Dr Garrett alongside ISSTD Executive Members and LOC at the Congress Executive Dinner

On 19-22 October, RBWH’s Queensland Trophoblast Centre had the honour of hosting the World Congress of the International Society for the Study of Trophoblastic Diseases (ISSTD) in Sydney.  

The congress hosted 183 delegates from 23 countries, with 102 of these attending in person and the remaining delegates tuning in virtually. 

The event allowed specialists in the field to meet with colleagues and friends for educational opportunities and to exchange ideas and research for the advancement of knowledge on the condition.  

Gestational trophoblastic disease (GTD) is a group of rare diseases in which abnormal trophoblast cells grow inside the uterus after conception.  

RBWH Gynaecology and Oncology Specialist Dr Andrea Garrett said it was a privilege to organise the Congress alongside a team of fellow specialists from the Victorian Registry, Lifehouse and Royal Women’s Hospital in Sydney. 

“It took two years to plan the meeting, gain sponsorships, score the 100 abstracts received, organise the scientific program, as well as social functions. I was honoured to chair the congress and to present on lessons learnt from the establishment of the Queensland Trophoblast Centre,” Dr Garrett said. 

“Everything came together successfully, with many interesting presentations to help enable practitioners to keep up to date with current world practice. 

“Queensland Trophoblast Centre also sponsored a doctor from Fiji to attend – Dr Nanise Sinkita who is the first gynaecologic oncologist in Fiji.”