Ten Years of LapD: Advancing Surgical Excellence Through Anatomy
In 2026, AGES celebrates a significant milestone: ten years of the Laparoscopic Anatomy Pelvic Dissection (LapD) Program.
As Director of the AGES LapD Program and President of AGES, I have been fortunate to see firsthand the impact this initiative has had on gynaecological surgical education across Australia and New Zealand. What began as a vision to strengthen anatomical understanding among surgeons has grown into one of the most important educational programs offered by our society.
The principle behind LapD is simple: excellent surgery starts with knowledge of surgical anatomy.
No matter how much technology changes, whether through robotics, artificial intelligence, advanced imaging, or new surgical instruments, a surgeon's understanding of pelvic anatomy remains fundamental. LapD was designed to give surgeons the opportunity to explore anatomy in detail, develop a deeper appreciation of surgical planes, and build the confidence required to undertake complex pelvic surgery safely.
Over the past decade, the program has achieved remarkable reach. We have delivered 23 LapD workshops involving 407 participants, seven LapDemo workshops with 327 participants, and three LapD Advanced workshops attended by 45 surgeons. Together, these programs represent an extraordinary 779 days of anatomy education.
While these numbers are impressive, they tell only part of the story. The real impact of LapD is seen every day in operating theatres across Australia and New Zealand. Hundreds of trainees, fellows and specialists have taken the knowledge and skills gained through these workshops back to their hospitals and communities. Ultimately, the beneficiaries are the thousands of women who receive safer and more effective surgical care as a result.
One of the greatest strengths of the program has been the people behind it. LapD has always been driven by an exceptional faculty committed to sharing their expertise and supporting the next generation of surgeons.
As we celebrate this ten-year milestone, I would like to sincerely thank the faculty members who have contributed to the success of the program: Danny Chou, Luke McLindon, Tal Jacobson, Sarah Choi, Amani Harris, Nancy Peters, Catarina Ang, Thea Bowler, Katie Christenson, Dean Conrad, Bassem Gerges, Jason Abbott, Helen Green, Albert Jung, Emma Paterson, Jess Robertson, Travis Rule, Sireen Jabar, Thomas Yeung, Kate Martin and Mikhail Sarofim.
I would also like to acknowledge the many AGES Advanced Training Program Fellows and our colorectal surgical colleagues who have contributed over the years. Their willingness to teach, mentor and collaborate has been central to the success of LapD.
Looking back over the past decade, I am struck not only by the growth of the program but by the culture that has developed around it. LapD is more than an anatomy course. It is a community of educators and learners united by a commitment to surgical excellence, continuous improvement and better outcomes for women.
The success of LapD reflects the very best of AGES: collaboration, innovation, mentorship and a dedication to education. As we look ahead to the next decade, those values will continue to guide us as we evolve the program and embrace new opportunities in surgical training.
To everyone who has participated as faculty, fellow, organiser or attendee over the past ten years, thank you. This achievement belongs to all of you.
Here's to the next decade of learning, teaching and advancing gynaecological surgery.
Dr Michael Wynn-Williams
President, AGES
Director, AGES Laparoscopic Anatomy Pelvic Dissection (LapD) Program
Consultant Gynaecologist and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgeon, Auckland, New Zealand
10 years of LapD Workshops
LapD Faculty August 2026
LapDemo August 2026, Dr Danny Chou, Dr Rhett Mayson, Dr Sarah Choi, Dr Albert Jung and myself
