GCF BULLETIN

SGO Annual Meeting Draws Media's Attention

Newspaper and readers from Washington to Phoenix and channel surfers across America had a front row seat to several scientific presentations offered at the 28th Annual Meeting of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists (SGO), which was held March 22-26 in Phoenix, AZ.

The widespread media coverage for the new research into the diagnosis and treatment of women's cancers resulted from a dedicated effort by the SGO/GCF leadership to demonstrate to the American public how medical specialty meetings are forums for serious study of health care issues.

"Every research effort presented at the annual meeting is important to our specialty. Our objective," stated Karlan, Òwas to select research studies that touched on medical issues now before the public examined new possibilities in diagnosis and treatment of cancers."

Assisting in this effort was the Krupa Companies, a Washington-based public relations firm that specializes in medical and health care issues. The SGO Program Committee determined which of the abstracts were most news worthy, and ultimately 6 abstracts were selected for presentation to the media by the GCF Executive Committee. The abstracts were chosen based on newsworthiness, scientific contribution, relevance to current events, potential change in lifestyle of the general public, and clarity of science.

The issues covered included estrogen replacement therapy in breast cancer survivors, detection of false positives in pap smears, screening for cervical cancer, and BRCA1 and BRCA2 studies. Prior to the meeting, national and regional media representatives were contacted through a variety of press releases that listed the selected research studies,. If the reporter displayed additional interest, a more comprehensive press release was provided.

The initial results were astounding.

Televised stories appeared on CNN Early Edition and Headline News, ABC News This Morning, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, and were additionally aired by local affiliates around the country. Print stories were run in The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, San Diego Union-Tribune, Arizona Republic and the Orange County Register, to name a few. ABC and NBC radios also broadcasted several interviews with SGO members. Finally, the Society meeting was picked up by both Associated Press and Reuters National Wire services, which feed nearly every news office in the United States.

Feedback is still coming in. And like our dedicated researchers, planning is already underway for next year's meeting in Orlando. Don't forget to put GCF on your list!!