Newsletter EUPSA

Dear Members and Friends,

EUPSA started the new year with a very fruitful and effective business meeting on January 9, 2005 in Cologne. I would like to thank Prof. Holschneider very much for hosting the EUPSA delegates in the library of his clinic. Furthermore, all participants enjoyed a wonderful evening in his private home and an excellent dinner was offered by Mrs. Holschneider. It was just a great reception, and I would like to thank our hosts on behalf of all participants.

The business meeting became necessary 1) to elaborate future effective strategies to deal with the overwhelming interest into EUPSA, and 2) to discuss details for the Gdansk Congress, and for the Maastricht Congress 2006.

So far, EUPSA has already more than 600 members/applications. We realize that the process from application to membership is too complicated. First decisions have been taken during our meeting to fasten and to simplify that process. A new website with features will be created which should speed up the application procedure and improve the communication between members. However, the international interest for the EUPSA is not only documented by the high number of membership applications within the last 20 months, but even more by the honourful offer of the BAPS and of the ESPU to organize a joint congress with EUPSA. The first one will take place in 2009 in Graz, Austria. The latter will be organized in 2011 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

In regard to the Gdansk Congress in May 2005, all members of EUPSA may be proud to know that nearly 600 abstracts have been submitted. To select the best 200 abstracts for the presentation at the Gdansk Congress was an unexpected hard work for the different reviewing committees. However, it can be said that the quality of presentations will be very good and far above average levels.

The Local Organizing Committee of Gdansk, chaired by Prof. Stoba, is working very hard to make this first congress under the auspices of the “new” EUPSA a successful and memorable meeting. In addition to the high quality of submitted abstracts, we are happy that we could gain excellent international experts for the “Meet the Expert Lunches”. Furthermore, three highly interesting postgraduate courses will be presented:

an IPSO Course on Paediatric Oncology (Wednesday), a course offered from the Education Office on the “Treatment of appendicitis, today” (Friday), and a course “How to prepare a manuscript for publication for a major reviewed Journal” (Friday and Saturday morning). Due to the close collaboration with the representatives of the UEMS, the first written part of the paediatric surgical exam will be organized by the UEMS during the Gdansk Congress (Friday morning).

This is not enough: one highlight of the congress comes certainly from our special lectures: the “Duhamel Lecture” entitled “Hypospadias in 2005” will be presented by Prof. Pierre Mouriquand and the “European Congress Lecture” entitled “Vesicoureteral reflux from the bench to the bedside” will be presented by Prof. Prem Puri. Last but not least, I am very happy that the highest honour that EUPSA can offer to an international outstanding paediatric surgeon - the Rehbein medal - will be presented in Gdansk to Prof. Alois Schärli from Luzern, Switzerland.

The Gdansk Congress has to offer certainly a lot more to our members and Prof. Stoba and his team will be very happy to welcome all of you in Gdansk.

On behalf of the EUPSA Executive Board I wish you a fruitful year 2005.

See you in Gdansk

Michael E. Höllwarth (President of EUPSA)