Our speakers 

Dr. Bary Berghmans

Bary started his career as a physical therapist. In 1980 he set up his practice ICL Fysio, which ICL Arbeid later joined as a second organization. Within ICL Fysio, Bary is still active as a regular physiotherapist and as a pelvic physiotherapist, his specialization. Bary is co-founder and former senior researcher of the Pelvic care Center Maastricht, involved in the epidemiology department at Maastricht University and the urology department of the MUMC+. On behalf of the KNGF, he was partly responsible for writing national and international guidelines. In 2022 he received honorary membership from the KNGF/NVFB for his work. He also received by far the greatest token of appreciation in 2022, as he was appointed Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau.

Dr. Maura Seleme

Maura is originally Brazilian. She obtained her PhD at the University of Rio de Janeiro. Her knowledge and experience is broad and she likes to share this with colleagues. She is the only pelvic physiotherapist recognized in Brazil, France and the Netherlands. Maura works as a pelvic physiotherapy coordinator for Faculdade Inspirar, a leading training institute in 42 Brazilian cities. In addition, she is the general manager of abafi-Brasil and abafi-Holland, is the inventor and project leader of iPelvis Evo (an innovative app for training the pelvic floor) and has chaired the Special Intererst Group Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation at IUGA.

Dr. Anna Padoa 

Anna Padoa, MD, is chair of the Urogynecology and Pelvic Floor Service at the Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel Aviv University, Israel. Dr Padoa’s expertise includes female sexual dysfunction, pelvic organ prolapse and female urinary incontinence, and treatment of sexual abuse survivors. Dr Padoa is chair of the Education Committee at the European Urogynecological Association (EUGA), chair of the Female Sexual Dysfunction scientific subcommitte of the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM) and chair of the "Pelvic organ prolapse and urinary incontinence sexual questionnaire- internationally revised (PISQ-IR) translation and validation group" at International Urogynecologic Association (IUGA). Dr Padoa has published several original studies, review manuscripts and book chapters in the field of urogynecology and sexual medicine, and is co-editor of the book “The Overactive Pelvic Floor”, published by Springer Switzerland. Dr Padoa is co-founder and Secretary of the “Israeli Healthcare Association for Sexual Trauma Treatment and Prevention (ISTT)”.

Prof. dr. Kari Bø

Kari is a well-known (pelvic) physiotherapist and movement scientist. She obtained her doctorate in 1990 as a doctor of science and in 1997 was appointed professor of human movement sciences. She was elected Pro-Rector of NIH (a specialized university) from 1998-2001 and Rector of NIH from 2013-2017. She was the first Vice President of the International Organization of Physical Therapists of Women's Health, WCPT 1999-2007, and has been the Vice President of the Norwegian Physical Therapist Council for 8 years, which provides direct advice to the Norwegian Minister of Health on physical activity, fitness and health.

Dr. Abdallahi N'Dongo

Dr. N'Dongo studied medicine in China and became a gynecologist and obstetrician in France. He has a special interest in urogynaecology and functional problems of the pelvic floor. In addition to being a clinician, he has become an expert in electrical stimulation and biofeedback and has lectured in several countries with a special focus on the clinical practice of physiotherapy related to urogynecological health problems. He has developed many protocols related to electrical stimulation and biofeedback, both for assessment and treatment.

Dr. Hedwig Neels

Hedwig Neels is a physiotherapist with a PhD in women’s pelvic health, working at the Antwerp University (Hospital) Belgium, where she combines scientific research, teaching and clinical work.
She has a special interest in 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound and a strong passion to raise awareness and improve the prevention of pelvic floor dysfunction in women. She is the author of Het bekkenbodemboek, published for the lay public with beautiful illustrations, practical tips and exercises. She is the founder of The Pelvic Floor, provides on- and offline expertise and information to women, female athletes and professionals. She is also a committed member and ambassador in several IUGA and other (inter)national committees.

Prof. Dr. Gommert van Koeveringe

Prof. Dr. Gommert van Koeveringe is a leading urologist, specialized in functional and neuro-urology, and is affiliated with Maastricht UMC+ and Maastricht University.
In 1997, he obtained his PhD with the dissertation “Dynamics of smooth muscle contraction.”
He is Professor of Urology, in particular Functional and Neuro-Urology in a Translational Perspective at the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences of Maastricht University.

Prof. van Koeveringe has extensive expertise in:

  • Functional urology

  • Neuro-urology

  • Reconstructive urology

  • Andrological urology

  • Voiding disorders

  • Treatment of overactive and underactive bladder

Prof. van Koeveringe is actively involved in research on the interaction between the nervous system and the bladder and lower urinary tract.

Dr. Magdalena Grzybowska

Assistant Professor in the Department of Gynecology, Obstetrics and Neonatology at the Medical University of Gdańsk, and Deputy Head of the Obstetrics Unit at the University Clinical Centre in Gdańsk.

She has been active in the field of urogynecology for over 20 years, with a particular focus on sexual function in women with pelvic floor disorders.

A graduate of the Medical University of Gdańsk, she is a specialist in obstetrics, gynecology, and gynecological oncology. She is the author of numerous scientific publications on gynecology, urogynecology, and perinatal care, and serves as a reviewer for several academic journals.

She is a board member of the Urogynecology Section of the Polish Society of Gynecologists and Obstetricians and co-author of the Polish guidelines for managing pelvic floor disorders (2021–2023).

She is actively involved in international associations such as the International Urogynecological Association (IUGA) and the International Continence Society, contributing to committees on standardization and terminology. She also participates in an international project focused on updating terminology related to female pelvic floor and lower urinary tract function.

Prof. dr. Huub van der Vaart

studied Medicine at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and specialized in gynecology in Groningen. Since 1996, he has been a staff member in gynecology at the University Medical Center Utrecht (UMC Utrecht), focusing on pelvic floor care and research.

In 2001, he obtained his PhD with a dissertation on quality of life in women with pelvic floor dysfunction and, together with Dr. Jan Paul Roovers, received the Cobra Award. A year later, he co-founded the Alant Vrouw treatment center with UMC Utrecht, the first multidisciplinary center for pelvic floor care in the Netherlands.

As chair of the pelvic floor working group (2004–2010), he played a key role in the official recognition of urogynecology as a subspecialty. In 2012, he was appointed Professor of Urogynecology at Utrecht University. He has authored over 50 international publications and chaired the working group that developed the first Dutch guideline on urinary incontinence.

He is the senior author of the article “Surgery versus Physiotherapy for Stress Urinary Incontinence”, published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Gillian McCabe

I began my career in 2004 as a junior physiotherapist in the NHS in South Wales.
In 2006, I specialised in women’s and pelvic health physiotherapy at the Univer-
sity Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, where I worked for over 10 years. In this period, I gained extensive experience in treating pelvic floor dysfunction, incontinence, prolapse, pelvic pain and pregnancy/postnatal conditions. In 2016, I started a private practice, which became my full-time focus in 2017. By 2018, I opened my own clinic and expanded with additional physiotherapists. In 2021, the practice grew into Station House Health & Wellbeing, now home to six pelvic health physiotherapists and over 28 other healthcare professionals.

I have used the MAPLe diagnostic device daily in my clinic since 2019 and have trained four colleagues in its use. Since 2022, I have also delivered MAPLe teaching in collaboration with Pioneer Medical Europe and Novuqare.