2023 Global Congress

General Information

Submission Policies

• All abstracts must be completed in English through the abstract system.
• First authors are considered to be the presenting author - Presenting authors are limited to four submissions, and inclusion as a co-author on up to six abstracts.
• An abstract may only be submitted once. Submission of multiple abstracts on a single study may result in the rejection of one or more abstracts.
• Abstracts written and submitted by industry personnel on behalf of a physician are not allowed.
• Submission of an abstract constitutes a commitment by the presenting author to present if selected. Failure to present may result in exclusion from the scientific program for two years.
• The presenting author of an accepted abstract must either be an existing AAGL member or must become a member at the time of registration for the Global Congress.

Completed submissions are anonymously graded by the Abstract and Video Review Committee.

Disclosures

• The submitter must complete the disclosures for the presenter and all co-authors.

Control of Content

The AAGL considers presenting authors, not co-authors, to be in control of the educational content. It is AAGL’s policy to acknowledge all co-authors contributing to the research. Though they are acknowledged, co-authors do not have control of the CME content and their disclosures are not published or resolved.

Submission to

The Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology (JMIG)
All abstracts accepted for presentation will be published, as submitted, in the JMIG supplement.

Copyright

The AAGL holds copyright on all material presented at the AAGL Global Congress unless such material is found unsuitable for publication.

Title

Use both upper-and lowercase letters as appropriate for your title. No special formatting is needed.

Submitter's Email

You must provide a valid e-mail address. This address will receive a link for each abstract submission. Any correspondence regarding this abstract will be sent to this email address.

Preferred Presentation Format

The Scientific Program Committee chooses submissions to be presented as oral presentations based on relevance, significance, innovation and originality, scientific rigor, conclusion, and clarity.

All abstracts are reviewed as possible paper abstract presentation, video abstract presentations, or Virtual Poster (no presentation necessary) with the Scientific Program Committee making the final decision. Submitting authors may wish to limit the abstract to an oral or video presentation only or Virtual Poster only or may select no preference.

• Oral or Video Presentation: Original scientific paper or video presentations will be followed by audience discussion that may require author interaction. If an author has two scientific papers scheduled for presentation within conflicting sessions, an alternate speaker must present one of the papers.
• Virtual Posters (no Presentation necessary): Virtual Posters authors submit a digital version of their poster prior to the meeting. 

Category Classification

Please refer to the list of primary and secondary categories within the abstract submission system. Please assign your abstract to both a primary and secondary category. This determines where the abstract will be assigned in the program, if accepted.

You must make one selection from the primary category and one from the secondary categories for each abstract.

Primary Category:

Select the topic that best describes the subject category of your abstract.

Secondary Category:

Select an additional topic that further describes your abstract.

• Adenomyosis
• Basic Science/Education
• Dyspareunia
• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Gender Reassignment Surgery
• Hysteroscopy
• Laparoscopy
• Natural Orifice Surgery
• Neuropelveology
• New Instrumentation or Technology
• Obese Patients
• Oncology
• Pelvic Pain
• Reproductive Medicine
• Research
• Robotics
• Single-Port
• Tissue Containment & Extraction Technologies
• Urogyn/Pelvic Floor Disorders
• Vaginal Aesthetic and Rejuvenation
• Other

Award Competitions

We proudly host several competitions and encourage your participation. When making selections, please review and ensure your eligibility. Please note that e-posters are NOT eligible for competitions.

Properly Formatted Abstracts

The following headings with formatting are required for oral presentation/e-poster submissions and are pre-populated in the abstract management system:

• Study Objective: Begin with a clear, concise statement of the precise objective or question put forth in the study.
• Design: Describe the basic study design, and duration of any follow-up.
• Setting: Describe the OR setting, i.e., patient positioning, ergonomics.
• Patients or Participants: State the manner of selection and numbers of patients who were enrolled in a completed study (sample size, study duration and follow up).
• Interventions: Describe the exact treatment or intervention.
• Measurements and Main Results: Describe the methods of assessing patients, and state the key results. This section must include data, even if preliminary.
• Conclusion: State clearly the conclusions and clinical applications that are supported by the data. Advise if additional study is required before this information should be used in clinical settings

Title

Use both upper-and lowercase letters as appropriate for your title. No special formatting is needed.

Submitter's Email

You must provide a valid e-mail address. This address will receive a link for each abstract submission. Any correspondence regarding this abstract will be sent to this email address.

Preferred Presentation Format

The Scientific Program Committee chooses submissions to be presented as oral presentations based on relevance, significance, innovation and originality, scientific rigor, conclusion, and clarity.

All abstracts are reviewed as possible paper abstract presentation, video abstract presentations, or Virtual Poster (no presentation necessary) with the Scientific Program Committee making the final decision. Submitting authors may wish to limit the abstract to an oral or video presentation only or Virtual Poster only or may select no preference.

• Oral or Video Presentation: Original scientific paper or video presentations will be followed by audience discussion that may require author interaction. If an author has two scientific papers scheduled for presentation within conflicting sessions, an alternate speaker must present one of the papers.
• Virtual Posters (no Presentation necessary): Virtual Posters authors submit a digital version of their poster prior to the meeting. 

Category Classification

Please refer to the list of primary and secondary categories within the abstract submission system. Please assign your abstract to both a primary and a secondary category. This determines where the abstract will be assigned in the program, if accepted. 

You must select make one selection from the primary category list and one from the secondary category list for each abstract.

Primary Category: Select the topic that best describes the subject category of your abstract.

Secondary Category: Select an additional topic that further describes your abstract .

• Adenomyosis
• Basic Science/Education
• Dyspareunia
• Endometriosis
• Fibroids
• Gender Reassignment Surgery
• Hysteroscopy
• Laparoscopy
• Natural Orifice Surgery
• Neuropelveology
• New Instrumentation or Technology
• Obese Patients
• Oncology
• Pelvic Pain
• Reproductive Medicine
• Research
• Robotics
• Single-Port
• Tissue Containment & Extraction Technologies
• Urogyn/Pelvic Floor Disorders
• Vaginal Aesthetic and Rejuvenation
• Other

Authors

Presenting Author / Co-author(s)

• Each author for paper and video is limited to four submissions as Presenting Author, and inclusion on up to ten total abstracts per meeting. This allows for six co-authored papers and videos.
• The author listed first is considered to be the Presenting author.

Submitting authors are required to provide contact information for all co-authors.

The presenting author of an accepted abstract must either be an existing AAGL member or must become a member at the time of registration for the Global Congress.

Abstract Body

The following headings with formatting are required for oral presentation/e-poster submissions and are pre-populated in the abstract management system:

• Study Objective: Begin with a clear, concise statement of the precise objective or question put forth in the study.
• Design: Describe the basic study design, and duration of any follow-up.
• Setting: Describe the OR setting, i.e., patient positioning, ergonomics.
• Patients or Participants: State the manner of selection and numbers of patients who were enrolled in a completed study (sample size, study duration and follow up).
• Interventions: Describe the exact treatment or intervention.
• Measurements and Main Results: Describe the methods of assessing patients and state the key results. This section must include data, even if preliminary.
• Conclusion: State clearly the conclusions and clinical applications that are supported by the data. Advise if additional study is required before this information should be used in clinical settings.

Award Competitions

• We proudly host several competitions and encourage your participation. When making selections, please review and ensure your eligibility. Please note that e-posters are NOT eligible for competitions.

Guidelines for Video Submissions / uploads

Videos will be judged according to relevance, significance, innovation and originality, scientific rigor, conclusion and clarity. To help you prepare your video submission, please adhere to the following specifications:

• The maximum length of video presentations is 6 minutes.
• The preferred format format is MPEG4 (.MP4) with a minimum resolution of 1280x720 or 1920x1080. Other formats (.mpg, .avi, .mov, .wmv) are accepted but will be converted to an .MP4 file format.
• Videos must be in the final, edited version with narration in English.
• Videos should not promote the use of any commercial product.
• When preparing your video please INCLUDE the authors and institutions in the title slide, and any disclosures in on the second slide.
• Please ensure that you have permission to use images presented as part of the video. This includes a license for copyrighted material and release forms from any patient(s) recognizable in the video.
• Use of music is forbidden.

Awards and Competitions

The Foundation of the AAGL (FAAGL) takes great pride in presenting Signature Awards to the “best of the best” selected by our award committees. The nominees for these awards are received through the top scoring abstracts, by category, submitted for presentation at the annual meeting.

An independent committee of up to five physicians, will review the top scoring abstracts to select the winner.  These award-winning abstracts will be presented throughout the Congress.

The FAAGL Signature Awards are supported through the generous donations received by endowed funds and through our industry sponsors. We thank everyone submitting their research for consideration of presentation and wish you all the best of luck!

We proudly host several award competitions and encourage your participation. When making award selections, please review and ensure your eligibility. Please note that Virtual Posters are NOT eligible for competitions

Overall Criteria (all awards)

• The first author submitting the highest scoring abstract will be recognized as the award winner.
• The first author must meet eligibility requirements for the award.
• The first author/award winner can only win one award.
• The award winner must register and attend the AAGL Global Congress.
• The award winner will receive recognition at the AAGL Global Congress along with a plaque.
• Other award recognition and scholarships may be announced by the Foundation of the AAGL Board of Directors based on funding.
• Abstracts derived from AAGL supported research or funding are not eligible.
• Abstracts that have already been published are not eligible for an award.

Endowed Awards

Jay M. Cooper Award

Supported by the Jay M. Cooper Endowment

The Jay M. Cooper Award is presented to recognize the best scientific work on MIGS.

Open to all oral or video abstracts submitted by a current or graduated FMIGS fellow within five years of their fellowship (FMIGS fellow during July 1, 2018 – June 30, 2023).

Jerome J. Hoffman Award

Supported by the Jerome J. Hoffman Endowment

The Jerome J. Hoffman Award is presented to recognize the best abstract on MIGS submitted by a physician in training.

Open to all oral or video abstracts submitted by a current resident or fellow.

Jordan M. Phillips Award

Supported by the Jordan M. Phillips Endowment

The Jordan M. Phillips Award is presented to recognize the best research abstract on MIGS.

Open to all oral or video abstracts submitted in the Research Category.

Awards and Scholarships

Golden Hysteroscope Award

Award funding is currently pending

The Golden Hysteroscope award is presented to recognize the best abstract on hysteroscopy.

Open to all oral and abstracts submitted on Hysteroscopy. 

Golden Laparoscope Award

Award funding is currently pending

The Golden Laparoscope Award is presented to recognize the best laparoscopic surgical video or abstract on MIGS.

Open to all oral and video abstracts submitted on Laparoscopic Surgery.

IRCAD Award

Award funding is currently pending

The IRCAD Award is presented to recognize the best research in MIGS education acknowledging innovative ideas in teaching. 

Open to all oral and video abstracts submitted by a current FMIGS Fellow

Robotic Assisted Surgery Award

The Robotic Assisted Surgery Award is presented to recognize the best robotic surgery abstract or video on MIGS.

Open to all oral or video abstracts submitted on Robotic Surgery.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will I be notified about the status of my abstract?

Abstract status (accepted or rejected) will be sent by email to the Presenting Author in August.

It is the responsibility of the Presenting Author to contact the AAGL in the event that notification is not received within two weeks of the published notification date.

Final schedule for accepted presentations will be emailed to the Presenting Author by the first of August. The Presenting Author is the author listed first.

Unless the meeting format (in-person / virtual) changes accepted presenters are obligated to register, attend and present at the AAGL Global Congress.

Do I need to be a member of the AAGL to submit an abstract?

No, but if accepted, the presenting author must either be an existing AAGL member or must become a member at the time of registration for the AAGL Global Congress. Obtain information regarding AAGL membership or send an email to ggalindo@aagl.org.

Is there a maximum length for the abstract?

300 Word Maximum – The overall limit for all segments is 300 words. Each segment must be completed before the abstract can be successfully submitted. If any segment does not apply to your abstract, please enter N/A for that segment's heading. If the abstract is too long, it will not be successfully submitted.

Preparation Tips:

• Avoid hidden formatting characters, which will count against the total character limit. You may type directly into the abstract text box.
• Keep a backup copy of your abstract as PLAIN TEXT: Sticky notes, Notepad or save your source document to ensure that your text being copied is in plain text.
• Do not add special formatting (underlining, unnecessary bolding, bullet points, hard returns after main headings) when preparing the submission. Only the main headings should be bolded.

Is there a maximum length for titles?

There is no maximum length for titles. Do not repeat title in the abstract body field.

My video is longer than 6 minutes. Can I still submit my video?

No, the maximum length of video presentations is 6 minutes.

Do co-authors need to submit financial interest disclosures?

The AAGL considers the Presenting Author, not co-authors, to be in control of the educational content. Though they are acknowledged, co-authors do not have control of content and their disclosures are not published or resolved.

I’m employed by a commercial interest. May I submit an abstract?

If you are employed by a commercial interest you may not present. AAGL presentations may not be used for commercial promotion.

If my abstract is accepted, how do I follow the AAGL disclosure policy?

Presenters are required to display financial relationships on the first slide of their presentation. This is required even if the presenter has no financial interest. The presenter should also verbally disclose any financial interest. Even with disclosure, presentations should never promote the use of any commercial product.

Can I submit my research if it has already been published somewhere else?

Yes. However, you cannot participate in Award Competitions.

Can I submit research that I have presented elsewhere?

Yes, previously presented material may be submitted, but ONLY when the presentation given is not bound by the copyright of another organization. It is the responsibility of the submitting author(s) to clarify if their work is under copyright with another organization.

Can I submit a Late Breaking abstract?

No, the AAGL will not have a Late Breaking abstract submission process. Abstracts must be submitted by the deadline date of May 1, 2024 at 11:59 pm PST.

How do I check my AAGL membership status?

To verify your membership status, contact Gerardo Galindo in the AAGL membership department at ggalindo@aagl.org.

Questions not related to technical issues with the abstract submission system, please send an email to abstracts@aagl.org.

AAGL USE OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Where authors use artificial intelligence (AI) and/or AI-assisted technologies in the writing process, authors should:

• Only use these technologies to improve readability and language, not to replace key researcher tasks such as interpreting data or drawing scientific conclusions.

• Apply the technology with human oversight and control, and carefully review and edit the result, as AI can generate authoritative-sounding output that can be incorrect, incomplete, or biased.

• Not list AI and AI-assisted technologies as an author or co-author or cite AI as an author. Authorship implies responsibilities and tasks that can only be attributed to and performed by humans.

• Disclose the use of AI and AI-assisted technologies in their abstract writing process by including a disclosure statement at the end of the abstract. Please note that authors are ultimately responsible for the work's contents. Please follow the instructions below.

AI Disclosure Instructions:

Authors must disclose the use of AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process by completing and adding a statement at the end of their abstract titled, “Declaration of AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process statement.” This declaration does not apply to the use of basic tools for checking grammar, spelling, references etc.

Declaration of AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Writing Process Statement:

During the preparation of this work the author(s) used [NAME TOOL / SERVICE] in order to [REASON]. After using this tool/service, the author(s) reviewed and edited the content as needed and take(s) full responsibility for the content of the publication.