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DOI: 10.1055/s-2002-28474
Copyright © 2002 by Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA. Tel.: +1(212) 584-4662
Presidential Message
Publication History
Publication Date:
13 May 2002 (online)
Inaugural Congress
October 31-November 3, 2001 Taipei, Taiwan
[*]For more than 20 years, on repeated occasions, members of the International Society of Reconstructive Microsurgery (ISRM) and the International Microsurgical Society (IMS) have expressed their wishes and vision to unite both societies into a single body. Many of us were members of both societies, and became increasingly dissatisfied with the duplication and even counterproductive competition of both societies. The circumstances that favored a merger occurred in Singapore at the 12th symposium of ISRM in 1996, when the president and council members of IMS and ISRM began to seriously discuss a merger of both societies.
Discussions and exchanges of such ideas were continued, fortunately always in an atmosphere of mutual respect and friendship, which was an essential element for success. There was no unfriendly takeover of either society, as we observe daily in the world of economics.
Ultimately, the meeting of ISRM in Los Angeles in June, 1999, was a most suitable background for the presidents of the two societies, Jacques Baudet (ISRM) andd Willy Boeckx (IMS), to accomplish, together with council and committee members and with the support of all the members of both societies, the merger of the two societies into one international body-the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery. We are very grateful for the tremendous efforts of both Drs. Baudet and Boeckx, and of all our other colleagues who were involved in this process that represents a milestone in the evolution of scientific exchange and dissemination of knowledge in microsurgery.
The nomination of Dr. Fu-Chan Wei as chairman of the inaugural congress of this new society was an excellent choice. There is no doubt that this first congress, chaired and organized by Dr. Wei and his team, will be a most impressive beginning for the microsurgical community in the new millennium. It is a great privilege and honor for me to be the first president, and to cordially invite all of our colleagues with an interest in this field to come to Taipei, and to be witnesses and active participants in this unique event.