President's Welcome

Welcome to the web-site of the International Society of Surgery (ISS). By representing now 5 integrated Societies and surgeons from more than 100 countries, the ISS has a goal to work for international teaching in surgery, both specialized and general surgery, in developed and developing countries. As the President for 2011 to 2013, I welcome all new members and sincerely thank all old members who continue to support the important work of our organization.

The Yokohama International Surgical Week 2011 (ISW 2011) was a success with greatly stimulating program and high attendance, as a result of impressive work of all the local organizers, the staff of the ISS office in Lupsingen, Switzerland, and the Secretary General of the ISS, Jean-Claude Givel. On behalf of the Society I want to thank all these persons who contributed so much. I also want to forward our sincere gratitude to our immediate past President Ken Boffard, for great decisions and outstanding lead, which has stimulated all of us to work with devotion for the organization. During the Opening Ceremony in Yokohama His Majesty, the Crown Prince of Japan, officially thanked the ISS for running the Congress, and for working with responsibility for international teaching of surgery in all countries.

The integrated constituent Societies of the ISS, the International Association of Endocrine Surgeons (IAES), the International Association for Trauma Surgery and Intensive Care (IATSIC), Breast Surgery International (BSI), the International Association for Surgical Metabolism and Nutrition (IASMEN), and the International Society of Digestive Surgery (ISDS), and a large number of participating Societies with representatives in the Program Committee for ISW 2011, should have credit for the great program that could be run in Yokohama, and also for making the ISS an important global organization. The ISS Executive Council, and the integrated Societies continue to work hard together to make the ISS a world leader in Surgical Education, and towards world-wide surgical care improvement, with strong support by the World Journal of Surgery. An important step has now been taken by establishing the ISS Academy, with the aim of advancing surgical training and education around the world, and with an elected Faculty Dean (Dr Bill Thomas, UK), with long experience from running Surgical Skills Courses in many countries in Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. The educational activity will aim to deliver humanitarian surgery in developing countries, as well as formal courses covering many surgical specialities, at levels from trainees to senior surgeons.

The next International Surgical Week will take place in Helsinki, Finland, August 25 -29, 2013. An extensive and stimulating program is already planned by the different integrated societies of the ISS, and with the ISS Academy of Education, including training courses and sessions focused on surgeons in training. Finland is a very attractive country to visit in the late summer, with possibilities to see and enjoy also the beautiful Scandinavian countries, Sweden, Denmark and Norway, and perhaps also visit and experience the historical monuments of St Petersburg, Russia. Plan to attend the Congress, it will probably be both professionally and socially a great experience, you will be able to make friends and communicate with surgeons of all nationalities. Also for the Helsinki Conference there will be Travel Awards available for younger surgeons from developing countries. Further details of the meeting will be available at the web-site.

Most important, assure that you all become part of the ISS when our association now together with the integrated Societies takes another important step forward with a clearly defined goal and responsibility to provide world-wide teaching in surgery at all levels, and with efforts to help also developing countries. Support your younger colleges to become members of the ISS and to attend the Helsinki Conference in 2013. Enjoy the satisfaction of being part of and contribute to the work just by being a member, or become actively involved by contacting me, any of the other ISS officers, or leaders of the integrated Societies.

If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to contact me at: goran.akerstrom(at)surgsci.uu.se

Göran Åkerström
President ISS/SIC and
President ISW 2013