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Montreal
to host 2005 World Congress of Gastroenterology
By Dr. Hugh Chaun
Canada and the
Canadian Association of Gastroenterology are proud to have the honour
of hosting the next World Congress of Gastroenterology in Montreal,
September 10 to 14, 2005. The meeting will embrace the 13th World
Congress of Gastroenterology and the 11th World Congress of Digestive
Endoscopy. It will be sponsored by the Organisation Mondiale de
Gastroenterolgie (OMGE) and the World Organization of Digestive
Endoscopy (OMED). Under the dedicated leadership of Dr. Richard
Fedorak, president of the Canadian organizing committee, the many
unique features of the program in Montreal will enrich your educational
and personal experiences. The world of gastroenterology has progressed
immensely since the late Dr. Henry Bockus organized the first World
Congress in Washington in 1958. The 2005 WCOG will address the expanding
horizons of global goals in gastroenterology in the 21st Century,
and promises to be another distinguished milestone in the history
of the World Congress of Gastroenterology.
Highlights of the program in Montreal will include the following.
Three full days of live endoscopy will be transmitted directly from
Dr. Norm Marcon's internationally renowned unit in Toronto, and
from the famed therapeutic endoscopy unit in Hong Kong. An outstanding
scientific program co-chaired by Dr. Richard Hunt and Dr. Stephen
Collins will deliver current evidence and cutting-edge science applicable
to clinical practice worldwide by world-renowned speakers, on all
important topics of gastroenterology and hepatology. Theme days
will address cancer of the GI tract, abdominal pain, hepatology,
and infection and the GI tract. The gastrointestinal surgical program
will discuss controversies in inflammatory bowel disease, recent
advances in anorectal disorders, esophageal surgery, surgery for
obesity, and frontier transplantation. The meeting will provide
the extra opportunity to attend postgraduate courses of your choice
over the weekend prior to the main scientific congress. These will
include: the AGA Course; an interactive course organized by the
Sociedad Interamericana de Endoscopia Digestiva and the Interamerican
Society of Gastroenterology; a digestive endoscopy course presentation
en francais, organized jointly by the Association de Gastroenterologie
et d'Endoscopie du Quebec and the Societe Francaise d'Endoscopie
Digestive; minimally invasive therapies organized by the Canadian
Surgical Forum; and a nutritional course organized by the Canadian
Society for Clinical Nutrition. The World Congress will also include
the young clinicians program, a Canadian initiative created at the
annual Canadian Digestive Disease Week, chaired by Dr. Alan Barkun;
and the 9th International Educational Meeting of the Society of
International Gastroenterological Nurses and Endoscopy Associates.
A memorable
social program to celebrate the Montreal World Congress, chaired
by Dr. Robert Bailey, will feature a colourful opening ceremony
and a culinary delight of cuisines from coast to coast on Canada
Night.
The meeting will offer an excellent opportunity to enjoy the many
splendours of Montreal, and September will be the ideal month to
visit the city. Montreal is the home of the Osler Library, Canada's
national library for the history of medicine. McGill was the alma
mater of Sir William Osler (1848-1919), Canada's most illustrious
physician, often regarded as the greatest physician of the past
century. He wrote many papers on gastrointestinal disorders. He
referred to dyspepsia as "the besetting malady," and the
stomach as "the hardest worked and most abused organ of the
body, more subject also to irritation than any other . . ."
Reflecting one of William Osler's sayings-"Medicine is the
only worldwide profession, following everywhere the same methods,
actuated by the same ambitions and pursuing the same ends,"-2005
WCOG will be an event not to be missed. Canadians from every province
with an interest in gastro-enterology should meet in Montreal to
extend a warm welcome to all gastroenterologists, hepatologists,
pediatric gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal surgeons, pathologists,
basic scientists, nurse assistants, and research assistants from
every continent to come. Everyone attending the 2005 World congress
will share an unforgettable experience.
Hugh Chaun, MD, FRCPC, is Clinical Professor of Medicine, University
of British Columbia. He is Co-chair, Press & Congress News of
the Canadian Organizing Committee, 2005 WCOG.
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