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ΣΥΝΈΝΤΈΥΞΗ
INTERVIEW WITH
JAMES N'DOW
ADJUNCT SECRETARY GENERAL -EDUCATION EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION OF UROLOGY
INFO
Special thanks to Konstantinos Dimitropoulos, MD, PhD, FEBU Urology Consultant, Robotic Surgeon and Hon. Senior Clinical Lecturer to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary, for his valuable support for this interview.
E.O.E Newsletter | www.huanet.gr
James N'Dow
Professor of Urological Surgery Academic Urology Unit University of Aberdeen
The cycle of the EAU Guidelines Office has recently closed, and a new challenge is ahead of you now. If you had to pick your biggest achievements as chair of the EAU Guidelines Office, what would these be?
Serving the EAU Guidelines Office has been one of my greatest career honours. There were many memorable highlights along the way. Having the opportunity to help the Guidelines Office go through a transformational shift from largely eminence-based guidelines to more evidence- based guidelines stands out. As an academic urological surgeon with a strong track record in evidence synthesis including spending time as co- ordinating editor within the Cochrane Collaboration, it was logical that to improve the impact of the EAU Guidelines on urological practice and patient outcomes, there was a desperate need to make that change in how we develop the EAU Guidelines. However, such a seismic shift does not come easy and no one person can make it happen. It needed the right leadership at Guidelines Office Board level and we were blessed with some incredible Board
members that trusted in the vision and had the amazing selfless leadership qualities needed to drive the different parts of the jigsaw. The other linked critical highlight was the establishment and implementation of the Guidelines Associates programme; this programme saw the training and mentoring of over 180 young aspiring academic urologists in evidence synthesis and guideline development methodology. This group of young European Urologists will forever remain close to my heart, they are some of the finest young men and women in surgery I have come across. The Guidelines Office, the EAU and me personally, owe each and every single one of them a great debt of gratitude for being the most important driver of change ever witnessed by any guideline developing organisation globally, just simply formidable. The Guidelines Office is now in very capable hands under the new leadership of Prof. Dr. Maria Ribal and supported by a very strong GO Board of highly respected board members further supported by incredible Guidelines Office Staff.
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