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| Newsletter October 2008 |
Welcome to the Autumn Newsletter
Letter from the President
When I took the office of President of the European Federation of Colposcopy at the congress in Belgrade (September 2007), I knew that the office itself was not only a great honour but also a big responsibility. The labour carried out by my predecessors President Jordan and President Diakomanolis was so excellent that the fact of being their successor at present is an enormous challenge for me. I have assumed the Presidency, as I know that I have not only their wholehearted support and advice, but also those of the complete executive committee and of our more than appreciated Liz Dollery.
From my experience as President of the International Federation of Cervical Pathology and Colposcopy, I was aware of the difficulties of coordinating the different national societies in a supranational organisation. I consider that the EFC,
presents very specific characteristics that, personally, motivate me even beyond the scientific goals. A new Europe is emerging in which not only the economic and political interests are crucial, but also solidarity among the nations configuring the EU. Science is an instrument of solidarity and, as doctors, we have the responsibility to spread knowledge
from rich countries to poor countries. In Europe, nearly every 15 minutes a women dies of cervical cancer: this means that the role of EFC can be crucial as a social agent in those countries where the incidence of uterine cancer reaches 18/10.000 or more, while in other countries this figure falls to 10/10.000 or less. This difference is due to deficiency in health
structures, lack of information and, unfortunately, also to the lack of well trained professionals. The education programme and the continuous training that the EFC will develop in the next couple of years is a response to the aim to correct this gap. By national examinations we will try to help professionals to reach the level of expert in colposcopy. We will also try to increase the number of courses around Europe that have already started.
Moreover, we want the EFC's website to become an open forum to discuss controversial topics. We have modified some of the articles of the current Society Constitution which we will submit to the Member Societies for their approval.
Our German colleagues, under the chairmanship of our President Elect, Ulrich Petry, are preparing the next Congress to take place in Berlin in 2010. In this respect, I would like to appeal for all your scientific cooperation and experience. I'm sure
that this official congress will be a big scientific event.
The EFC is the representative of all the European Societies and its existence can only be understood through its
pan-European and scientific character and both objectives require the collaboration of all European colposcopists.
Santiago Dexeus
President, EFC
It's "Farewell" from the Past President
It was a great privilege and honour to have been the President of the EFC for the past three years.
The European Federation for Colposcopy was founded in 1999 with the objective of reducing death and morbidity from cervical cancer by promoting the best possible standards of care in colposcopy and management of women with cervical pre-malignant disease. It did this very successfully by bringing together the National Colposcopic Societies of all the European Countries.
Our Federation, since its first official congress on the island of Rhodes, Greece, in October 2001 has had two more successful meetings, in Paris, France organized by Christine Bergeron in January 2004, and in Belgrade, Serbia organized by Vesna Kesic in September 2007. In Belgrade my tenure as President of the EFC came to an end and it was my pleasure to hand over to my friend Professor Santiago Dexeus of Spain, who I am sure will lead the Society onto greater things. I wish him all the best. At the same meeting we elected Professor Ulrich Petry of Germany as President Elect. He will serve from 2007 to 2010 and take up the Presidency in 2010 at the next EFC Congress in Berlin, Germany. So the future is planned and exciting.
It seems that our Federation is now securely established on strong foundations and it is time to hand over the responsibilities to a new generation of colleagues who share the same vision and commitment we had. One of the priorities of the Federation, when I took over as President, was the development of Standards of Treatment and Mahmood Shafi, Thomas Lôning and Katja Behrens were given the task of coordinating this effort and establishing core guidance for the treatment of CIN that would be applicable across Europe. The results of his work were presented at the Belgrade Meeting last September. Hopefully this will be adopted by all member Societies in the future and form the European Treatment Quality Standards.
The EFC has always been open to advice and suggestions and it is important that the whole process of co-operation of the National Societies maintains its momentum and continues to develop.
And now it is time for farewells and to thank many people from many European Countries who shared our vision and promoted
our ideas. EFC had the best ambassador in my friend Joe Jordan whom I thank very much for his help in the effort to pursue and accomplish the aims of this Federation. Many thanks for their effort and dedication to the EFC goes to Charles Redman (UK) Chairman, and Simon Leeson, member of the Training Committee, and to Mahmood Shafi (UK) for the development of the Standards of Treatment, as well as to Thomas Loening (DE) and Katia Behrens (DE) for their contribution and hard work. I
would also like to say a special thanks to Liz Dollery for all her hard work over the years without whom the Federation, and
myself, would have been unable to function. Thank you Liz. Thanks to Jens Quaas (DE) for his enthusiastic contribution
without which we would have no website. Special thanks goes to my good friends Juergen Heinrich, Ulrich Petry, Theo
Helmerhorst, Javier Cortes, Montserrat Cararach, Daniel de Silva, Jose Maria Moutinho, Jean Paul Boulanger, Christine Bergeron and Vesna Kesic. I am very appreciative for their time, effort and help with the EFC. I would also like to express my thanks and appreciation for their help to those National Societies who have supported the EFC throughout its existence. Many thanks to the BSCCP for the important role it has played from the outset. The Presidents of BSCCP, David Luesley, Henry Kitchener, Patrick Walker and now Walter Prendiville have always been equally supportive and I thank them very much. The German, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Polish and Greek Societies have also been extremely supportive and helped EFC members to come together during their National Meetings in Hamburg, Freiburg, Stralsund, Bilbao, Barcelona, Athens and Coimbra.
It has been an honor and a pleasure to preside over this Federation for the last three years and I express my hope that EFC
and its work will continue to go forward.
Farewell my friends.
Professor Emmanuel Diakomanolis
Past President of the EFC
EFC Colposcopy Courses - going places
Since the first EFC course held in Turin in April 2006, the organisation and delivery of high quality interactive colposcopy
courses has become a key part of the EFC's educational role. In the last 12 months, courses have been held in Serbia, Russia,
Czech Republic, Greece, Georgia, Athens, UK and Montenegro. These have been arranged in conjunction with National Societies and other bodies such as ESGO, IFCPC and FORS Montenegro. This collaboration with other groups has been a hallmark of our activity. We are particularly pleased to have received support from the IFCPC this year which enabled the course in Georgia. I would also like to thank Vesna Kesic for her pivotal role in enabling collaboration with ESGO. The interactive format allows flexibility in content and agenda setting which has enabled each course to be responsive to the needs of the delegates. This flexibility is reflected in the courses having either a one or two day format and audience sizes from
25 to several hundred. The courses been well received and have enabled us to pass on our key messages about colposcopic
selection and treatment standards. Wherever possible we have included some local experts as part of the faculty to enable
"roll-out" of our educational methodology. I am indebted to Albert Singer and his colleagues, Carl Chow and Narendra Pisal, for their invaluable contribution and provision of the excellent colposcopic images and case material. I would also like to thank other Faculty members who have included Joe Jordan, Lukas Rob, Vesna Kesic, Andrej Mozina, Emmanuel Diakomanolis and Laszlo Szalay. In the next 12 months, I hope that we can continue to extend our activities with plans to hold courses in Turkey, Romania, Slovenia and Armenia, as well as a further course in Georgia.
Dr Charles Redman
Chair of the Training Committee
EFC Colposcopy Courses - going places
EFC Education Committee
There is a lot to consider for colposcopy training in Europe. So much so that I will have to be concise. The committee wishes to offer standardised training to provide basic competency in colposcopy as a econdary screen suitable for practice anywhere in Europe. Furthermore opportunities to train need not be dependant on where that trainee may be in Europe. An ongoing survey of training has revealed a range of screening requirements and roles for colposcopy, with variations of training strategies as well as requirements for exit assessment for trainees. However, almost all respondents wished assistance from the EFC.
The Education Committee intends to plan a Europewide method of registration to co-ordinate training. Initially this will be
left to individual states with an intention to move trainees to where there are training vacancies. A web based trainees' database is being been developed with funding from the EFC. This will be trialled during the summer and offered initially
to the BSCCP for the UK. Use of the database will be reported to the EFC in Madrid in November. Other member states may then wish to use this for their trainees. The format of courses at a basic and advanced level, trainer courses and finally a common exit assessment will be decided ahead of the Berlin meeting in 2010. The intention is that a diploma for colposcopy awarded by the EFC and possibly co-awarded by the host national society will be a recognised qualification for competence in colposcopy throughout Europe which in turn will encourage freedom to practice and disseminate knowledge.
I must not forget that the EFC will continue to sponsor regular training courses for colposcopy trainees throughout Europe as these developments progress.
Finally I must thank Charles Redman as chair and the rest of the Education Committee for being open minded in providing answers to tremendous logistic issues. The Committee is also providing the encouragement and support for what I think is an exciting opportunity for enhancing colposcopy training for the prevention and treatment of cervical cancer in Europe.
Simon Leeson
Training Committee
4th European Congress for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology
The 4th European Congress for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology took place in Belgrade, Serbia 20-22 September 2007. The Congress was a great success and was very well supported. Approximately 350 delegates from 35 countries in Europe attended the Sava Center in Belgrade to enjoy a very interesting Scientific Programme put together by the Chairman, Professor Vesna Kesic, and her very cosmopolitan and experienced Scientific Committee.
Professor Santiago Dexeus (Spain) was inaugurated as President and Professor Ulrich Petry (Germany) was elected to the post of President Elect. The Social Programme was equally enjoyable with the Opening Ceremony taking place on the Thursday evening. The Minister of Health, Profesor Tomica Milosavljevic opened the Congreso. Her Royal Highness Princess Katrina
Karadjordjevic of Serbia addressed the delegates and welcomed everybody to Serbia. The programme continued with a Guest Lecture from Professor Ciaron Woodman, from the Division of Cancer Studies, Birmingham in the UK entitled "The Natural History of HPV Infection: unresolved issues", followed by interesting and colourful performance of Serbian folk-dancers.
On Friday evening the Gala Dinner was held at New York Club in Intercontinental Hotel
Well done Vesna and team and thank you
5th European Congress of the European Federation for Colposcopy 2010 in Berlin
We would like to invite all Member Societies to the 5th European congress of the EFC in Berlin on the 27th - 29th of May 2010. The conference will take place at the Hotel Intercontinental in the very heart of Berlin. The first day will be reserved for training courses in colposcopy and associated fields. On request meetings of national societies or training courses in other languages than English could be arranged. The main conference will take place on the 28th - 29th of May.
We would like to avoid parallel sessions and present as many topics as possible to a general audience. The focus will be on the EFC Colposcopy Training Programme and a standardized European Colposcopy Certificate. Other hot topics will be the effects of HPV-vaccination, changes in screening strategies, new diagnostic methods and vulvar diseases. Of course, we are open to any proposal of further topics that should be covered by the conference.
A preliminary program and the addresses of the local, as well as the international advisory boards, wil l appear soon on www.efc2010.com. The conference website will be updated regularly. We encourage all member societies to get involved in preparing a true European meeting.
We are sure that Berlin will be a perfect place for the next EFC meeting. It is an international metropolis with strong links to Eastern as well as to Western Europe. No other city is such a symbol for our divided and reunified continent. But Berlin is more than a museum, it is a lively international place with all kinds of amusements and distractions. Berlin´s cultural scene offers unlimited opportunities for leisure activities and Kurfürstendamm, Friedrichstrasse and Potsdamer Platz are ideal places for extensive shopping trips.
We are looking forward to welcoming all European colposcopists to enjoy an exciting meeting and an attractive social program in Berlin.
Professor Ulrich Petry
President elect EFC
EFC Website
We have slightly modified the EFC Website (www.efc.cx). There are 3 new sections.
- "Recommendations/Guidelines" - European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Cervical Cancer Screening 2nd Edition
- "Discussion Forums" - The EFC would like to increase the scientific relationship and debate amongst all its member countries. This section will include special forums for discussion. We would like to encourage all of you to participate and any member can present his own point of view. To participate you only have to register. This will be easy and fast. The first forum for discussion will be opened within the next few weeks on the topic: "Minimally Invasive Surgery for Cervical Cancer"
- "Members" - This is a very important section and we would like each Member Country to send us information about their Society. As an example, we have written a piece on the German Society. Please have a look at it and send us similar information about your country. The information is like an overview of the national colposcopical ideas, so that everyone can obtain information about the other member countries. It is a platform too, to present national activities, strategies and things which are important to others.
Therefore please could you:
Let EFC have information about your country (ie with links - like Germany)
Give us your news to be published on the EFC Website, in the section on "News" or "Events".
Jens Quaas
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