News and media
International Fetal Medicine & Surgery Society Meeting 2024 takes place in Cork
The 41st meeting of the International Fetal Medicine & Surgery Society (IFMSS) is taking place at Castlemartyr, Co. Cork from 22-26 September. The 2024 meeting is organised by Prof Greg Ryan, President, IFMSS who is based at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Professor Keelin O’Donoghue is the local organiser and also organiser of the Fetal Medicine Study Day which will be held at Devere Hall, University College Cork on Friday, 27 September.
Over the three-and-a-half days of the IFMSS 2024 meeting, speakers will present the most current knowledge, advances, and controversies in the fields of fetal medicine and therapy. Topics such as fetal growth restriction, fetal tumours, neural tube defects, fetal therapy and prenatal genetics will be covered across 17 conference sessions. Dr Alex Dakin – Specialist Registrar in Obstetrics and Gynaecology – will present a retrospective review of common trisomies after legislation for termination of pregnancy in Ireland, work she undertook with the Pregnancy Loss Research Group in 2023-4.
The underpinning theme for IFMSS 2024, in Irish is “Sármhaitheas agus Craic”. "Sármhaitheas" translates best as “excellence”, a key element of the research and clinical practice of IFMSS. Almost 300 people have registered to attend this year’s meeting, which is the largest attendance in its history. The IFMSS promotes fetal diagnosis and therapy and encourages global diversity in the field of medicine through annual meetings worldwide for the past 40 years.
The Society’s primary objective is to improve the outcomes for both mothers and fetuses through advances in prenatal diagnosis and the development of therapeutic options. Through its collective efforts, it aims to enhance the understanding of fetal development, pathophysiology, and intervention techniques. By advancing knowledge and disseminating the latest research findings, the IFMSS seeks to empower healthcare providers in their decision-making process and optimise the care provided to expectant mothers and their unborn babies.