Do you think Liz Kendall looks slightly different ?

Dear Alison, I am writing to extend my warmest congratulations to you on your election as President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. It was a well-fought and honourable campaign, and I am pleased to have stood alongside you in a contest that reflected the values and integrity of our College. You brought clarity, experience, and vision to your campaign, and I know these qualities will serve you — and the College — well in the years ahead. While I am naturally disappointed by the outcome, I remain deeply committed to supporting the work of the RCOG and to the shared goals we hold for the profession, for women and girls globally, and for the future of obstetrics and gynaecology. I offer you my full support as you prepare to take on this important role. Wishing you strength, wisdom, and every success in the journey ahead. With warmest regards, Hassan

Sudan: The risk of famine continues to threaten communities impact by war. @WFP is appealing for additional funding to support people’s immediate needs and boost recovery efforts across the country. news.un.org/en/story/2025/06…

📣 Only 2 weeks to go from TODAY! 📣 Join Us at Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists | RCOG World Congress 2025 – ExCeL London, 23–25 June! Dear Colleagues As the Lead Vice President for Congress & Events, I am thrilled to invite you to join us at the RCOG World Congress 2025, taking place in person at ExCeL London from Monday 23 to Wednesday 25 June. This will be the largest event in our history, featuring: •🌍 220 global speakers •🕒 90 hours of CPD across 70 sessions •🔁 7 parallel streams over three event‑packed days The opening is by RCOG President Prof Ranee Thakar who will give her last Presdential address. 🎤 Plenary Lectures featuring leading voices in women’s health: 1.Prof Kypros Nicolaides – “The New Pyramid of Pregnancy Care” 2.Prof Tony Young – “Innovation Transforming Healthcare: the Rise of the Clinical Entrepreneur” 3.Mr Benjamin Jones, Prof Richard J Smith, Miss Isabel Quiroga – “Uterine Transplantation: a UK & International Perspective” 4.Prof Itengre Ouédraogo, Dr Aduragbemi Banke‑Thomas, Prof Sayeba Akhter – “The Horrible Reality of Obstetric Fistula” 5.Dr Deborah Harrington – “When Healthcare Collapses” 6.Prof Jan Deprest, Miss Donna Ghosh – “Choosing Surgeons: Does Sex of the Surgeon Matter” 7.Dr Lynne Sykes, Dr Jane Currie, Dr Pol Solé Navais, Dr Shivaprasad Goudar – “Preterm Birth: Understanding Aetiology to Enable Individualised Therapies” 8.Prof Ahmed Ahmed – “Targeting the Invisible: Next‑generation Therapeutics in Solid Tumours” This is our most ambitious programme to date—a unique opportunity to engage with world-class expertise, shape your professional development, and connect globally. 👉 Secure your place today and discover the full programme, including tailored streams, interactive debates, ePosters, and on‑demand access post‑event. rcog.org.uk/careers-and-trai… Let’s come together to share cutting-edge research, inspire innovation, and strengthen our global O&G community. I look forward to seeing you in London! Warm regards, Hassan

Just returned from a fantastic day at the Ulster Obstetrical and Gynaecological Society Summer Meeting at Riddel Hall, Queen’s University Belfast. A brilliant programme filled with insightful talks, collegial energy, and genuine passion for women’s health. It was a privilege to contribute a Global Health Update, and I was especially pleased to be invited back for the second year running—thank you to Dr Kristine Steele and the organising committee for the warm welcome and impeccable planning. I’m already looking forward to a potential third visit! The day covered a wide range of clinical and professional topics, from hydronephrosis and ectopic pregnancy to second victim syndrome and workplace wellbeing. A particular highlight for me was the session reflecting on the Society’s recent trip to Bruges—an entertaining blend of feedback and film references (In Bruges, naturally). And special mention to Ralph Roberts, whose photographic contributions made it feel like we were all there, pint in hand. It’s remarkable to note that the Society is now 73 years old, and next year will mark a historic first: the President, Past President, and Vice President will all be women—a powerful and long-overdue milestone in the Society’s distinguished history. A heartfelt thanks again to everyone involved. It’s clear that the Society continues to thrive through a combination of academic rigour, camaraderie, and a good sense of humour. And yes—the dancing later in the evening was just as spirited as the academic sessions! #OandG #WomensHealth #MedicalLeadership #GlobalHealth #ProfessionalDevelopment #UlsterOGSociety #RCOG

It was a real pleasure to attend the EBCOG 2025 Congress today in Frankfurt. I was especially proud to be part of a thought-provoking RCOG session, which reflected the College’s global leadership in advancing women’s health. RCOG President Ranee Thakar set the tone beautifully with her talk on The role of the RCOG in women’s health, highlighting the College’s strategic commitment to improving outcomes and equity worldwide. I was delighted to share insights on Metformin in pregnancy: is it the Aspirin of the 21st century?, and Professor Stergios Doumouchtsis provided an important and timely contribution on Standardising the selection and reporting of outcomes in pelvic floor research and clinical practice—a key step towards improving both evidence and care in this area. The session sparked a fruitful and engaging discussion, reinforcing the value of international collaboration and academic exchange. Many congratulations to EBCOG President Professor Frank Louwen and the entire organising team for hosting such a successful and well-curated meeting.

As the current Senior and Global Health Vice President, I am honoured to confirm and formally announce my candidacy for President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists @RCObsGyn It is a true privilege to stand for this role among esteemed colleagues. Voting is now open and will run from Monday 19th of May to Tuesday 17th of June 2025. All Fellows and Members in the UK and the Republic of Ireland are eligible to vote. I encourage you to take part in this important process to shape the future of our College. For full voting details, please visit the RCOG website. Thank you for your consideration and support.

It was also my absolute pleasure to see my good friend and colleague Suha Abdalla winning the National Trainee Trainer of the Year 2025. Very proud of you Suha and well done. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

Dear all The World Health Organisation has just released the awaited new guideline on the prevention of female genital mutilation and clinical management of complication. This is an important document, please read and advocate. bit.ly/4jRAv04

With a dynamic programme featuring world-class speakers and invaluable networking opportunities, Congress offers a transformative learning experience. Secure your place before Monday 28 April 2025 to take advantage of our early bird offer: brnw.ch/21wQTw4

To ensure everyone has the opportunity to participate in the RCOG World Congress 2025, we have decided to extend the final deadline to 12pm on Thursday 30 January 2025. Don’t miss out and submit your work today: brnw.ch/21wQh0b

Honoured and privileged to have helped today in the Hong Kong Medical Licence Examination. Thank you to Prof Liona Poon for inviting me and the amazing team for the generous hospitality and great organisation. 👏🏽👏🏽 @RCObsGyn @hipple_laura @LionaCPoon

As a Sudanese and the Global Vice President of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, I am deeply disturbed by the recent findings from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. This study sheds light on a tragic reality that many of us have feared but has remained largely unreported: the staggering, and largely preventable, loss of life across Sudan, particularly in Khartoum, Kordofan, and Darfur. The estimation of over 61,000 deaths, with 90% unrecorded, reveals a humanitarian crisis of unimaginable scale that demands immediate and decisive action. The conflict has brought not only an alarming surge in violent deaths but also a silent epidemic of preventable disease and starvation. In a country already facing limited healthcare resources, this is catastrophic. The impact of this crisis on maternal and child health is profound, with women and children bearing the brunt of such instability and resource scarcity. This crisis calls for an urgent, scaled-up response that addresses both the visible and invisible toll on Sudanese lives. As a global health leader, I call on the international community, humanitarian agencies, and governments worldwide to prioritise Sudan in their emergency response plans. We must advocate for diplomatic solutions and accountability to stem further violence and provide Sudan with the medical, nutritional, and infrastructural support needed to save lives. The stories of families, often suffering in silence, must be at the heart of our response, alongside an unwavering commitment to human rights and conflict resolution. Let these findings serve as a somber reminder of the ongoing tragedy in Sudan and the resilience of its people. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that their suffering does not go unseen and that we do everything in our power to bring hope, aid, and peace to this beloved country. @RCObsGyn @RaneeThakar @Byoussef @BasselWattar @adweeks @thangaratinam @SudanPMHamdok @sudan_bukra @_KateLancaster @anitaobsmed

Honoured and privileged to be one of the expert speakers on the annual ‘Evidence based guidelines and clinical practice: Dilemmas in the daily practice of obstetrics and Gynecology’ in Thessaloniki. This is my 3rd year to be invited and I am very impressed with the scientific quality. The Greeks know how to deliver a good conference. Σας ευχαριστώ @BasselWattar @RCObsGyn @ArgyroSyngelaki

Extremely proud of my good Jordanian friend Prof Amer Gharaibeh for receiving an Honorary Fellowship from the @RCObsGyn for his contributions to women’s health. He has successfully campaigned to make Maternal Medicine an accredited subspeciality and played an important role in producing the first Maternal Mortality report in Jordan. @nelson_piercy @anitaobsmed @DrSiara @RaneeThakar @_KateLancaster

Very proud of my good Egyptian colleague and collaborator on the anti-medicalisation of FGM RCOG training module, Professor Ahmed Galal for receiving an Honorary ⁦@RCObsGyn⁩ Fellowship for his services to women and girls. ⁦@_KateLancaster⁩ ⁦@RaneeThakar⁩ ⁦