The “building bridges” leitmotif – which we have chosen for our congress in Brussels, Belgium, in 2010 – though well worn from use and overuse in the most diverse contexts, lends itself so well to our intentions that we have appropriated it for our own purposes.
What bridges do we have in mind? First, there are the geographical ones, connecting all the points of the European compass, south to north, west to east, and all the intermediate points on that directional instrument. Those figurative bridges are not just geographical but range through the entire socioeconomic, demographic and political spectrum, throughout the European Union and beyond.
Then there are the bridges we desire to build within the wide range of our surgical specialties, to connect professionals working in the fields of trauma surgery, acute care and emergency surgery, orthopedics and allied disciplines. Another bridge we envision would cover the gap between academy and clinic. There are bridges to extend to other branches of medicine and science, to the industries that provide the infrastructure and technology we so much depend on, and, finally, to our patients, who are our first obligation.
Let us not fail to imagine as well bridges to the past and to the future: these should allow us to remain connected to what is old but still good while permitting us at the same time to move forward to the new and unfamiliar, shuttling back and forth as immediate need dictates.
It is my sincere hope that you yourself will bridge the gap between your hometown and Brussels to join us for an exciting meeting with a highly informative scientific programme.
I look forward to seeing you in Brussels.