Meet the winners of the FIGO and Chien-Tien Hsu Fellowship in Gynaecologic Oncology 2025

FIGO and the Chien-Tien Hsu Research Foundation have once again partnered to offer outstanding early-career professionals in gynaecologic oncology a transformative opportunity to attend the FIGO World Congress 2025 and gain hands-on experience through clinical and research training at a leading gynaecologic oncology centre in Cape Town, South Africa. 

We are proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 FIGO and Chien-Tien Hsu Fellowship in Gynaecologic Oncology: Dr Pedro H. Silva, Dr Quyen Nguyen and Dr Afrin Fatima Shaffi. Dr Shaffi was originally selected as a 2023 fellow but was unable to complete the fellowship due to unforeseen circumstances and is now joining the 2025 cohort. 

Following an extensive and competitive selection process, these three remarkable individuals were chosen for their dedication, leadership and impact in helping to shape the future of gynaecologic oncology worldwide. 

Dr Pedro H. Silva is a Brazilian obstetrician-gynaecologist with advanced training in gynaecologic oncology from the Federal University of Goiás (UFG). His professional expertise spans gynaecology, gynaecologic oncology, cervical pathology and obstetrics. He currently practises as a gynaecologic oncologist at the Hospital de Base do Distrito Federal and as an obstetrician-gynaecologist at Hospital América (Hapvida), Hospital Santa Helena and Fértile Diagnósticos. In addition, he lectures in the medical programme at Centro Universitário de Mineiros (UniFimes) and is a substitute professor at UFG. His clinical and research interests include cervical cancer prevention, minimally invasive surgery and evidence-based women’s health. 

Being selected for the FIGO and Chien-Tien Hsu Fellowship is a profound honour and a unique opportunity to enhance gynaecologic oncology care in Brazil. I will apply the advanced clinical and research skills acquired in Cape Town to improve patient outcomes, strengthen academic training at the Federal University of Goiás and contribute to evidence-based policy through my role in public health management. This experience will also enrich my PhD research and foster future international collaborations. I am committed to multiplying this knowledge across my country and empowering the next generation of gynaecologic oncology specialists.

 — Dr Pedro H. Silva 

Dr Quyen Nguyen is an obstetrician-gynaecologist at Tu Du Hospital in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, with a special focus on HPV-related diseases, cervical pre-cancer and maternal health. She combines clinical practice with teaching, research and international academic engagement, with a deep commitment to improving early detection and treatment of pre-invasive lesions in resource-constrained settings.Her accolades include the Mizuno-Ratnam Young Gynaecologist Award 2024 from the Asia & Oceania Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology (AOFOG) and the IPVS Scholar Award 2024. Dr Nguyen is also the first Vietnamese member of the IPVS Scholars Programme Sub-committee for 2025. She has presented at numerous international conferences including FIGO, IPVC and AOFOG and plays an active role in Vietnam’s national cervical cancer screening and colposcopy training efforts. 

It is an immense honour to be selected for the FIGO and Chien-Tien Hsu Fellowship 2025. This opportunity enables me to enhance my knowledge and clinical skills in gynaecologic oncology on a global level. I hope to utilise this experience to advance multidisciplinary care, improve outcomes for Vietnamese women and foster regional collaboration in cancer care. I look forward to building long-term partnerships and translating what I learn into practical, patient-centred improvements at Tu Du Hospital and beyond.

— Dr Quyen Nguyen 

Dr Afrin Fatima Shaffi is a gynaecologic oncologist at Nairobi West Hospital in Kenya, with a strong commitment to improving cancer care for women in low-resource settings. She is actively engaged in multiple research projects focused on cervical and ovarian cancer and currently leads the Kenyan arm of the Every Woman Study – LMIC Edition. She is also an investigator in a study exploring financial toxicity in cervical cancer care. 

Dr Shaffi has led numerous outreach clinics providing free gynaecologic oncology services in underserved communities across Kenya and internationally in countries such as Malawi. Her work is grounded in a passion for health equity, addressing disparities in cancer care through research, advocacy and health system strengthening. 

I am honoured to receive the FIGO and Chien-Tien Hsu Fellowship, which offers a vital opportunity to deepen my clinical and research expertise in gynaecologic oncology. As the Kenyan lead for the Every Woman Study – LMIC Edition and current investigator on financial toxicity in cervical cancer care, I have seen the urgent need for equitable, evidence-based solutions in low-resource settings. This fellowship will enhance my ability to develop context-appropriate interventions and foster global collaborations that support locally driven solutions to improve outcomes for women with gynaecologic cancers across Kenya and sub-Saharan Africa, ensuring no woman is left behind.

 — Dr Afrin Fatima Shaffi 

FIGO remains committed to supporting and empowering early-career obstetricians and gynaecologists through initiatives such as the FIGO/Chien-Tien Hsu Fellowship. We look forward to welcoming this year’s fellows to the FIGO World Congress 2025, taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, from 5-9 October 2025 and to following their continued contributions to advancing gynaecologic oncology worldwide.