The aim of the DPSG is to improve the detection and management of diabetes in pregnant women and their offspring by fostering research, treatment and education in the subject of diabetic pregnancy.
DPSG welcomes new members. While the number of ordinary and associate members is limited, application for associate membership is open to clinicians and scientists who have presented at the meeting for at least two consecutive years.
At the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) meeting in Stockholm, Sweden in 1967 and at The European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) meeting in Louvain, Belgium 1968 the late Professor Joseph Hoet (Louvain, Belgium), the late Professor Jørgen Pedersen (Copenhagen, Denmark) and the late Professor John Stowers (Aberdeen, UK) planned to form a European study group on diabetes in pregnancy.
The first meeting in this group took place on September 15th 1969 at the EASD meeting in Montpellier, France. Twenty-four individuals from nine European countries representing the disciplines of obstetrics, diabetology, pediatrics, pathology and basic scientists participated in the meeting, and all expressed a genuine interest in the further development of such a study group.
The next meeting of this group was held in Denmark in June 1970. The meeting lasted 2 days. Rules for future meetings and constitution for the group were laid down. The next meeting was in Oxford, UK September 1971. The name decided upon was The Diabetic Pregnancy Study Group (DPSG), and the purpose of the group was: “”To further improve in the treatment of pregnant diabetics and their offspring based upon investigations of the many problems involved. The group is affiliated officially to the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD). The organisation of the group was placed in the hands of a board with 3 members and a total number of regular members increased to thirty.
Subsequently, yearly meetings were arranged at different locations in Europe with the participation of 70-80 active scientists from different areas of diabetic pregnancy. Over the years there has been general agreement that the group should continue to be small with only approximately thirty regular members, each of whom may invite a guest. In addition the board and the local organisers may invite a limited number of guests to present a session, chair a session, or contribute to the discussions. The board also elects and invites one individual to deliver the Jørgen Pedersen Lecture at each DPSG meeting.
Minor changes in the constitution took place in 1980, and from 1980 honorary members could be elected. 25 years anniversary of the group was celebrated in Halkidiki, Greece in 1993.
At the requests of the Postgraduate Subcommittee of the EASD, the DPSG has organised symposia or workshops on diabetes and pregnancy in six EASD meetings, and, especially since 1990, several smaller educational symposia have been arranged in Eastern European countries by the members of the DPSG.
In 1998 the first International meeting of Diabetic Pregnancy Study Groups from Australia, Japan, West Coast USA, North America USA and the DPSG of the EASD was held in Cairns, Australia, and in year 2000 the International Association of Diabetes and Pregnancy Study Groups was founded. A second meeting took place in Barcelona 2003.
DPSG acts as a reference group for EASD in matters related to diabetes and pregnancy. DPSG works with EASD in relation to satellite symposia at the annual EASD meeting.
Constitutional By-Laws Of The Diabetic Pregnancy Study Group (DPSG) / 2014
Since 1996 a formal reconsideration of the aims of the Group and its constitution is undertaken every 10 years in the light of the experience gained over the preceding ten years.
Ordinary Membership
The ordinary membership of the group shall not exceed 40. Ordinary members will be elected bearing in mind the multi-disciplinary nature of the Group and the desirability of broad European representation. The multi-disciplinary nature of the Group includes internists, obstetricians, pediatricians and basic scientists.
Persons eligible for ordinary membership must be active workers in some aspect of the field of diabetic pregnancy. Election to ordinary membership requires:
An ordinary member may invite one guest only to a scientific meeting.
An ordinary member has full voting rights at the business meeting of the Group.
Failure of an ordinary member to attend three consecutive annual scientific meetings will result in automatic lapse of membership.
NOTE:
Associate Membership
Up to 25 Associate Members may be accepted by nomination to participate in the Group. Associate Members will typically be younger scientists, and are appointed for a three-year term, potentially renewable. Associate Members may attend the business meetings of the Group, but do not vote.
Application for Associate Membership must be made in writing to the Chairperson of the DPSG, accompanied by a short CV.
All submissions should be addressed to the Chairman of DPSG and sent to the
Membership fee
Ordinary member – €180
Associate member – €100
Honorary/International member – €120
Registration for the meeting involves paying the membership fee at the same time if not already payed!
Chairperson: Lene Ringholm
Board members: Maria Grazia Dalfra, Rosa Corcoy , Helena Backman, Robert Lindsay,, Pawel Gutaj (secretary)
Lene Ringholm – Chair
Pawel Gutaj – Secretary
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