Dear Colleagues,
We are happy to welcome you to the 13th Congress of the Turkish Association of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery, which is one of the first national associations founded in this division of surgery, and also to the 4th Congress of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgical Nursing.
Our congress, once again, provides a comprehensive scientific programme and an environment in which current developments will be discussed with many national and international faculty members. An important novel aspect of this congress is the organization of an E-AHPBA Postgraduate Course with a focus on the biliary tract and the European Board of Surgery Qualification (EBSQ) exam for Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery. Both events have been organized for the first time in conjunction with a national congress. I owe a great debt of gratitude to Dr. Martin Smith and Dr. Christos Dervenis, the previous and current presidents of the E-AHPBA, and to Dr. Xavier Rogiers, Director of the Division of Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Surgery in UEMS for their support in organizing both of these events in our congress in Antalya, which is also a sign of the reputation of our association in Europe.
Another novelty in this congress is the organization of a whole-day session on the minimally invasive techniques in HPB surgery. Taking place on the final day, this course will provide you a fulfilling scientific platform with the participation of experienced laparoscopic HPB surgeons of our country. On behalf of our association, I would like to thank the congress president Dr. Ahmet Balık and the congress general secretary Dr. Mustafa Kerem, for a very successful organization and wish all of you a fruitful congress.
Sincerely.
Yaman Tekant
President, Turkish Association of HPB Surgery