User:Ksiarkiewicz/European Society of Surgery

The European Society of Surgery (ESS) is a non-governmental non-profit organization whose main mission is to foster relationships and strengthen the exchange of information among European surgeons. Members of the Society can also be surgeons from countries outside Europe.

History and current activity
The ESS was founded by a group of surgeons, led by Professor Sergio Stipa (University La Sapienza, Rome). The first General Assembly of the ESS was convened by Prof. Sergio Stipa (President, Italy) and Prof. Robin Williamson (President elect, U.K.) in 1997.

Members of the First ESS Board – who signed the official status of the Society on 3 December 1999 – include: Carlo Faber (Luxembourg), Luc Michel (Belgium), Joachim Muller (Germany), Tadeusz Popiela (Poland), Sergio Stipa (Italy) and Robin Williamson (U.K.).

The society's headquarters were first established in Luxembourg (1999 - 2007) and moved to Krakow, Poland in December 2007. In 2000, following a general assembly meeting held in Krakow, the ESS decided to officially register with the European Union as a non-profit organization.

The society elects a president annually, who is responsible for organizing board meetings and annual meetings of members. The second main position in the society is its general secretary, responsible for managing current activities. Successive general secretaries were Steen Jenson (Denmark, 1996 - 1997) Luc Michelle (Belgium, 1997 - 2005) and Andrew Kingsnorth (U.K., 2005 - 2006). In 2007, Jan Kulig (Poland) took over as ESS' general secretary.

The society organizes annual congresses, which are held in the president's home town. These annual meetings provide a platform for the exchange of thoughts and surgical knowledge and are intended to intensify friendships among European surgeons in attendance. During annual conferences, workshops are organized, seeking to build and raise members' surgical skills. European and American speakers are invited to deliver lectures.

Additional information

 * The ESS initiated and created organizational conditions for the restoration of the European exam in General Surgery, in cooperation with the UEMS (Union Européenne des Medecins Specialistes)
 * ESS' official journal is entitled European Surgery, published by Springer Austria.
 * A jubilee 20th Annual Conference was held in Naples on 9-11 June 2016, as organized by prof. Alfonso Barbarisi.
 * Next 21st Annual Conference is planned in Krakow on 27-30 September 2017.