BSI Newsletter (November, 2007)

Dear BSI members

It’s a great honor to serve as BSI president. During the 42nd Montreal meeting in the proud history of ISS BSI held its forth meeting as an integrated society. The meeting is unique in that the BSI members and invited speakers who come contribute and share perspectives from different continents where they are leaders in their field. For the second time a postgraduate course preceded the scientific program and assembled some 50 participants world wide. This course that offers an update in Breast Cancer care and management with a global perspective will be continued. The scientific program gave a panorama of epidemiology to treatment in the five symposia. It became evident that breast cancer treatment varies from national treatment plans for prophylaxis and ample resources to extremely meager conditions with very limited governmental support. To facilitate communication and participation in the International Surgical Week for young surgeons with special interest in breast surgery BSI was proud to announce travel awardees and the three recipients were Dr N Aishah, Malaysia, Dr Navneet Kaur, India and Dr Mukta Baxi, Nepal. The prize winning section of free papers had this year the compulsory “a manuscript is the ticket to the podium”. The winning candidate was Dr Ava Kwong Hong Kong with the paper Breast cancer in Chinese women younger than 40: are they different from their older counterparts? The paper is submitted for publication in World Journal of Surgery. Dr Kwong has recently joined the breast team of BSI council member Dr Polly Cheung in Hong Kong. BSI is also much indebted to Dr Sarkis Metrissian McGill University of Montreal who arranged the venue for BSI dinner. It was a memorable event where we enjoyed good company and exquisite food.

During the business meeting BSI thanked Raimund Jakesz for serving as BSI president for two periods and being ambassador during many trips where he has been giving talks and as BSI member. Professor Jay Harness US was elected president–elect. In order to encourage younger breast surgeons with academic interest Dr Ines Buccimazza from Cape Town South Africa and Dr Omar Youssef from Cairo Egypt were elected as affiliated council members. BSI welcomes their active participation. Preliminary plans for Adelaide 2009 are underway. BSI council coordinator Peter Malycha is part of the local organizing committee and will ensure that the venue and is facilities will be appropriately used for the meeting. The program will join forces with the breast section of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons which will ensure a large body of participants.

In order to grow healthy BSI needs new members and all of you who contribute and enjoy the meetings, do spread the news and recruit new members. Remember also to use the web page http://www.breast-surg-intl.org/ to communicate.

On behalf of BSI council I convey my warmest greetings,

Kerstin Sandelin