This week's Hall of Fame member is Linda Cardozo.
Name: Linda Cardozo.
Profession: Urogynaecologist.
Why are you an ICS member: I originally became an ICS member in order to present my original research at the Annual Scientific Meetings. However I stayed a member as it enabled me to network with colleagues around the world who share my aim of improving the lives of men, women and children suffering with incontinence.
Which was your first ICS meeting: Portoroz,1st - 3rd September 1977
Special ICS memories: At my first ICS meeting I had a poster and a podium abstract accepted. The podium presentation was in the last session on the last day of the meeting and everyone but the chairman and the other speakers in that session had gone to the bar or the beach, so of course there were no questions at the end of my presentation but the chairman commented that it was nice to see me walk to the podium, something which would be considered sexist today!
Biggest influence: There have been many influences in my life and career, but with regard to ICS it was Stuart Stanton for whom I did my research from 1976 to 1978 and it is because of him that I have pursued a career in urogynaecology.
The one paper (or book/article/video) you must read/view: I was influenced by Golda Meir's autobiography "My Life" in which she emphasised the importance of striving to do a little more each day than she had managed during the previous one. It illustrates how appropriate time management is essential.
If you could go back in time what advice would you give to yourself and why: I should have lived closer to work or worked closer to home to reduce the commuting time and enable me to spend more time with my family especially when they were growing up.
Biography: Linda Cardozo is Professor of Urogynaecology and Consultant Gynaecologist at King’s College Hospital, London. Linda heads a busy and productive multidisciplinary tertiary referral urogynaecology department undertaking a large clinical workload dealing with complex urogynaecological problems. The department offers a wide range of diagnostic procedures conservative and drug therapy and prides itself on the ability to undertake many invasive procedures in an ambulatory setting. However, there are also appropriate facilities for both day surgery and more major inpatient procedures.
Linda believes that education is of paramount importance and the unit prides itself on teaching medical students and training junior doctors and other healthcare professionals. To date, 9 sub-specialty trainees and over 50 fellows have developed their urogynaecological skills at King’s generating 18 higher degrees, MD’s and PhD’s as well as numerous publications and presentations at International meetings.
Linda has directed this clinical research and her publications include more than 650 original papers in peer review journals, 25 books and 140 book chapters. Linda's H factor is 70 and she is a member of the Editorial Board of 5 scientific journals.
Linda has been President of International Urogynaecological Association, European Urogynaecological Association, Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Women’s Health and Section of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of Royal Society of Medicine. Linda was founding Chairman of British Society of Urogynaecology, Past Chairman of British Menopause Society and of Education Committee of International Continence Society. Linda is currently Co-Chairman of International Consultation on Incontinence. For many years s Linda he was an International Fellows Representative on the Council of Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists where she has served on numerous committees.
In 2013 Linda received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Urogynaecological Association. She was awarded an OBE in 2014 for services to Urogynaecology and Women’s Health. In 2016 Linda was honoured by the University of Athens with the title Doctor Honoris Causa and received the Blair Bell Medal from the Royal Society of Medicine. In 2017 Linda received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Continence Society and was given an Honoured Mentor Award by FIUGA. Most recently in 2018 Linda received the first Lifetime Achievement Award from the British Society of Urogynaecology.