ESCP President’s Greeting
Dear Members of the European Society of Coloproctology
I am honoured to step into the role of President of our esteemed society, and I am committed to fostering an inclusive environment that embraces the vast diversity of our membership. My presidency presents us with a unique opportunity to champion a vision rooted in equity and collaboration, ensuring that every member - regardless of origin or background - can access the resources, support and opportunities they deserve to thrive in the field of coloproctology.
One of our foremost objectives during this term is to promote meaningful partnerships with industry. By exploring innovative pathways for collaboration, we can enhance our collective impact while maintaining our commitment to ethical standards and patient welfare.
This collaborative spirit will not only drive advancements in treatment and research but also open doors for members to engage with industry in ways that benefit patients and healthcare providers alike.
Moreover, I recognise the importance of extending our reach to countries where our society may be less present. Together, we have the potential to create programmes that not only raise awareness about colorectal diseases but also provide education and training opportunities for healthcare professionals in those regions. By disseminating knowledge and resources, we can empower practitioners in less developed areas to deliver improved care and outcomes for their patients.
As we embark on this journey together, I urge each of you to embrace the opportunities that lie ahead. Let us work collaboratively to strengthen our society, enhance our impact globally, and ensure that all members have the platform to contribute to the field of coloproctology.
Thank you for your trust and support as we strive for excellence and inclusivity in all our endeavours.
Warm regards,
Antonino Spinelli, ESCP President
ESCP Secretary’s Message
It is a great honour to continue as the Secretary to the European Society of Coloproctology and to welcome you to the historic port city of Thessaloniki, home of ESCP 2024. Often overlooked, Saloniki/Ancient Macedon offers a wealth of cultural cross-fertilisation - unsurprising as it sits upon one of the most important trade routes of the ancient world. Birthplace of Alexander the Great, we will walk in the footsteps of this King of Macedon and his horse Bucephalus, his companion for 20 years.
We are delighted to come together as a society again, to participate in the most exciting program, meet up with friends from all over the world and share our colorectal knowledge for the benefit of our patients.
A huge thank you to all of our members across the globe for making ESCP and our annual meeting in Vilnius in 2023 so successful. This year we will have even more members and participants in the meeting as ESCP continues to thrive despite global uncertainty. Treasurer Hagit Tulchinsky has kept a tight rein on the financial management of the society and Oded, our President has worked tirelessly to ensure ESCP's continued seamless future. I would like to personally thank Oded Zmora, for his tireless leadership during his Presidency in 2024. Oded now hands over to Antonino Spinelli, a former secretary to ESCP.
As well as the annual meetings it is a great pleasure to have the ESCP Regional Masterclasses. This year the programme continued with the Beyond Europe Masterclass being held in Riyadh Saudi Arabia in conjunction with the Saudi International Colorectal Diseases Forum. This was well received and a strong bond was formed between the ESCP and the Saudi society. In Europe a successful masterclass was held in Salzburg, Austria in June this year with a further masterclass scheduled for Tapolca, Hungary in September this year.
The words of Andrew Shorthouse and John Nicholls, authors of A History of the European Society of Coloproctology, “collaboration is the key to future success” are ever more profound in this troubled world. We should join together to wish the ESCP huge, continued success, transcending politics and borders for the good of all of our colorectal patients.
Next year is our 20th scientific conference and ESCP will host the Tripartite meeting in the magnificent city of Paris. This promises to be a truly outstanding conference in the Palais Des Congrès from 10-12 September 2025.
Carolynne Vaizey, ESCP Secretary