

Patrick Yeung, MD

Director of the SLUCare Center for Endometriosis


PROGRAM

 

Friday, March 19/Saturday March 20
7 PM - 10 PM EST 
PacificAsia/US

Sunday, March 21 -
11 AM - 3 PM EST

Americas- EuropeAfricaMiddleEast

London    3-7 pm
Capetown 5-9 pm
Rome        4-8 pm
Cairo         6-10pm
Istanbul    6-10pm
Tel-Aviv    6-10 pm

 

Moderating Chairs                                     Honorary Chair
Dr. Martin & Dr. Seckin                                       Harry Reich, MD, Victor Gomel, MD

 

7:00 - 7:01

7:01 - 7:03

7:03 - 7:05

Intro - Margaret Caspler Cianci, Executive Director
Welcome from Founders

Co-Founder Padma Lakshmi

Co-Founder, Dr. Tamer Seckin
Why science is important to patients with endometriosis

11:00 - 11:01

11:01 - 11:03

11:03 - 11:05
Dr. Seckin screen share

 

What is going on down there?

 

7:05-7:12 (no Q&A)

 

Live: What causes Endometriosis,
the science behind the symptoms?
DR. SECKIN, DR. MARTIN

Live: When Does Endometriosis Become a Disease?
DR SECKIN, DR. MARTIN

11:05 - 11:12

Dr. Seckin Screenshare

 

 

My Endo Story
Margo Davies

4 mins

 

Adolescents & Familial Endometriosis

 

7:12 - 7:32

 

LIVE
Trust These Teens:
Early Detection is the Prevention

Moderators:
Deborah Bush
Dan Martin, MD
Tamer Seckin, MD

Panelists:
Anil Sharma, MB
Patrick Yeung, MD
Mike Armour, PhD
Anna Hagood

LIVE
Trust These Teens:
Early Detection is the Prevention

Moderators:
Dan Martin, MD
Tamer Seckin, MD
Tracey Haas, MD

Panelists:
Simone Ferrero, MD
Shan Biscette, MD
Lane and Neve Rechan
Meredithe Rechan
Charlotte Woska
Anna Hagood

11:12 - 11:31

Dr. Martin screenshare 4 mins

 

 

 

11:31 - 11:32
Dr. Seckin or Margaret intro Madigan video

 

 

Pre-recorded Christine & Debbie Madigan (Canada)

11:32 - 11:37

7:32 - 7:35

Basics of Endo
Amira Quevedo

11:37 - 11:40
(LIVE Dr. Seckin provide highlights,Dr. Seckin to share screen and play portions of video)

 

Patients for Advocacy and Policy Change

 

 

 

 

11:40 - 11:41

Dr. Seckin or Margaret intro Kathleen King video

7:35 - 7:37

 

Kathleen King (Ireland)

11:41 - 11:45

 

 

 

11:45 - 11:47 Dr. Seckin intro Dr. Haas

7:37 - 7:44 

Pre-recorded: How to Talk to Your Doctor About Endometriosis
Tracey Haas, MD

LIVE How to Talk to Your Doctor About Endometriosis
Tracey Haas, MD

11:47 - 11:57

7:44 - 7:45 

 

 

11:57 - 11:58
Dr. Seckin intro Judy Joo

7:45 - 7:55

Pre-Recorded Judy Joo

Live “Judy’s Journey”             Judy  Joo

11:58 - 12:08

 

 

 

12:08 - 12:10

Margaret intro Doris

7:55 - 8:00

My Endo Story
Doris Murimi

Pre-recorded:
Doris Murimi (Kenya)

12:10 - 12:20

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIVE What does endo belly have to do with painful sex: “Let’s talk about sex, seriously!” *

Moderator:
Tamer Seckin, MD

Panelists:
Karen Robinovitz
Nikki & Erik

12:20 - 12:30 (5 mins discussion, 5 mins Q&A)

 

“Converting  Pain to Power”
Psychology of Pelvic Pain &  Quality of Life

 

 

 

 

12:30 - 12:31 Margaret intro Merve

 

 

LIVE
Merve Aypak

12:31 - 12:36

 

 

 

Dr. Seckin intro Dr. Wilson

 

 

LIVE Combating Anxiety and Depression
Arnold Wilson
5 mins summary of presentation, 5 mins Q&A

12:36 - 12:46 (including Q&A, moderated by Dr. Seckin)

 

 

 

Margaret introduce Endo story

8 - 8:08 (20 minutes)

Pre-Recorded
Self-Compassion: Essential When Quality of Life is Affected By Endometriosis
Hanne Vedsted-Hansen

+++HAVE PAPER AND PEN READY FOR THE EXERCISE IN THIS PRESENTATION

My Endo Story

2 mins

8:08 - 8:10 

 

 

12:46 - 12:47
Margaret intro Hanne

8:10 - 8:20

LIVE Coping with Pain: Brief Skills Training
Laura Payne
5 mins summary of the presentation, 5 mins Q&A

Pre-Recorded Self-Compassion: Essential When Quality of Life is Affected By Endometriosis
Hanne Vedsted- Hansen

12:47 - 1:02 (20 mins)

LIVE Q&A with Hanne (5 min)

 

Complementary Management
Cannabinoids, Acupuncture & Diet

 

8:20 - 8:22

 

 

1:02 - 1:05 Dr. Seckin introduce Dr. Armour’s video

8:22 - 8:40

LIVE Medicinal Cannabis and other non-pharmaceutical management strategies for endometriosis
Mike Armour, PhD

Pre-Recorded: Medicinal Cannabis and other non-pharmaceutical management strategies for endometriosis
Mike Armour, PhD

1:05 - 1:23

8:40-8:41 

 

 

1:23 - 1:25  
Dr. Seckin and Judy Joo intro Endo Friendly Foods

8:41 - 8:51

Live: Endo Friendly Foods
Jessica Murnane

Moderator: Diana Falzone

Live: Endo Friendly Foods
Winnie Chan
Lida Ahmady
Jessica Murnane

Moderator: Judy Joo

1:25 - 1:45
(including 5 mins Q&A)

 

Not So Rare: Endo of Remote Sites
Complex Multi Organ Surgery of Bowel, Bladder, & Beyond involving
Chest, Kidney, and Neuropathies

 

 

 

8:51 - 8:52 

 

 

Dr. Seckin introduce Dr. Khazali

8:52 - 8:56

Pre-Recorded: Michael East, MD  Ilioinguinal nerves

Pudendal & Sciatic Nerves
Shaheen Khazali, MD

1:45-1:50

 

 

 

Dr. Seckin introduce Dr. Goldstein and the panel

8:56 - 9:10

 

 

 

 

LIVE PANEL
Moderators:
Deborah Bush
Tamer Seckin, MD

Panelists:
Michael East, MD
Sarah Choi, MD
tanya raymond
zara altbach

LIVE PANEL
Moderators:
Karli Provost Goldstein, DO

Panelists:
Shaheen Khazali, MD
Smitha Vilasagar, MD
Lori Konecni
Tanya Raymond

 

1:50 - 2:10

 

9:10 - 9:11 

 

 

2:10 - 2:11 Margaret intro Ditte’s video

9:11 - 9:16

Dearne Richards

Ditte Nørgaard Sørensen (Denmark)

2:11 - 2:15

 

FERTILITY
A Conversation with Patients and Physicians

 

 

9:16-9:17 

 

 

2:15 - 2:16 Dr. Goldstein intro Kym’s video

9:17 - 9:25

LIVE
Miracles or Magic
Kym Jackson Story

 

Miracles or Magic
VIDEO Kym Jackson
LIVE Alison Chemla

Childless not by Choice
LIVE Kim Bendheim

2:16 - 2:21 Kym

2:21 - 2:22 Dr. Goldstein intro Alison

2:22 - 2:27 Alison

2:27 - 2:28 Dr. Goldstein intro Kim

2:28 - 2:33 Kim Bendheim

 

 

 

 

9:25 - 9:55

LIVE PANEL

Moderator: Karli Provost Goldstein, DO

Panelists:
Sarah Choi, MBChB
Victor Gomel, MD
Neil Johnson, MD
Brian Levine, MD
Zaher Merhi, MD

 

 

Why do endometriosis cause fertility problems?

When is infertility a sign for endometriosis?

Egg retrieval, Should we rush?

 

Customised  IVF Protocols for Endo Patients

Fertility Preservation for Adenomyosis and Endometriosis

Ovarian and Uterine Sparing Reproductive Surgery

 

LIVE PANEL
Moderator: Karli Provost Goldstein, DO

Panelists:
Michael Dahan, MD
Victor Gomel, MD
Brian Levine, MD

 

 

2:33 - 2:55
(including 5 mins Q&A)

9:55 - 10:00

Conference Wrap-Up
Tamer Seckin, MD
Margaret Caspler Cianci

Conference Wrap-Up
Tamer Seckin, MD
Margaret Caspler Cianci

2:55 - 3:00