2016 Newsletter June
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Newsletter International Society of Surgery (ISS) Société Internationale de Chirurgie (SIC) June 2016 ISS/SIC President’s Welcome Marco G. Patti President ISS/SIC Dear Friends, The executive committee of the Interna- tional Society of Surgery met in Zurich on March 11 and 12, 2016. It was a very productive meeting, characterized by a new energy and enthusiasm. The follow- ing summarizes some of the key subjects discussed during the meeting: Even though the World Congress of Sur- gery held in Bangkok in August 2015 was a great scientific success, it was marked by the tragic death of Professor J.-C. Givel, the ISS/SIC Secretary General who had led the ISS/SIC for the last 6 years. Professor Ken Boffard of South Africa has been chosen as new Secretary General for the next period. Ken is an internation- ally known trauma surgeon who led the ISS/SIC as President between 2009 and Sculpture on a fountain at historic city center, Basel June 2016 1 The City of Basel from a bird’s eye view (© Basel Tourismus) 2011. His experience will help tremen- We thank Professor Andrew Hill for iden- Overall, I feel that this was a great start dously during these difficult times. tifying important issues that are relevant of a new cycle. Working together we will to the future of the ISS/SIC. Five subcom- be able to make the ISS/SIC and all the In January of 2016, it was decided that mittees were created and we hope more participating Societies more relevant on the 2017 World Congress of Surgery members will decide to contribute: the national and international level. could not take place in Buenos Aires as planned. This decision was very difficult 1. Decrease costs of the World Congress Best Regards, but necessary considering the current fi- of Surgery for surgeons from LMIC. nancial situation in Argentina. We are very Marco Patti, grateful to Professor Alberto Ferreres for 2. Establish a Fellowship of the ISS/SIC. President ISS/SIC & his efforts as President of the Local Orga- Congress President WCS 2017 nizing Committee. Almost uniformly Basel, 3. Appoint a small committee/editorial Switzerland was chosen as the venue for board to run the website and social the World Congress of Surgery that will media. take place on 13–17 August 2017. Basel is a lovely city, widely considered the cul- 4. Establish a process for medical stu- tural capital of Switzerland. It is situated at dents and surgical trainees/residents the Swiss-German-French tripoint, and it to join the ISS/SIC for a minimal fee. is easy to reach from any country in the world. With the participation of many dif- 5. A membership strategy to be developed ferent surgical associations, we are plan- by each Collective Member Society (for- ning a strong scientific program which merly Integrated Society). will take place in a modern and efficient congress center. June 2016 2 ISS/SIC Editorial I hope you enjoy the ISS/SIC Spring news- (Week 33). This avoids any conflict with • Our Collective Member Societies are letter. This is one of the largest newslet- Swedish meetings. Lots of exciting ac- looking at ways of delivering the maxi- ters ever produced by the ISS/SIC office, tivities for members and their families mum value, both in terms of education, and is a reflection of the enthusiasm that are planned. and providing members with the sup- the new Executive has brought to the or- port and information they need, and ganisation, and a specific compliment to • The ISS Foundation is expanding. We expanding what the Society can do for Mr. Chris Storz from our office who has hope to allow more travel scholars, but you. This edition of the newsletter con- had the task of putting everything togeth- additionally, to broaden the entire fund- tains key information from the Collective er. Our new Administration, led by Mr Mike ing base, in order to assist our educa- Member Societies. Iliopoulos is settling in, assisting Mr Victor tional initiatives across the world. The Bertschi as Executive Director. Prof. An- report from the new Secretary/Trea- I hope you enjoy reading what is planned drew Hill heads our membership Commit- surer, Mike Sarr, is important to all of for our future. As always, please write, tee. We are reviewing several proposals us, and affects the future of the ISS/SIC email, tweet, but let us know your to make membership easier to obtain, Education program. thoughts and where you would like the especially to those surgeons working in Society to be headed, and what you can developing countries who wish to play a • The World Journal of Surgery, un- do for the Society, or what the Society part in global surgery. We will report back der the able Leadership of the Editor, can do for you. in due course. John Hunter, is going from strength to strength. We have listened very carefully Kenneth D. Boffard In this issue: to all your input, and the Journal is go- Secretary General ISS/SIC • An update and report from the Local ing fully electronic. However, if you still Organising Committee (LOC) for the feel the need for a print copy, please let Basel Congress, which is confirmed for us know. The WJS is now on Twitter as Sunday 13 – Thursday 17 August 2017, well. Report by the General Secretary only had 10 Secretaries General. I have had the privilege of being a member of the Society more than two decades, working with such exceptional people as Thom- as Rüedi, Ruediger Siewert, Felix Harder, Kenneth D. Boffard and Jean-Claude Givel. Felix has very ably Secretary General steered the Society as Acting Secretary ISS/SIC General, since Bangkok, and my thanks are especially due to him for the stable transition he was able to achieve at a dif- ti, and a large majority of the Executive Dear Friends, ficult time, and for being a mentor to me Committee felt circumstances did not al- as well. I have had the honour of serving low for the 2017 World Congress of Sur- The 46th World Congress of Surgery as an elected officer in the Society, both gery meeting to take place in Buenos Ai- which was held in Bangkok in August as President of IATSIC, and as President res, as planned. The Executive Committee 2015 was a great success, both financial- of the Society itself. Over the years, it of the International Society of Surgery met ly and in the number of attendees. It was has been a real privilege to have had in- in Zurich on March 11 and 12, 2016, and also marked by the tragic death, during teraction with so many members of the Basel, Switzerland, has been chosen as the Congress, of Professor Jean-Claude Society in so many countries, and so it is the venue for the 47th World Congress of Givel, the ISS/SIC Secretary General. with both pleasure and humility that I look Surgery for 2017, and it will take place on forward to serving you and the Executive 13-17 August 2017. With the participation I have been appointed as Secretary Gen- Committee. of many different surgical associations, eral of our extraordinary International we are planning a strong scientific pro- Society of Surgery from the beginning of In addition, after consultation, and for a gram which will take place in a modern April. In its entire history, the Society has number of reasons, President Marco Pat- and efficient congress centre. The dates June 2016 3 of the meeting have been moved earlier bership base, as well as trying to make it so that there are no clashes with Europe- more affordable to attend the World Con- an meetings. This should also suit many gress. Under the overall Chairmanship of visitors from other parts of the Northern Andrew Hill, from Auckland, a number of hemisphere especially, as it now takes ad hoc Committees have been created place during school vacations. More in- to study the situation and to report back formation will be regularly posted on our with proposals to address the problem. new website (www.iss-sic.com and Specifically, issues such as the costs of www.wcs2017.org). Make Switzerland the World Congress, a process to involve the jumping off point for a European family medical students and surgical trainees, holiday, and enjoy the sights and sounds reviewing of the website and social me- of some of the great European capitals dia, and other issues which are important before or after the World Congress. No for the expansion of the Society will be matter where you land, Basel is not far addressed. We are also trying, with in- away. Put the dates in your diary! creased input from our Collective Member Lake Lucerne in Central Switzerland Societies, to increase the educational ac- (©Switzerland Tourism/Franziska The Basel Local Organising Committee tivities on behalf of the Society, especially Pfenniger) (LOC) met on the 4th of April, and plan- in years between Congresses. ning is advancing rapidly for a great WCS. tive Director, is reducing his role in the So- The Scientific Program is being finalised, I also think it is time to review the role of ciety, as is Felix Harder, from whom I have and caters for all the needs, not only of the Society’s National Delegates. These taken over. We have a new Administrative the Collective Member Societies, but for individuals are our representatives in the Director, Mike Iliopoulous, a new office in the many more “General” Surgeons who countries where we have members.