WELCOME MESSAGE S
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Dear friends, colleagues and members of ISSVA to whom we are all indebted, I give you a warm welcome. In 1994 during the Budapest International Society for the Study of Vascular Anomalies Workshop, ISSVA members formalized the biennial Workshop and developed bylaws for this Society. It is composed of a multi-disciplinary group of physicians and scientists united in common cause for the diagnosis and treatment of vascular anomalies in all anatomic locations. The initial Workshop concept was due to the collaboration of John Mulliken MD (Boston, Mass;USA) and Mr. Antony Young (London, Great Britain) in 1976. And from this bloomed the biennial workshops. Thus, from its infancy the ISSVA Workshop concept was always international in scope. Over the years these Workshops enabled personal, informal contacts and unrestricted scientific exchanges of scientific and clinical knowledge with physicians and scientists struggling with the dilemmas posed by vascular anomalies. Indeed, the initial objectives of this fledgling Society was "to promote on a national and international level clinical and scientific research in all fields that will lead to advanced knowledge concerning all aspects of vascular anomalies:"(ISSVA bylaws). Since the first International Workshop in 1976 in Boston to the next ISSVA Workshop in Milan 2006, there have been 30 years of a free-flow of exchange of ideas between committed interested individuals and groups that have advanced the care rendered to our patients and increased our knowledge. We truly have all learned from one another. It is exciting to continue this fruitful exchange in our Workshops of the future.
What did we learn during these last 3 decades of scientific and clinical
exchanges and what seems to be certain in the basic sciences, as well as
in diagnosis and treatment? These and many other questions are going to
be discussed and even answered during the 16th International Workshop
for the Study of Vascular Anomalies to be held June 14-17
in Milan,
Italy. I sincerely thank you for the opportunity of the last 4 years to serve and represent you. I also extend my personal thanks to Romain Vanwijck MD (Brussels, ISSVA Past-President), Wayne Yakes MD (Denver, ISSVA President-Elect), Paul Rieu MD (Nijmegen, ISSVA Vice President), Francesco Stillo MD (Rome, ISSVA Secretary), Peter Berlien MD ( Berlin, ISSVA Treasurer), and the members of the Scientific Program Committee under the guidance of Josee Dubois MD (Montreal, ISSVA Program Committee Chair).
I look forward to personally greet and meet each and every attendee of
the 16th Workshop in beautiful and historical Milan. I look forward to
another lively interactive experience.
Dear colleagues, thirty years have passed since the first “historical” workshop organized in Boston by Tony Young and John Mulliken and 10 years have passed since another historical appointment, the last held in Italy, in Rome, where at last the use of a common language was decided. The meeting is now returning to Italy, in Milan, a city in which a great pioneer, Edmondo Malan, worked out many concepts on vascular malformations that are still followed at present, without the aid and support of all the technical possibilities that are available nowadays. Only very few pupils have dared to take over his heritage and we are proud to be part of this small group and to organize this important meeting in our city. Milan is rich in art, but it is also known for efficiency, technology, organization and finance. The workshop venue itself, the former stock exchange building, can be considered a symbol of a request to politicians and health administrators to increase financial support for research and treatment of this diseases we are working on. We have also planned some basic work to extend the interest in these topics to young colleagues or specialists that only rarely have to face vascular malformations: before the main workshop, some demonstrative basic courses will be held on the most common diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. In this fulltime program a place has also been left for art contemplation, for enjoyment and for social meetings. We hope that all participants, panellists, public and accompanying persons will enjoy the time spent in Milan. Our effort to satisfy all wishes and expectancies has involved us strongly since the beginning. If the warm welcome of our city will remain in the memory of all guests, we will consider our work successful. Welcome to Milan to all of you!
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