IJGC conversations

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Lucia Ribero, Vanna Zanagnolo to discuss Single-Port Robotic Surgery: Safety and Feasibility.

 

Lucia Ribero, MD, is a gynecologist and postdoctoral research fellow in Gynecologic Oncology at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan, Italy. She completed her medical training and residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology in Cordoba, Argentina. She is currently involved in clinical and translational research in gynecologic oncology. Her main areas of interest include ovarian and endometrial cancer, surgical oncology, and translational research in a multidisciplinary setting.  

 

Dr. Vanna Zanagnolo is a distinguished Unit Director of Minimally-invasive and Robotic Gynecologic Cancer Surgery Unit in European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan, Italy. She is an expert in the diagnosis and treatment of gynecological cancers, including endometrial, ovarian, cervical, vulvar, and vaginal tumors. She specializes in providing ultra-specialist, multidisciplinary care focused on achieving optimal patient outcomes.

An alumna of the University of Brescia, Dr. Zanagnolo graduated in Medicine and Surgery and specialized in Gynecology and Obstetrics, earning cum laude honors for both degrees. Her academic and professional journey includes a prestigious research fellowship at Johns Hopkins University, where she conducted foundational studies in reproductive health. She attended the International Gyn Oncology fellowship at Ohio State University and the fellowship in Gyn Robotic Surgery at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale, AZ.

With over 160 scientific publications to her name, Dr. Zanagnolo is a recognized leader in her field. She has held several prominent leadership roles and memberships in elite medical societies, notably serving as the President of the Society of European Robotic Gynaecological Surgery in 2023.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Vivek Podder and Brian M. Slomovitz to discuss GLP1-Receptor Agonists in Endometrial Cancer.

 

Vivek Podder, MBBS, is an oncology research fellow at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, where he works in gynecologic oncology with a focus on translational research and clinical trials. His work spans molecular oncology, precision medicine, and outcomes research, with an emphasis on translating genomic and metabolic insights into clinically relevant treatment strategies.
His research focuses on obesity-associated cancers and the role of metabolic pathways in cancer progression and treatment response, including the potential application of GLP-1 receptor agonists in oncology. He has also contributed to molecular classification and therapeutic stratification in endometrial cancer, including work on homologous recombination deficiency, as well as immunotherapy rechallenge and chemotherapy-free treatment strategies in low-grade serous ovarian carcinoma. His work reflects a consistent effort to translate biological insights into clinical practice. Dr. Podder has authored over 120 peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and conference abstracts, along with more than 200 evidence summaries, with over 33,500 citations. He has presented his work at major international oncology meetings, including ASCO, ESMO, and SNO. He has contributed to five editions of the First Aid for the USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 CK series, widely regarded as essential resources for medical trainees, and serves as an associate editor and peer reviewer for several leading journals. His work has been recognized internationally, including selection to Stanford University’s list of the world’s top 2% scientists.

 

Dr. Slomovitz is a Gynecologic Oncologist at Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami Beach, Florida, and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the Wertheim College of Medicine at Florida International University. He is an internationally recognized leader in gynecologic oncology clinical trials, specifically in immunotherapy and novel biomarker therapeutics. He also is a leader in sentinel lymph node detection for gynecologic malignancies.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, the IJGC editorial fellows are joined by Dr. Mario M. Leitao, Jr.

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 Dr. René Pareja to discuss Topical Treatments for HPV: Fact or Flawed Science.

 

Dr. René Pareja is a Gynecologist and Obstetrician, graduated from Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana in Medellín, Colombia in 2000; he finished his training in Gynecologic Oncology in 2003, from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana and Instituto Nacional de Cancerología in Bogotá, Colombia.

He is a minimally invasive surgeon, graduated from Corporación de Estudios de la Salud (CES) in 2013. He currently works at Astorga Oncology Clinic in Medellín and at National Cancer Institute in Bogotá, Colombia.

Dr. Pareja serves as a reviewer for more than 20 journals. He has authored or co-authored ten book chapters and more than 160 publications in peer-reviewed journals. Currently he is an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Gynaecological Cancer. He also serves as an international mentor for the Hospital General San Juan de Dios in Guatemala through the IGCS Global Curriculum & Mentorship Program. Some of his research has influenced how gynecologic oncologists treat cancer and has been published in important medical journals, like the New England Journal of Medicine, and Journal of Clinical Oncology.

In this episode of the IJGC podcast, Editor-in-Chief Dr. Pedro Ramirez, is joined by Drs. Anne-Sophie van den Heerik and Carien Creutzberg to discuss Molecular Profile-Based Adjuvant Treatment Endometrial Cancer: PORTEC-4a.

 

Anne-Sophie van den Heerik, MD, is a resident in radiation oncologist at the Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. Her work focuses on the integration of molecular classification into endometrial cancer adjuvant therapy decision-making. Her recent publications includes the PORTEC-4a trial and the Cost-utility-analysis of molecular-integrated-profile for women with (high) intermediate risk endometrial cancer - PORTEC-4a an international, randomised, phase 3 trial.

Carien Creutzberg, MD, PhD is Professor of Radiation Oncology at Leiden University Medical Center, The Netherlands. Her work focuses on improving outcomes and quality of life for women with gynaecological cancers, particularly endometrial cancer. She is the principal investigator of the landmark PORTEC trials, which have shaped international treatment guidelines, and is a leading figure in integrating molecular profiling into personalized cancer care.