I have invited an expert from each coast to serve as guides to safe access into the pelvic cavity via the laparoscope. Steven F. Palter, M.D., practices reproductive medicine and gynecologic surgery at Gold Coast IVF in Syosset, N.Y.
He is an immediate past member of the board of trustees of the AAGL. Over the years, Dr. Palter has won first prize awards for presentations at three separate world congress venues: at meetings of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, the American Urological Association, and the AAGL, where he won first prize awards twice.
Dr Palter has been a longtime advocate of safe laparoscopic access, stemming from his background in office-based laparoscopy. From 1995 to 2001, Steve served as the director of the Yale Office Laparoscopy Program.
Duncan Turner, M.D., is a current member of the board of the International Society for Gynecologic Endoscopy. He is in private practice in Santa Barbara, Calif. Duncan first lectured on avoiding trocar-related injuries in 1995 at the World Congress of Gynecologic Laparoscopy in Israel.
Since then, not only has he lectured throughout the world, but he has been involved in trocar development and evaluation as well.