ISDE 2014 - 13th biennial World Congress

Dear Colleagues:
It has been a good year for the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus.
Our 13th biennial World Congress was hosted by the Department of Surgery at the University Padua this past October in the spectacular setting of Venice, Italy. The scientific program was outstanding as were the discussions that followed many presentations. Attendance was high, with nearly 800 total registrants. We would like to thank Professors Ancona and Zaninotto, co-chairs for Local Arrangements, for their oversight of meeting logistics in what proved to be a wonderful and unique setting.
At the 2012 meeting, a new slate of officers was elected to lead the Society for the next 2 years. Let me introduce them to you:
Vice-President Kenneth K. Wang, Mayo Clinic
Secretary Hiroto Miwa, Hyogo College of Medicine
Treasurer Yuko Kitigawa, Keio University
Directors
Tatsuyuki Kawano, Tokyo Medical & Dental University
Janusz Jankowski, University of Oxford
Prateek Sharma, University of Kansas
Rubens A. Sallum, University of Sao Paulo Medical School
Giovanni Zaninotto, Universita di Padova
Immediate Past President: Jan Tack
Executive Director: Mark Ferguson
We are already beginning to plan the program for our 14th meeting in Vancouver, Canada. This will be our first World Congress that is fully planned by our administrative team at International Conference Services. The 2014 World Congress is scheduled for September 22-25, 2014.
Our Society continues its momentum as a leading force in esophageal disease. We were active participants in the international effort to provide consensus guidelines for the detection and management of dysplastic Barrett’s Esophagus (BADCAT). This remarkable effort, led by Cathy Bennett and Prof Janusz Jankowski, with input from multiple societies, was published in the August 2012 issue of Gastroenterology. It is currently listed first among the most read articles in this journal (http://www.gastrojournal.org/article/S0016-5085(12)00614-2/abstract). A companion effort (BOBCAT), focused on the current management of benign Barrett’s, is currently ongoing with significant ISDE engagement.
The executive committee unanimously supported engagement of ISDE in continuing the efforts of Prof Tom Rice and the World Wide Esophageal Cancer Consortium aimed at continuous improvement of esophageal cancer staging. This will include the creation of a worldwide standardized database for esophageal cancer and includes a 5 year plan for ISDE financial support.
My primary aim over the next 2 years is to grow our membership. I would like to ask each current ISDE member to nominate one new candidate for membership this year. The Society needs new members and you can help. As you know, the future of any organization is dependent upon the addition of new members and the infusion of new ideas. My goal is for us to double the size of our society over the next few years.
The application process has been streamlined and is very easy. Individuals may complete their application online at http://www.isde.net.
Please consider your colleagues in Gastroenterology, Surgery, Medical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Pathology and Radiology, especially the newer members of your group, and ask them if they would like to apply. The ISDE has many membership benefits, not the least of which is our outstanding journal Diseases of the Esophagus.
It is my honor and pleasure to serve as your Society President for the next two years. Thank you for your ongoing participation and your enthusiasm in growing and improving our Society. With your help, I am looking forward to a very successful and well attended meeting in Vancouver in September 2014.
Sincerely,
Jeffrey H. Peters, MD
ISDE President 2012-14