Foreword -- Introduction and Perspectives
Foreword -- Introduction and Perspectives
The Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is the world's showcase for developing technology, maturing techniques, and gold-standard care in the arena of minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy. Our annual meeting draws an international audience of well over 1000 surgeons each year. This year's meeting, being held in Denver, Colorado, from March 31 through April 3, promises to be one of the strongest yet.
Postgraduate course offerings will include topics in minimally invasive hepatobiliary surgery; "Top to Bottom," an all-day program addressing minimally invasive foregut and hindgut surgery; complications in bariatric surgery and their management; and a hands-on technology course focusing on how to get the most out of your PDA. The hands-on course in advanced laparoscopic techniques is a "mega program" geared at teaching a broad spectrum of advanced minimally invasive techniques -- it was filled to capacity weeks before meeting start.
The scientific session will include presentations of key papers, video sessions, and discussion panels on such diverse topics as endoscopic endocrine surgery and "Laparoscopy from the Far Side," which will include presentations from our colleagues in the fields of pediatric surgery and thoracic surgery. Lunchtime sessions will include a talk by Dr. Ajit Sachdeva on the current thinking in surgical education, as well as sessions on technology and pediatric surgery.
The SAGES 2004 exhibit hall is among the most exciting of any meeting in the field. Industry partners, large and small, come to meet surgeons and share their newest developments. These cutting-edge developments may be discussed at breakfast and evening sessions to better facilitate dissemination of the information to surgeons. The Learning Center comprises "educational classrooms" designed to instruct physicians on specific content areas in an interactive way. This initiative shares space in the exhibit hall to maximize the opportunity for face-to-face contact and learning for our attendees.
SAGES was founded in 1981 by a group of unconventional, visionary surgeons who shared a commitment to surgical endoscopy. When laparoscopic surgery was being developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, members of SAGES were quick to recognize its value, and this professional organization rapidly became the "home for all things laparoscopic." New techniques and approaches were developed by our members and presented at our meetings. Industry sought us out as partners in the development of new and emerging technology. Our leaders became the teachers to the world regarding laparoscopy and minimally invasive therapeutic approaches.
We are pleased to continue this heritage of education and research through to today. Each year, SAGES offers research grants to investigators in the fields of minimally invasive surgery, including the Young Researcher Award. In addition, we offer several courses throughout the year to residents, at no associated cost. Surgical residents and fellows throughout the country compete for the opportunity to obtain additional training through our programs.
SAGES provides leadership in the area of published guidelines for the training and performance of laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures. Recognizing the potential for enhanced utility, this professional society provides information for surgeons, primary-care doctors, and patients regarding what to expect from minimally invasive procedures. Additionally, warranting particular note, is the fact that SAGES has developed an outcomes tool that allows surgeons to track their cases and compare their outcomes with those of hundreds of other surgeons across the country.
In summary, for the clinician in gastroenterology, endoscopy, or surgery, SAGES 2004 promises to raise the bar even higher for the presentation of key findings and new perspectives on applications of endoscopic technology and minimally invasive techniques.
The Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is the world's showcase for developing technology, maturing techniques, and gold-standard care in the arena of minimally invasive surgery and endoscopy. Our annual meeting draws an international audience of well over 1000 surgeons each year. This year's meeting, being held in Denver, Colorado, from March 31 through April 3, promises to be one of the strongest yet.
Postgraduate course offerings will include topics in minimally invasive hepatobiliary surgery; "Top to Bottom," an all-day program addressing minimally invasive foregut and hindgut surgery; complications in bariatric surgery and their management; and a hands-on technology course focusing on how to get the most out of your PDA. The hands-on course in advanced laparoscopic techniques is a "mega program" geared at teaching a broad spectrum of advanced minimally invasive techniques -- it was filled to capacity weeks before meeting start.
The scientific session will include presentations of key papers, video sessions, and discussion panels on such diverse topics as endoscopic endocrine surgery and "Laparoscopy from the Far Side," which will include presentations from our colleagues in the fields of pediatric surgery and thoracic surgery. Lunchtime sessions will include a talk by Dr. Ajit Sachdeva on the current thinking in surgical education, as well as sessions on technology and pediatric surgery.
The SAGES 2004 exhibit hall is among the most exciting of any meeting in the field. Industry partners, large and small, come to meet surgeons and share their newest developments. These cutting-edge developments may be discussed at breakfast and evening sessions to better facilitate dissemination of the information to surgeons. The Learning Center comprises "educational classrooms" designed to instruct physicians on specific content areas in an interactive way. This initiative shares space in the exhibit hall to maximize the opportunity for face-to-face contact and learning for our attendees.
SAGES was founded in 1981 by a group of unconventional, visionary surgeons who shared a commitment to surgical endoscopy. When laparoscopic surgery was being developed in the late 1980s and early 1990s, members of SAGES were quick to recognize its value, and this professional organization rapidly became the "home for all things laparoscopic." New techniques and approaches were developed by our members and presented at our meetings. Industry sought us out as partners in the development of new and emerging technology. Our leaders became the teachers to the world regarding laparoscopy and minimally invasive therapeutic approaches.
We are pleased to continue this heritage of education and research through to today. Each year, SAGES offers research grants to investigators in the fields of minimally invasive surgery, including the Young Researcher Award. In addition, we offer several courses throughout the year to residents, at no associated cost. Surgical residents and fellows throughout the country compete for the opportunity to obtain additional training through our programs.
SAGES provides leadership in the area of published guidelines for the training and performance of laparoscopic and endoscopic procedures. Recognizing the potential for enhanced utility, this professional society provides information for surgeons, primary-care doctors, and patients regarding what to expect from minimally invasive procedures. Additionally, warranting particular note, is the fact that SAGES has developed an outcomes tool that allows surgeons to track their cases and compare their outcomes with those of hundreds of other surgeons across the country.
In summary, for the clinician in gastroenterology, endoscopy, or surgery, SAGES 2004 promises to raise the bar even higher for the presentation of key findings and new perspectives on applications of endoscopic technology and minimally invasive techniques.
