Eva Chalas
Eva Chalas is a candidate for the position of FIGO Honorary Treasurer 2023-2025.
Biography
Academic office
NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 259 First Street, Mineola, NY 11501, USA
Education
Fellowship: Gynecologic Oncology, Memorial Sloan- Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
Residency: University Hospital, Stony Brook University, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stony Brook, New York, USA
Medical School: Stony Brook University, School of Medicine, M.D. degree 1981, Stony Brook, New York, USA
Certification
American College Surgeons, American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology in Obstetrics and Gynecology and in Gynecologic Oncology
Current professional appointments
Professor and Vice Chair, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine, Mineola, NY 11501, USA
Physician Director, Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island Mineola, New York 11501, USA
American College of Surgeons’ National Surgical Quality Improvement Program’s Surgeon Co-Champion, NYU Langone Hospital – Long Island
Professional organisations – positions held
International
ACOG representative to Council, International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO)
Expert Advisory Panel, Breast Health Care, Oncology, FIGO
National - American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) – highlighting leadership positions
Chair of Committee on Nominations, ACOG Foundation Board, Immediate Past President (2021-2022), President (2020-2021), President Elect (2019-2020), Chair of the Council of District Chairs (CDC) 2013-2014, ACOG Board member 2019-2022 and 2011-2014,
Committee on Scientific Program 1995-2001(Program Chair 1999-2000)
American College of Surgeons (ACS)
ACOG Representative to of Advisory Council for Gynecology and Obstetrics twice,
Board of Governors, Governor (2003-2009)
Society of Gynecologic Oncologist (SGO)
Secretary-Treasurer (2009-2012), multiple committee appointments including Program Committee and Foundation for Women’s Cancer, Chair Elect
Honours and awards
ACOG District Service Award , Physician of Distinction Honoree of American Cancer Society,
Marquis Who’s Who, Lifetime Achievement Award, Castle Connolly, NYU Winthrop Gala Honoree, U.S. News & World Report , Pink Diamond Gala Honoree, Maurer Foundation, APGO Excellence in Teaching Award, Patients’ Choice Award, Attending of the Year, “Something to Believe In” Awardee, Carol’s Cause, Distinguished Alumnus, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Honoree, LI Oceans-1st Annual Wave of Hope Gala, American Medical Women’s Association “Local Legend from New York” Outstanding Teaching Awards, Elected Member of Alpha Omega Alpha, amongst others
Sponsored resident research presentations – 28
Invited lectures/Visiting professor - Argentina, Australia, Austria, China, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Mexico and Spain and 98 regional and national lectures
Book chapters – Eight
Abstracts/Posters – 47
Peer review publications – 88
Other
Current reviewer: Gynecologic Oncology and Obstetrics and Gynecology journals
Past Project Director, Gynecologic Oncology Group, current clinical investigator for collaborative trials and industry-sponsored research with grant support > $1 million
Past American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology Examiner
Personal statement
Honored FIGO Leaders:
I am Eva Chalas, MD and I have been nominated by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) for the position of Treasurer of the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO). I am honored that ACOG has nominated me to such an important position and if elected in Paris, I look forward to serving with the fiduciary responsibility and guidance that such a position entails.
As a Gynecologic Oncologist, I was a two term Governor in the American College of Surgeons (ACS) and with a life-long focus on quality, was recognized as Surgeon Co-Champion in the ACS’s National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). My current position is that of Physician Director of the Perlmutter Cancer Center at New York University Langone Health Long Island Hospital with a high volume of cancer care. These positions enabled me to serve effectively on the FIGO Expert Advisory Board for Breast Health, which provided me with opportunity to appreciate region specific issues across the globe and to work with a wide spectrum of worldwide experts in addressing and overcoming these issues.
I served as Treasurer for the ACOG District II (2005-2008) ensuring its prosperity, and then as the Secretary/Treasurer for the national subspecialty organization, the Society of Gynecologic Oncology (SGO), between 2009 and 2012. The 2008 economic downturn in the United States threatened SGO’s financial viability. In my leadership role, I helped set up policies on investment, spending and expenditure. Over the past decade, SGO has doubled its membership and continues to grow as a strong member organization. From 2019-2022, I served on ACOG’s Executive Committee, and was elected President of the ACOG in 2019-2020, overseeing the interests of over 60,000 members in the USA. Once again, we faced significant headwinds. My presidency spanned the height of COVID pandemic, presenting the challenge of keeping the organization thriving while balancing the needs of our clinicians and the financial stability of ACOG. These positions have given me valuable insight of organizational finances and the experience of making difficult financial decisions in times of adversity whilst ensuring that the organization emerge as a vital, thriving resource for its members and the patients they care for.
My involvement in the International Gynecologic Society and ACOG have provided me with the opportunity to visit universities and medical centers in Argentina, Australia, Austria, China, Czech Republic, Ireland, Italy, Mexico and Spain. My tenure as ACOG President rekindled my passion to connect internationally, and I promoted greater collaboration with the Asia Oceania Federation (AOFOG), culminating in an ACOG session in every AOFOG Congress since 2019. It also gave me the opportunity to network with other stakeholders in women’s health including FIGO, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (RCOG, UK) and the World Health Organization (WHO), all of whom were well represented at the AOFOG Congress in Manila. Due to the restrictions in travel associated with the COVID pandemic, I was unable to further my interest in global health or actively participate in personal interactions with international leaders, but look forward to do so in the newly appointed role as ACOG representative to the FIGO Council this year.
Throughout my career as a clinician and administrator, my leadership style has been one of open communication, inclusiveness and transparency – all important traits for Trustees and more so for the Treasurer. I have honed my financial skills during times of adversity and I stand prepared to volunteer these skills to FIGO at this important juncture of its development. Dr Ralph Hale, who served as FIGO Treasurer so competently, has been my mentor and if fortunate enough to be given the opportunity to follow in his footsteps, I am poised to hit the ground running with fresh ideas and perspectives.
FIGO’s mission is critical in promoting women’s health across the globe and I would be deeply honored to serve as its Treasurer. Thank you in advance for your consideration and support.