Taiwan Association of Gynecologic Oncologists (TAGO) is a non-profit organization, which is founded by a group of gynecologic oncologists with prospective visions in 1998. Ever since the engagement of TAGO in the fields of gynecologic oncology, TAGO is fortunate to receive guidance from leaders who are truly experts in this field, including Professor Chang-Yao Hsieh (the founding president), Professor Song-Nan Chow, Professor Chyong-Huey Lai, and Professor Yuh-Cheng Yang (the current president).  TAGO is an organized and structured non-profit organization, who elects its board of supervisors and directors from the active members of TAGO. President is then recommended and chosen by the board of directors. The president is empowered by the charter of TAGO to appoint and select a TAGO member as secretary-general, who will assist his involvement in the TAGO affairs. TAGO has seven committees: bylaw committee, foreign affair committee, membership committee, finance committee, clinical practice and ethics committee, education committee, and academic committee. Each committee consists of five to ten members, who meet and promote individual committee agenda on a routine basis. All affairs of TAGO committees are open to the public.

Gynecologic oncology is a highly specialized sub-specialty in Taiwan. Gynecologic oncologists are well trained in the management of malignant tumors of women’s reproductive system, including cervical cancer, endometrial cancer, vulvar cancer, trophoblastic diseases and other related diseases. Collaboration between gynecologic oncologists and the Health Department (Bureau of Health) in the promotion of Papanicolaou smear for the screening of early cervical cancer has significantly reduced the invasive cervical cancer nationwide in the last decade. The success in this collaboration serves as a model for the upcoming corporation on the screening of breast cancer nationwide.

All members of TAGO are active participants that share common missions: 1) to elevate the quality of treatment for patients with gynecologic cancers; 2) to promote laboratory researches and clinical trials on a domestic scale in Taiwan; and 3) to facilitate academic communications between institutions on a global scale. TAGO has approximately 150 active members, which encompass both local scholars and oversea participants from major medical centers and hospitals. Associate members include foreign scholars, radiation oncologists, pathologists, diagnostic radiologists and experts in nuclear medicine, medical oncology, urology, proctorectal surgery and general surgery. Active interactions among the gynecologic oncologists, associate members and medical institutes have brought about soothing atmosphere that allows the following activities:

Our missions encompass a spectrum of activities:

1.     To involve in annual academic conferences with other medical and oncological societies in Taiwan

2.     To schedule quadrennial regional seminars, education programs, and workshops for members and general gynecologic practitioners

3.     To host routine meetings for all members, board members, and committee members

4.     To carry out multi-central region-based researches with medical institutes and hospitals that are research intensive on the fields of gynecologic oncology

5.     To carry out nationwide researches that require the collaboration of TAGO members, the National Health Research Institutes (NHRI) and the National Science Council (NSC)

6.     To carry out public education programs that promote women health issues with the Health Department and other non-profit organizations

7.     To encourage TAGO members in the active participations of oversea academic conferences on gynecologic oncology

8.     To actively explore the opportunities of sponsoring international conferences and  seminars on oncological issues in Taiwan

9.     To participate in clinical and fundamental researches on a global scale

10. To become a medical advisory member of the national council on the issues of   gynecologic oncology

11. To advice the Bureau of National Health Insurance on the issues of medical insurances

12. To publish routine TAGO society journals

13. To give out certifications and hold annual qualifying exams for medical doctors who wish to become specialists in gynecologic oncology