Prof. Dirk Timmerman was nominated for the Ian Donald Gold Medal award by five of his peers at the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG), most notably for his work within the IOTA Group. By standardising ovarian tumor assessment worldwide and reducing unnecessary surgery without compromising safety, he has improved outcomes for women on a global scale.
Prof. Timmerman is the Chair of Obstetrics and Gynecology at KU Leuven, Belgium, and Senior Clinical Investigator of the Research Foundation, Flanders. Over the last 30 years, through dedicated research and international collaboration, he has been able to fundamentally change the global approach to the diagnosis and management of adnexal pathology, and thus transform patient care.
Prof. Timmerman said: “I am deeply honoured and grateful to have been nominated by my peers and to receive the ISUOG Ian Donald Gold Medal, one of the most prestigious recognitions in our field. This award is especially meaningful because it comes from a community that has shaped and advanced ultrasound in obstetrics and gynecology worldwide. I see it not only as a personal honour, but also as a recognition of the many collaborative efforts that have contributed to improving diagnosis, research, education and patient care.”
Under Prof. Timmerman’s leadership, IOTA – a worldwide network of more than 60 centres dedicated to advancing the assessment of ovarian tumors – has studied more than 40,000 patients. The IOTA Terms and Definitions, published in 2000, set an international standard for uniform reporting and remains foundational to both clinical practice and research. The dissemination of IOTA principles has led to certification of more than 16,000 physicians globally, ensuring broad implementation of high-quality, evidence-based scanning.
“I am profoundly grateful to the IOTA, IETA, MUSA and IDEA steering committees, and to all study collaborators and friends across centres and countries. I also wish to thank the engineers, statisticians and clinical researchers whose expertise has been essential in translating ideas into robust models, tools and evidence. Most importantly, I thank all patients who have participated in our studies and whose trust makes progress in our field possible”, said Prof. Timmerman.
Prof. Timmerman led the development and validation of highly accurate prediction models for the preoperative characterisation of adnexal masses, most notably the ADNEX model. His research demonstrated that many asymptomatic benign ovarian tumors can be safely managed without surgery, reducing unnecessary operations while maintaining oncologic safety. This work has directly improved diagnostic precision, optimised referral pathways, and enhanced patient-centred care worldwide.
In his nomination of Prof. Timmerman for this award, Dr Steven Goldstein, previous Ian Donald Gold Medal award winner, said:
“I can think of no one who has been more productive in gynecological ultrasound and who has helped to change the way the field is managed and practised as well as adding to clinical management. His work ethic and leadership are unsurpassed.”
Prof. Timmerman has left a lasting legacy by mentoring a generation of clinicians and researchers who now lead programs across Europe and beyond. His career exemplifies how rigorous methodology, collaborative science, and clinical focus can reshape an entire field and most importantly, transform healthcare outcomes.
“Dirk Timmerman has played a crucial role in developing diagnostic ultrasound models allowing more accurate descriptions of various benign and malignant pathologies at ovarian/adnexal level in the IOTA group in which clinicians and scientists work together to improve the quality of ultrasound research in ovarian tumors. Dirk was recognised worldwide for the first description of an association between Meig’s syndrome and elevated CA 125 serum concentrations. He was also instrumental in the application of logistic regression and artificial neural network models characterising whether adnexal masses are benign or malignant. He is deserving of the award,” said Prof. Juriy Wladimiroff, winner of the Ian Donald Gold Medal award in 1996.
