ISS/SIC Activities Andrew G. Hill, Past President ISS/SIC
History was made in Egypt in the last week of September 2019. A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Egyptian Society of Surgery (ESS) and the International Society of Surgery. This MOU establishes a special relationship between the two societies and heralds an exciting future for Egyptian Surgery and provides opportunities for the ISS/SIC to grow in North Africa and the Middle East. Five surgeons from the ISS/SIC joined the surgeons from Egypt for their summer meeting in Alexandria. This group was led
The arrangements of the MOU mean that the ISS/SIC will visit on years alternate to the International Surgical Week and so a team will be visiting either the March Meeting or the Summer Meeting in September of 2019.
nity to visit the El Alamein 2nd World War battle site in the morning and early afternoon. We visited the German, Italian and Commonwealth cemeteries and the Museum. As we reflected on the day it came obvious to us that a trip of this type with Surgeons from Commonwealth Countries, Germany, North America and from South Africa, with differing religions could hardly have been imagined in the past. And yet the ISS/SIC allowed something special to occur. United by the vision of the ISS/ SIC to advance the Art and Science of Surgery Worldwide we were able to transcend each other’s differences and learn from each other and enjoy the fellowship which only the ISS/SIC can offer. It was a special time.
A poignant moment occurred on the day after the conference. The team had flights later in the day and so had the opportu-
The ISS/SIC is getting out and about. If you would like to join a team to travel to join us in our outreach activities write to
by Past President Andrew Hill and Secretary General Ken Boffard. Drs Andrew MacCormick, Kristin Long and Hermann Kessler joined the team and made contributions, speaking at the meeting on topics as diverse as Perioperative Care, Trauma, Decision Making, Women in Surgery and Laparoscopic Surgery for Crohn’s Disease. The team were welcomed by the team from the Egyptian Society headed by Professor Farid, the Secretary General.
Signing of MoU with the Egyptian Society of Surgery ESS (left to right) Prof. Mohamed Farid, Secretary-General ESS; Eng Islam Shalaby, Planning and Operation Manager: COB; Prof. Abd El Moety Hussein, Vice President ESS; Prof. Ahmed Farag El-Kased, Member ESS; Prof. Andrew G. Hill, Immediate Past President ISS/SIC, Prof. Kenneth D. Boffard, Secretary-General ISS/SIC
November 2019
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