Aims
Aims of ESPRAS
The National Societies of plastic surgery, from all over the world, are affiliated to the umbrella organisation, International Confederation for Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, IPRAS. The aim of this organisation is to promote plastic surgery both scientifically and clinically, to further education and to encourage friendship between physicians all over the world
IPRAS has several sections, among others the European Section. It was created during the 4th International IPRAS Meeting in Rome on October 13th, 1967. The aims of the European Section were to coordinate the different National Associations and societies as far as scientific meetings and events were concerned. Another aim was to organise a European Congress every four years, to encourage the cultural exchange among member countries and to stimulate the exchange of young plastic surgeons in training. And also, to promote all action directed to the protection of the profession and to raise the standard of performance and training on the European continent.
From 1967 the following colleagues were Coordinator of the Executive Committee of the European Section: Mr. Matthews, Dr. B. Vilar Sancho, Dr. J .P. Lalardrie and Proffessor N. Scuderi, who stepped down during the 9th European Congress in 2002 in Rome.
Quadriennal Congresses of the European Section have been held: 1969 in Brighton, U.K.; 1973 in Madrid, Spain; 1977 in The Hague, Netherlands; 1981in Athens, Greece; 1985 in Stockholm, Sweden; 1989 in Istanbul, Turkey; 1993 in Berlin, Germany; 1997 in Lisbon, Portugal; 2001 in Rome, Italy.
The European Section over the years has gained greater importance in increasing the exchange of doctors and cultural programmes and has increasingly developed integration of surgeons and regulation of implant materials among the European Countries. The latest and most noteworthy initiatives are the edition of the official Scientific Organ of the Section, the European Plastic Surgery (EPS) Review on cd-rom, the first European Plastic Journal in multimedia format. Also, a European Book of Plastic Surgery was published in 2001containing details of Executive Committees and members of the various National Societies. Also, a "European Appointed National Meeting" was instituted. This is an annual meeting of a National Society with an international flavour. The language of the meeting is English and Plastic Surgeons of other National Societies are invited to participate. The purpose of these meetings is to present the scientific work of European Plastic Surgeons and to increase cultural and scientific exchange among colleagues from all over Europe.
The first "European Appointed Meeting" was held in Istanbul, Turkey in September 1998; the second one took place in St. Gallen, Switzerland in September 1999; the third one in Birmingham, U.K. in July 2000; the fourth one ……in 2001; the fifth one…..2002; the next one in October 2003 in Athens, Greece and the sixth one in October 2004 in Dubrovnik, Croatia.
During the 8th European Congress in Lisbon the Council of National Delegates approved and ratified the founding of ESPRAS, European Societies of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, including all members of all of the European Societies belonging to the European Section. ESPRAS, therefore, is identical to the European Section and subjected to the same statutes.
I am fervently convinced, that European Plastic Surgery is rapidly developing and producing very high scientific results. This ask for careful distribution of energies in order to give its best, both clinically and scientifically. It is intended to further coordinate cooperation between other European Organisations, such as the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (U.E.M.S.), the European Board of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery (E.B.O.P.R.A.S.), the European Association of Plastic Surgeons (E.U.R.A.P.S.), the European Committee on Quality Assurance and Medical Devices in Plastic Surgery (E.Q.U.A.M.) and the various Interplast Chapters. From this point of view, the European Section of IPRAS, i.e. ESPRAS, has today and will have in the future the burden and the honour of guiding the European Organs of Plastic Surgery toward the safeguard and the development of Plastic Surgery as a disciplin.
Groningen, 10-07-2003
J.-P.A. Nicolai, past-coordinator of the European Section of IPRAS, ESPRAS