IJGC conversations

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Paula Mateo-Kubach and Behrouz Zand to discuss Statin Use in Gynecologic Cancer Therapy.

 

Paula Mateo-Kubach, MD, is a Spanish physician who completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Toledo, Spain. She is currently a Research Fellow at Houston Methodist Hospital, where her work focuses on perioperative care and Enhanced Recovery After Surgery (ERAS). In parallel, she is pursuing a PhD at Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, with research centered on ERAS implementation challenges and opioid use in surgical care. Her next goal is to complete clinical training in gynecologic oncology.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ When she is not filling her database, she can be found underwater, she is a PADI-certified rescue diver.

 

Dr. Behrouz Zand is a gynecologic oncologist at Houston Methodist Hospital's Neal Cancer Center and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and an assistant professor at Weill Cornell College at Houston Methodist Academic Institute. Specializing in innovative cancer care and clinical trials, he is passionate about integrating AI in medicine, a recent alumnus of the physician program at MIT for AI integration in healthcare. Dr. Zand combines cutting-edge research with compassionate patient care to advance the field.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Sarah Andres and Mario M. Leitao Jr to discuss Empty Lymph Node Packet in SLN Mapping for Endometrial Cancer.

 

Sarah Andres, DO, FACOG, is a Gynecologic Oncology Fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), with planned graduation in June, 2027. She additionally works within the Weigelt Laboratory conducting translational research and studying rare gynecologic malignancies. Dr. Andres has contributed extensively to the field through her recent research, with work published in leading journals such as Gynecologic Oncology and the International Journal of Gynecological Cancer. Her recent publications explore critical topics including sentinel lymph node mapping techniques in uterine cancer, outcomes of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for advanced ovarian cancer, and genomic characterization of endometrial serous carcinoma. Her clinical and research interests span cervical, endometrial, and ovarian carcinoma, with contributions to multiple clinical trials and retrospective studies.

 

Dr. Mario M. Leitao, Jr., MD, FACOG, FACS, is currently an Attending Surgeon in the Department of Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center and a Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical College. He currently serves as Program Director for the Gynecologic Oncology Fellowship. Dr. Leitao is also the Director for the Minimal Access and Robotic Surgery Program in the Department of Surgery for MSKCC. Dr. Leitao is the recipient of the 2025 IGCS Excellence in Teaching Award.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Santiago Vieira-Serna to discuss Contralateral pelvic lymph node metastases in patients with unilateral early-stage epithelial ovarian cancer.

 

Dr. Santiago Vieira-Serna is a gynecologic oncologist who graduated from the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Bogotá, Colombia, in 2023. He currently works at the Instituto Nacional de Cancerología and at Clínica Universitaria Colombia.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Gabriel Levin to discuss Salpingo-oophorectomy at Radical Hysterectomy for Cervical Adenocarcinoma.

 

Dr. Gabriel Levin is a gynecologic oncologist and clinical researcher at McGill University and the McGill University Health Centre. His work focuses on real-world outcomes research, and health systems innovation in gynecologic cancers. He has authored more than 330 peer-reviewed publications and is actively involved in advancing evidence-based care through academic leadership and international collaboration.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Dr. Giuseppe Caruso to discuss Lymphadenectomy in Early-Stage Ovarian Cancer.

 

Dr. Giuseppe Caruso, MD PhD works as a consultant gynecologic oncologist at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Milan (Italy), under the mentorship of Prof. Nicoletta Colombo. He holds a PhD in “Network Oncology and Precision Medicine” from the Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome. He is a research collaborator at Mayo Clinic, Rochester (MN, USA); an honorary faculty member of the European School of Oncology (ESO) College; and a member of the European Network of Young Gynae Oncologists (ENYGO) Executive Group.