Join Isabella, founder and host of Let's Talk, Period. for an exclusive online panel discussion with researchers, about endometriosis + pelvic pain for Pelvic Pain Awareness Month.
Panelists include;
Dr Mike Armour (he/him)
Dr Mike Armour is a senior research fellow in reproductive health at NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University where he is currently running several clinical trials on endometriosis, menstrual health, and complementary medicine. Mike has published 64 peer reviewed articles on various aspects of women’s health with a focus on menstrual health literacy, pelvic pain and endometriosis. Mike is also an author on several textbook chapters including a forthcoming chapter on the use of medicinal cannabis to treat endometriosis. Mike is heavily involved in research and treatment of endometriosis, and he was the invited complementary medicine expert on the endometriosis expert working group (EEWG) for the Royal Australia and New Zealand College of Gynaecologists (RANZCOG). Mike is also a World Endometriosis Society Ambassador, Chair of Endometriosis Australia’s clinical advisory committee, Chair of Endometriosis Australia’s research committee, Academic lead of the Menstrual Cycle Research Network (MCRN) at Western Sydney University and Chair of the Australasian Interdisciplinary Researchers in Endometriosis (AIRE).
Amelia Mardon (she/her)
Amelia (Millie) Mardon is a third year PhD candidate within the Body in Mind research group, IIMPACT in Health, at the University of South Australia. Prior to her PhD, Millie completed a Bachelor of Medical Science and first-class honours degree in cancer research. Millie has always had a fascination with pelvic health, and pelvic pain in particular, after being diagnosed with endometriosis at the age of 14. She is also passionate about promoting accessible knowledge about one’s health, specifically contemporary pain science. Subsequently, Millie changed her research focus towards ‘optimising pain science education for people with persistent pelvic pain’. Millie has first-author publications in world-leading medical journals, including JAMA and the British Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology. Her current study is focused on what pain science concepts were most useful for people with pelvic pain to learn in their improvement. Millie hopes her research will provide a platform for developing tailored pelvic pain science curriculum and thus promote people with pelvic pain to have a better understanding of their pain condition.
A/ Prof. George Condous (he/him)
George Condous is gynaecological surgeon sonologist in the field of endometriosis with appointments at Nepean Public and Private Hospitals and Sydney Adventist Hospital. He is an Associate Professor of Gynaecology at Sydney Medical School Nepean, University of Sydney, with special interests in: gynaecological ultrasound imaging (EFSUMB level 3 equivalent) and minimally invasive gynaecological surgery (AGES level 6 equivalent). He is an ambassador for the World Endometriosis Society (WES) and also the Head of Discipline of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Sydney Medical School Nepean, University of Sydney. He is the current Vice President of the World Federation of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB), as well as the current Chair of the Scientific Committee for the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG). Additionally, he is current Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy and Surgery (AGES) Society Board member and a past president of the Australasian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (ASUM). He was the Co-Chair for the ISUOG World Congresses in Sydney 2013 and Singapore 2017 as well as the Chair for the WFUMB World Congress in Melbourne 2019. George is recognised internationally for his work in endometriosis and early pregnancy and has published more than 250 peer reviewed papers, as well as publishing five books including; ‘How to perform ultrasonography in Endometriosis’.
Dr Antonina Mikocka-Walus (she/her)
Dr Antonina Mikocka-Walus is Professor in Health Psychology at Deakin University in Melbourne. She is a registered psychologist who completed her doctoral degree in Psycho-gastroenterology at the University of Adelaide and has since worked at Monash University, University of South Australia, and University of York (in the UK). She currently leads the Mind-Body Research in Health Laboratory at Deakin University (MIRTH). She has published >150 peer-reviewed articles and is among the world’s top 2% most cited researchers. Dr Mikocka-Walus’ research programs have been on implementing supportive care for chronic gut conditions and endometriosis. The new knowledge she generates on the effectiveness of telehealth-based psychological and mind-body approaches (e.g., cognitive-behavioural therapy, yoga, hypnotherapy) for pelvic pain and co-morbid mental disorders has translated into clinical care improvements in Australia and overseas. She is the Deputy Editor for Journal of Psychosomatic Research and a member of the Australasian Interdisciplinary Researchers in Endometriosis (AIRE). She currently co-leads the HaPPI study which is testing the effectiveness of mind-body interventions for people with endometriosis and pain.
A/Prof. Jane Girling (she/her)
Associate Professor Jane Girling is a reproductive biologist based in the Department of Anatomy at the University of Otago, Aotearoa New Zealand. She has research interests in uterine and menstrual biology, and endometriosis. She also has an interest in the impact of menstrual pain and menstrual bleeding disorders on individuals and their whānau, and how we can better assist young wāhine to live full and happy lives. With approximately 25 years experience, she has 76 peer-reviewed publications. She was involved in establishing the Melbourne Endometriosis Research Cohort and continues to actively collaborate with projects arising from this valuable resource. Since returning to NZ in 2018, A/Prof Girling and colleagues have established a new interdisciplinary menstrual health research team with a biopsychosocial research program incorporating biological, clinical, psychosocial or educational aspects of menstrual health. A/Prof Girling is a Fellow of the Society for Reproductive Biology. She is a member of the Endometriosis Special Interest Group formed by Endometriosis New Zealand and is founding member of the Australasian Interdisciplinary Researchers in Endometriosis (AIRE).
Dr Leesa Van Niekerk (she/her
Dr Van Niekerk is a Lecturer within the Division of Psychology, School of Medicine and teaches in the postgraduate psychology program. Leesa’s research focuses on women’s health including persistent pelvic pain, endometriosis, polycystic ovarian syndrome and perinatal psychology. Leesa’s research also focuses on the development and maintenance of reflective practice and supervision in the helping professions.
Please note, this event will be recorded and made available afterwards, should you be unable to attend live.