Federal Court Strikes Down Arizona 20 Week Abortion Ban

A federal court Tuesday struck down Arizona’s ban on abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy absent a medical emergency. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the law violated a woman’s constitutionally protected right to terminate a pregnancy before a fetus is able to survive outside the womb. “Viability” of a fetus is generally considered to start at 24 weeks.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ran an Associated Press article by Paul Elias detailing the courts ruling and reasoning.

Nine other states have enacted similar bans starting at 20 weeks or even earlier, including Georgia’s House Bill 954 which was placed on hold by Fulton County Superior Court in December 2012. Several other states’ bans have been placed on hold or struck down by other courts. Read the full AJC article for additional information.

May is Teen Pregnancy Awareness Month

Georgia remains one of the states with the highest number of teen pregnancies and births in the country. We’ve helped to make a big dent in teen pregnancy and Georgia is seeing a 45% decrease. With your help we will continue to make a significant difference in the lives of young people and give many, many more the skills, knowledge, and motivation they need as they navigate this thing called adolescence.
For additional information on Preventing Teen Pregnancy, visit these links:
CDC – About Teen Pregnancy
ACOG – Information on Teen PregnancyFindYouthInfo.gov
Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Power & Potential

Webinar: WIC Food Package & Infant Formula Algorithm Training

Upcoming Webinar! The WIC Food Package & the Evidence-Based, Cost-Sensitive Infant Formula Algorithm for the Healthy Infant on Georgia’s WIC
May 30, 2013
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Presented by Stanley Cohen, MD, FAAP a recognized expert in pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition and facilitated by Kylia Crane, RD, LD, Nutrition Coordinator of the Georgia Chapter AAP.

Click here for Webinar flyer. 2.0 hours CME are available to physicians. To register, please visit: http://www4.gotomeeting.com/register/489726543.

This training was developed in collaboration with the Georgia Dept. of Public Health, Georgia Academy of Family Physicians, and the Georgia OB/GYN Society. This training is intended for physicians, physician assistants, nurse practioners, dietitians, nurses, medical assistants, practice managers, public health nutritionist, and public health nurses. This training will be
recorded for later viewing.

Webinar: Changes to the Congenital Syphilis Report Form 5-2-13

Monday, April 29, 2013
2-3 p.m. EDT
Dr. Jon Su will conduct a webinar on The Revised Congenital Syphilis Report Form–What’s New, Why and How to Use it.
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approves collection of congenital syphilis case report data and the associated report form. Because the current form expires this month, DSTDP will replace it with a revised form that includes new data elements. These changes will streamline data collection and improve congenital syphilis surveillance and management.
Registration is required. Click here to register.

World Immunization Week/National Infant Immunization Week4/29/13

April 20-27 is World Immunization Week (WIW) and National Infant Immunization Week (NIIW). Both are annual observances to highlight the importance of protecting adults, children and infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the United States and the world. For more information and promotional materials, go to the WHO WIW web page and the CDC’s NIIW web page.

Georgia Viral Hepatitis Summit

Thursday, May 9, 2013
Courtyard by Marriott Decatur
130 Clairement Ave.
Decatur, GA 30030
Hepatitis Foundation International announces a 1-­‐Day professional education and training Summit for healthcare professionals and others working with people who are affected by or infected with viral hepatitis. CEU hours for nurses, physician assistants, addiction professionals and public health professionals are offered for attending. Registration information is available soon online at: www.HepatitisFoundation.org.
Contact Hepatitis Foundation International at 1-­‐800-­‐891-­‐0707 or email
info@hepatitisfoundation.org for more details.

GOGS Resources Section

The Society’s Resources Section Provides the following:

  • GOGS Blog: Where we post notices of events, recent development, or related news items of interest to our members
  • OBGyn Newsletters: We publish 6 newsletters per year. Here you can find view the current and past issues in PDF format
  • GOGS Training Classes: The Society offers several training classes for residents, office staff and physicians
  • OB Shortage Study: Learn which counties in Georgia are experiencing a shortage in OBGyn providers
  • Links: Hyperlinks provided to related organizations
  • Jobs Postings: Anyone searching to fill a physician or staff-related position may post their requirements
  • Ads & Sponsorships: The Society provides many opportunities for supporters of our profession to sponsor events or advertise in our publications

Sponsorship and Advertising Opportunities

The Georgia OBGyn Society provides many opportunities for supporters of our profession to sponsor Society events or advertise in our publications. These opportunities include:

  • Annual Education Meeting–August
  • Board Meetings–Four times per year
  • Golf Tournament–May
  • Winter Symposium–February
  • CPT Coding Seminars–Winter and Spring
  • Newsletters–six times per year


For additional information on sponsorship availability and advertising opportunities, please contact our office at 770-904-0719.