Nepean Hospital professor honoured for transforming endometriosis care

Head of Gynaecology at Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District (NBMLHD), Professor Condous has helped transform the way endometriosis is diagnosed, demonstrating that expert ultrasound can identify the disease accurately without the need for surgery in many cases.

At the heart of Professor Condous' career has been a commitment to improving outcomes for women living with endometriosis, an achievement he says remains his proudest.

"Without question, I am most proud of helping change the way we diagnose endometriosis," says Professor Condous.

"If our work can shorten the journey from symptoms to diagnosis, then it has achieved something genuinely worthwhile."

Professor Condous has credited NBMLHD with providing an environment where clinical care, teaching and research could work hand in hand to improve outcomes for women.

"Nepean Hospital has been central to my professional journey," says Professor Condous.

"It has given me the opportunity to combine the three things that have defined my career: caring for women, teaching the next generation and conducting research that challenges and improves clinical practice."

"I am particularly proud that research and clinical innovation originating at Nepean have contributed to international collaborations and influenced how endometriosis is diagnosed around the world."

The prestigious ASUM award acknowledges Professor Condous' exceptional and sustained contributions to medical ultrasound, including his clinical leadership, research, education, mentorship and service to the profession both in Australia and internationally.

"I was genuinely surprised and incredibly honoured," says Professor Condous of receiving Life Membership.

"To be recognised by your peers is one of the greatest honours you can receive professionally, and I am extremely grateful."

Professor Condous says the recognition also reflects the contributions of many colleagues and collaborators throughout his career.

"It's a journey that I have shared with many extraordinary Fellows over the past 20 years at Nepean Hospital, as well as sonographers, researchers, trainees and international collaborators. Everything I have achieved in ultrasound has been built on collaboration."

Throughout his career, Professor Condous has published more than 300 peer-reviewed papers, authored textbooks and book chapters, developed internationally adopted consensus statements and trained thousands of clinicians and sonographers around the world.

He has also held several influential leadership positions, including President of ASUM from 2016 to 2018, inaugural Editor-in-Chief of the Australasian Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Trustee of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and current President of the World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology.

Receiving ASUM Life Membership, he says, provides further motivation to continue pursuing better outcomes for women with endometriosis.

"It makes me reflect on my journey with enormous gratitude, but it also motivates me to keep going. There is still much more we can do to improve how women with endometriosis are diagnosed and cared for."