Paolo Vercellini, MD, a professor at the University of Milan and gynecologist specializing in endometriosis and adenomyosis management, will receive the Harry Reich Award at EndoFound’s 16th annual Medical Conference and Patient Day.
The conference will be on Friday and Saturday, February 28 and March 1, followed by Patient Day on Sunday, March 2. Both events will be in the Einhorn Auditorium at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
Dr. Vercellini will receive the award with Dr. Ceana Nezhat, an Atlanta-based specialist in endometriosis and minimally invasive surgery. They will be the 22nd and 23rd recipients of the award, which EndoFound established in 2010.
Dr. Vercellini said he is humbled by his selection.
“Receiving an award with Harry Reich’s name is a unique privilege,” Dr. Vercellini said. “I never expected it and am very flattered. I know the important role of the Endometriosis Foundation of America, and I admire what the foundation is doing. This is a real honor.”
Dr. Reich, EndoFound’s former scientific director, is a pioneer in laparoscopic surgery. He performed the first laparoscopic hysterectomy, the first pelvic lymphadenectomy for cancer, and the first excision of cul-de-sac endometriosis.
“I know Dr. Vercellini is a high academic guy who has always been at the top when it comes to studying endometriosis,” Dr. Reich said. “I haven’t met him yet, but I look forward to meeting him at the conference.”
Dr. Vercellini started medical school in 1974. He graduated in 1981 and began specializing in gynecology in 1985. He studied briefly in Chicago before returning to Italy. He became an associate professor at the University of Milan in 2002, a full professor in 2017, and is the chief of gynecologic surgery at the Luigi Mangiagalli Institute in Milan.
“In my fourth year of medical studies, obstetrics and gynecology became very interesting to me,” Dr. Vercellini said. “My professor proposed that I work in endometriosis, and so everything began. I liked working with endometriosis very much, and I’ve been trying to help women who have it and studying it ever since.”
He dedicates his time today to managing the disease and organizing research.
“My main focuses are on the pathology of endometriosis, its origins, and its management. We try to find strategies to manage the disease so women can live productive lives,” Dr. Vercellini said. “Unfortunately, for most of them, it’s a long journey, and they should be helped to cope with the disease. We believe this can be accomplished also through the use of effective, tolerable, and safe medical treatments.”
Dr. Vercellini said that while awareness of the disease is increasing, it’s still taking too long to diagnose.
“On one hand, awareness has increased to where many gynecologists and even general practitioners now know that pelvic pain symptoms not only can be caused by endometriosis, but that endometriosis is one of the most frequent causes,” Dr. Vercellini said. “On the other hand, we still must develop and define a timely presumptive diagnosis of endometriosis without necessarily performing a diagnostic laparoscopy. Hopefully, shortly, we will succeed in reducing the diagnostic delay.”
The Medical Conference and Patient Day will include dozens of breakout sessions with many of the world’s top endometriosis experts. Both events are open to the public.
Conference Details
Dates: Friday, February 28 & Saturday, March 1, 2025 - 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM
Location: Einhorn Auditorium - Lenox Hill Hospital, 131 East 76th Street, New York, NY 10075
Audience: Medical professionals, researchers, and those interested in the latest breakthroughs.
CME Credits: Available for physicians and nurses.
Key Topics
-
Imaging & Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis
-
Immunological Markers & the Microbiome
-
The Gut-Endometriosis Connection
-
Genetics, Epigenetics & Family History
Agenda Highlights
Day 1 – Science: Experts will explore molecular pathways, genetics, and the need for early detection in adolescents. Early diagnosis changes endometriosis care by identifying symptoms sooner and enabling more effective treatments.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ceana Nezhat
Day 2 – Surgery: Surgeons will discuss advanced techniques, robotic surgery, and complications in endometriosis surgery. The conference will emphasize how early diagnosis changes endometriosis care, reducing the need for complex procedures and improving patient outcomes.
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Paolo Vercellini
The Endometriosis Foundation of America conference planners are:
-
Dan Martin, MD – Medical & Executive Director
-
Tamer Seckin, MD – Founder & Program Director
Both are leading experts in endometriosis research and treatment.
Register for the Medical Conference
