CanSAGE’s mission statement includes a commitment to ensuring quality education, providing a national forum to promote clinical and basic research, and promoting improved ways to deliver quality patient care. To meet the needs of our members, a new role within CanSAGE was recently created: CPD Director.
We want to welcome Dr. Chelsie Warshafsky as our first CPD Director, working with Dr. Olga Bougie (Education Chair). Members interested in working on education should contact us at [email protected].
We talked to Warshafsky about her plans and what motivated her to take on this new role.
I’d just love to get a bit of insight into what you like about being part of CanSAGE, and why you decided to volunteer to get more involved?
CanSAGE has been an invaluable part of my training and professional journey. My first fellowship bootcamp still stands out as a highlight—it was such an incredible experience to engage with like-minded individuals who share a passion for advancing MIS. I felt like I had finally found my place and my people. That sense of community is what makes CanSAGE so special to me. The networking opportunities, the exchange of ideas, and the sense of camaraderie are unparalleled. Volunteering to take on a more active role felt like a natural next step for me—it’s my way of giving back to a community that has given me so much and helping to shape its future for the better.
CPD Director is a new role in CanSAGE. What made you decide to take this role on?
CanSAGE has played a significant part in my training journey, and I have always aspired to become more involved. From a background perspective, during my MIGS training I completed a secondary fellowship in Simulation and Medication Education. I have also led the development of a successful CME-accredited hysteroscopy course that we plan to bring across the country. When the opportunity arose to step into this new role as CPD Director, I saw it as a chance to help shape the future of CanSAGE’s educational initiatives. I’m inspired by CanSAGE’s dedication to innovation and excellence in gynecologic surgery, and I wanted to contribute in a way that supports our members’ growth and helps them stay at the forefront of our field.
Can you please tell me a bit about your plans for CanSAGE’s educational programming?
Our plans are centred around creating dynamic and accessible educational opportunities for all CanSAGE members as the field of Gynecology moves forward. Last year CanSAGE put on the MISsion Impossible educational series, which was very well-received. This year we plan to build on this strong foundation by creating programs that not only educate but also bring people together.
Member participation is at the heart of our plans for our educational programming. One of the initiatives I’m particularly excited about is organizing webinars where members present cases that are then reviewed and discussed with a panel of experts. This will allow us to learn from real-world experiences and foster meaningful discussions that benefit everyone involved. By including our members as both contributors and learners, we can create a richer, more interactive educational experience. This approach not only addresses the needs identified in our recent member poll and active CanSAGE listserv but also helps to ensure that our programming reflects the challenges and interests of our community.
We also want to leverage the incredible expertise within CanSAGE to build programs that are inclusive of both fellowship-trained specialists and generalists. The future of gynecology is centred around minimally invasive approaches, and we believe we have a responsibility to make expert teaching accessible to all members, regardless of their training background. With this in mind, we can ensure that our field continues to advance across all levels of patient care.
