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2004 Meeting Minutes

International Council of Coloproctology

American Society of Colon and Rectal Surgeons

Sunday May 9, 2004
Dallas, TEXAS

Participants: Drs. Graham Newstead, Chair; David Schoetz, ASCRS President; Bruce Wolff, ASCRS President-Elect; Steven Wexner, Council Rep; Richard Billingham, Immediate Past President; Peter Marcello, Program Chair; Jonathan Asprer, Armando Crisostomo, Rafel Garcia-Duperly, Fidel Ruiz Healy, Jongen Johannes, Asmok Ladka, Anders Mellgren, Lars Pahlman, Carlos Parellada, Jose Reis Neto, Wesley Stephen, Bela Teleky, and Anthony Vernava.

Guest: Carlos Parellada, MD, Guatemala (International Scholarship Winner)

Staff: Stella Zedalis

Dr. Graham Newstead called the meeting to order at 2:00 pm, Sunday, May 9, 2004.

Dr. Newstead informed the ICCP members that this is the first meeting of the renamed International Committee, its purpose being to internationalize the activities of the ASCRS. The President of ASCRS, Dr. David Schoetz, had previously sent an invitation to Presidents of all international coloproctology organizations to attend this meeting and participate in the activities of the ICCP.

  1. Meeting Minutes

    2. Consensus: Approve the minutes of the Joint Committee of International and International Advisory Committees

  2. Goals of ICCP

    3. Dr. Newstead informed the committee of the following goals of the committee:

    1. Maintain a registry of all international colorectal surgical organizations (names of leadership, addresses, phone, e-mails, websites, scientific meetings)
    2. ASCRS International Fellowship
      The ASCRS International Scholarship will now be called the ASCRS International Fellowship. This Fellowship is given to a surgeon from a second or third world country who is in a position to make a difference in his/her country so as to improve the quality of colorectal surgery. The recipient would be invited to present at the ASCRS Annual Meeting and visit several colorectal units. One Fellowship will be granted for $6,000 with the request that the training programs the surgeon visits will be asked to contribute to the recipients housing and/or meal allowance. The registration fee to the meeting will be waived and a one year complimentary subscription to DC&R will be given. (Criteria and application for this award is on the ASCRS Website at www.fascrs.org under the link "International").
    3. ASCRS Travel Scholarships
      This scholarship is offered to younger colorectal surgeons who may still be in Training. It offers 6 surgeons the opportunity to attend the ASCRS Annual Meeting. They would be encouraged to submit abstracts which would go through the review process by the Program Committee. There will be up to 6 awards granted annually -- the ASCRS would contribute up to $2,000 for each Travel Scholarship and the sponsoring national society would be asked to contribute $1,000. The recipients will receive free registration for the annual meeting and a one year complimentary subscription to DC&R. (Criteria and application for this award is on the ASCRS Website at www.fascrs.org under the link "International").

      4. Consensus: Request all scholarship recipients to submit a report to ASCRS of their experiences in the United States and what they learned and will take back to their countries to make a difference.

    4. Dr. Newstead informed the committee that another focus of the committee is to recommend a pool of potential international speakers to the Program Committee.
    5. Outreach Program
      Dr. Newstead has spoken with the Executive Director of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and other bodies, including WHO. Many organizations have sent physicians to third world countries to perform procedures and assist local physicians. He informed the committee that there does not appear to be an urgent need for colorectal surgeons in third world countries. Dr. Newstead suggested the committee might consider sending surgeons to the institutions of countries wishing to develop colorectal surgical units or training programs.

      6. Consensus: Send a questionnaire to ASCRS members exploring the feasibility of U.S. institutions hosting a physician from a third world country. Determine if there is any interest and if funding is available (ie housing, meals, etc).

      Consensus: Send a sample of the membership questionnaire to all colorectal organizations on the database asking them if they would like to organize a similar program in their country.

    6. Standards
      Dr. Newstead pointed out that providing "minimum" standards to developing countries would not only help the countries but also our colleagues in countries wanting to establish their own national colorectal society.
  3. Selection of Scholarships for 2005

    4. Since this was the first year the scholarships were offered -- ASCRS International Fellowship and Travel Scholarships – late application requests had resulted in the receipt of only three applications for International Fellowships and none for the Travel Scholarships, Dr. David Schoetz informed the committee that it might award two Traveling Fellowships for the 2005 ASCRS Annual Meeting if there were suitably qualified applicants.

    Consensus: Approve the applications of Dr. Cesar Eduardo Canessa of Montevideo, Uruguary and Dr. Boris Kirshtein of Beer Sheva, Israel as the recipients of the 2005 ASCRS International Fellowship.

  4. Presentation by 2004 International Scholar

    5. Dr. Carlos Parellada from Guatemala City, Guatemala appraised the committee of the medical system in Guatemala. Dr. Parellada presented "Is It Possible to do Research in a Third Developing Country? The Guatemalan Case" to convention attendees on Thursday, May 13th.

  5. New Business

    6. Consensus: Request Dr. Newstead to speak with Dr. Ernestine Hambrick regarding electronic dissemination of materials from the STOP Foundation to international organizations.

    Consensus: Request the ASCRS Website Committee to establish a link to www.proctosite.com

    Dr. Newstead informed the committee that the Killingback Prize awarded by the Section of Colon and Rectal Surgery of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons had been was accepted by the Executive Council for podium presentation at future meetings of ASCRS – Dr. Michelle Thornton will present at the ASCRS 2005 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia.

Addendum to the Minutes:

  1. Back issues of DC&R were awarded to Dr. Ashok Ladha on behalf of the Indian Society of Coloproctology.
  2. ASCRS to develop electronic promotional materials to promote benefits in membership (thru the ASCRS Membership Committee).