NEWSLETTER
April 2004
Letter from the President
Dear Colleagues,
We look forward to the next Annual Meeting this September in Leipzig. For the third time it will be a joint meeting with ESTS. The preliminary programme has given details of the Techno-College on Saturday 11th and the Postgraduate Programme on Sunday 12th, in addition to the main programme from 13th-16th. We have received 1370 abstracts, which are now being assessed, and the main programme will be decided at the Programme Committee Meeting on 22nd May. I am sure that this will produce an excellent scientific programme.
The Congress Centre in Leipzig is magnificent and the local organisers led by Friedrich Mohr and Richard Achatzy are doing a great job in organising the social programme and other arrangements. All the details including the Techno-College and Postgraduate programmes can be found on the website where online registration is available. May I remind members that if their membership fee has been paid, registration for the Annual Meeting is free before 2nd July. I do hope that as many people as possible will come to Leipzig, both to contribute to the scientific programme and meet friends.
The Bergamo School has now been running for more than a year and there have been 5 cardiac courses and 4 thoracic courses. After a rather slow start, there has been a steady build up and 34 postgraduates attended the last course, which is the maximum number that can be accommodated. During the last year 154 students from 31 countries have been taught by 67 lecturers from 13 countries. We are very grateful to Lucio Parenzan for all his efforts in making it possible and for those who have done so much to organise these courses. I would also like to thank all those who have lectured on the various courses and I hope that the students have benefited. Certainly the reports coming back from students and teachers have been most encouraging. The programme is available at this link and the cost of attending a course has recently been reduced. We still sponsor some students, but the course is very good value, soplease encourage your juniors to attend. We hope that in due course all trainees will take the European Board’s Examination and these courses are a good preparation.
The membership of EACTS is growing steadily and is currently as follows: 984 active, 466 junior, 205 international, 134 senior, 13 honorary and 6 associate, making a total of 1808. The Council would like to encourage all eligible surgeons to join and already 122 new applications for membership have been received by the Secretary General. The closing date this year is 30th April and the applications will then be considered by the Membership Committee. There are still many who we would welcome in EACTS, so please encourage your colleagues and juniors to join.
In addition to the Membership Committee, there are 14 other main committees. The Chairman and members are appointed by the Council and the Association relies on their goodwill and hard work to help run it. We are always looking for more people to join committees and those interested, please contact Bruce Keogh or myself.
I look forward to seeing you in Leipzig.
With best wishes,
James L Monro
President
