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The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract
SOCIETY STATEMENTS
The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Layton F. Rikkers,
he Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract was originally formed as the Association for Surgery of T the Colon by Drs. Robert Turell, Warren H. Cole, and
MD, Omaha, Nebraska
John M. Waugh in 1960. To enlarge the scope of the Association to include the entire gastrointestinal tract, the name was changed to its present form by vote of the membership the following year. The inaugural meeting was held in Miami Beach on June 12,1960, just preceding the meeting of the American Medical Association. Dr. Turell served as chairman of the initial program, which consisted of 19 papers and 2 panel discussions. The proceedings of this first meeting, as well as all subsequent annual meetings, were published in The American Journal of Surgery. Drs. Cole, Waugh, and Turell were elected as President, President-Elect, and Secretary, respectively, at the first executive session. These officers, along with Drs. Robert Zollinger and Walter Maddock, composed the initial Board of Trustees. The first presidential address was read before the Society at its fourth annual meeting by Dr. Robert Zollinger. In his presentation entitled “Justifying Our Existence,” Dr. Zollinger noted that seven specialties of surgery were involved in caring for patients with disorders of the alimentary tract. The seven mentioned were general surgery, otolaryngology, thoracic surgery, colorectal surgery, pediatric surgery, urology, and gynecology. He stated that this newly formed society could bring these diverse groups together for free exchange of ideas and thus advance knowledge of surgical digestive disease. After the required waiting period of 5 years, the Society was formally recognized by the American College of Surgeons and accorded a governorship. In 1966, the Society’s constitution was written with the following stated objectives: “. . . to stimulate, foster, and provide surgical
leadership in the art and science of patient care; teach and research the diseases and functions of the alimentary tract; provide a forum for the presentation of such knowledge; and encourage training opportunities, funding, and scientific publications supporting the foregoing activities.” In accord with the desires of many of the founder members, the only requirements for membership were a demonstrated interest in diseases of the alimentary tract, evidence of investigation in this area, Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons or its equivalent, and appropriate board certification. The emphasis was clearly on an inclusive, rather than exclusive, membership. After convening in conjunction with the American Medical Association for the first 12 years, the Board of Trustees and then the membership voted in 1972 to join with the American Gastroenterological Association, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy to form Digestive Disease Week, the largest and most impressive assembly devoted to gastrointestinal diseases in the world. Although there was initial resistance to meeting with our medical colleagues, the benefits have been substantial. The quality of the Society’s program has been considerably improved; the attendance at the Founders’ Lecture, which was initiated in 1976, and other guest lectures has been markedly enhanced; and our members have been given the opportunity to attend a wide spectrum of programs related to digestive diseases. From its rather humble beginnings only 30 years ago, the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract has evolved into a vital organization that has not only made significant educational and research contributions, but has also become the voice for the gastrointestinal surgeon in an increasingly subspecialized surgical world.
312
161
THE AMERICAN
JOURNAL
OF SURGERY
VOLUME
FEBRUARY
1991
The Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract Layton F. Rikkers,
he Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract was originally formed as the Association for Surgery of T the Colon by Drs. Robert Turell, Warren H. Cole, and
MD, Omaha, Nebraska
John M. Waugh in 1960. To enlarge the scope of the Association to include the entire gastrointestinal tract, the name was changed to its present form by vote of the membership the following year. The inaugural meeting was held in Miami Beach on June 12,1960, just preceding the meeting of the American Medical Association. Dr. Turell served as chairman of the initial program, which consisted of 19 papers and 2 panel discussions. The proceedings of this first meeting, as well as all subsequent annual meetings, were published in The American Journal of Surgery. Drs. Cole, Waugh, and Turell were elected as President, President-Elect, and Secretary, respectively, at the first executive session. These officers, along with Drs. Robert Zollinger and Walter Maddock, composed the initial Board of Trustees. The first presidential address was read before the Society at its fourth annual meeting by Dr. Robert Zollinger. In his presentation entitled “Justifying Our Existence,” Dr. Zollinger noted that seven specialties of surgery were involved in caring for patients with disorders of the alimentary tract. The seven mentioned were general surgery, otolaryngology, thoracic surgery, colorectal surgery, pediatric surgery, urology, and gynecology. He stated that this newly formed society could bring these diverse groups together for free exchange of ideas and thus advance knowledge of surgical digestive disease. After the required waiting period of 5 years, the Society was formally recognized by the American College of Surgeons and accorded a governorship. In 1966, the Society’s constitution was written with the following stated objectives: “. . . to stimulate, foster, and provide surgical
leadership in the art and science of patient care; teach and research the diseases and functions of the alimentary tract; provide a forum for the presentation of such knowledge; and encourage training opportunities, funding, and scientific publications supporting the foregoing activities.” In accord with the desires of many of the founder members, the only requirements for membership were a demonstrated interest in diseases of the alimentary tract, evidence of investigation in this area, Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons or its equivalent, and appropriate board certification. The emphasis was clearly on an inclusive, rather than exclusive, membership. After convening in conjunction with the American Medical Association for the first 12 years, the Board of Trustees and then the membership voted in 1972 to join with the American Gastroenterological Association, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy to form Digestive Disease Week, the largest and most impressive assembly devoted to gastrointestinal diseases in the world. Although there was initial resistance to meeting with our medical colleagues, the benefits have been substantial. The quality of the Society’s program has been considerably improved; the attendance at the Founders’ Lecture, which was initiated in 1976, and other guest lectures has been markedly enhanced; and our members have been given the opportunity to attend a wide spectrum of programs related to digestive diseases. From its rather humble beginnings only 30 years ago, the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract has evolved into a vital organization that has not only made significant educational and research contributions, but has also become the voice for the gastrointestinal surgeon in an increasingly subspecialized surgical world.
312
161
THE AMERICAN
JOURNAL
OF SURGERY
VOLUME
FEBRUARY
1991