Dear colleagues and friends,
It is my distinct pleasure to welcome you to the Xth edition of the Symposium of Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation and continue a tradition committed to the constant progress of this surgical specialty.
Hepato-pancreatic-biliary surgery has become nowadays a branch of surgery recognized internationally, both in the United States and in Europe and Asia, gathering liver surgery, extrahepatic biliary surgery and pancreatic surgery and addressing a pathology of the oncological hepato-pancreatic-biliary complex, among others, with a polyvalent and a growing incidence both nationally and globally.
The Romanian Association of Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation (ARCHBPTH) was founded in 2006 under the guidance of Prof. Henri Bismuth (Honorary President), organizing annual themed symposia as a response to the necessity for development of this branch and in view of the interdisciplinary collaboration in this field, the interest for this type of surgery being obvious and in a continuous extension.
Hepato-pancreatic-biliary surgery remains a subspecialty of general surgery, the training being done in both Europe and the United States two years after completing the residency. The two years of preparation are followed by an examination at European level, organized by UEMS – the HPB Surgery Division. Graduates obtain a major in HPB surgery that allows them to practice this type of surgery in specialized services.
In 2013, the “Dan Setlacec“ Center of General Surgery and Liver Transplantation within Fundeni Clinical Institute began the training in hepato-pancreatic-biliary surgery of more than 30 trainees from all over the country, the credentials including liver transplantation. It is imperative that the activity of the ARCHBPTH is continued in a tireless rhythm, the main goal of the association being develop this surgical specialty in our country and to contribute to the professional progress of those interested in pursuing this specialty.
The Xth Symposium of Hepato-Pancreatic-Biliary Surgery and Liver Transplantation reunites national and international personalities of the field who have generously agreed to share their expertise with the participants, providing an excellent opportunity to access the insides of this specialty.
Your attendance to the Symposium highly honors us and grants us hope that our efforts towards the evolution of this specialty will come to fruition.
With best wishes,
Irinel Popescu, MD, FACS, FEBS
Symposium President
ARCHBPTH Präsident