Message from the President

The Portuguese Society for Digestive Endoscopy (Sociedad Portuguesa de Endoscopia Digestiva, SPED) was founded in 1979. Twenty years later, in 1999, we are delighted to have this opportunity to pay tribute to all the past presidents who have contributed so much to the prestige and development of our Society; particular mention should be made of the pioneering achievements for the Society of Dr. Antonio Catita, Dr. Mascarenhas Saraiva, Dr. Cruz Pinho, and Professor Dinis de Freitas. Today, we have some 370 members, the great majority of whom are gastroenterologists — in fact, the Society shares its infrastructure with the Portuguese Society for Gastroenterology, with whom we have always sought to work closely.

It has been an honor for us to have our affiliation accepted by the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, with Endoscopy as its official organ, and this will now enable us to embark on a new phase of development. At a time when digestive endoscopy is facing decisive new challenges, it is of the utmost importance for us to maintain a strong relationship with all our sister societies. It is important to create a consensus regarding methodology and standardized terminology, at a time when patients are demanding safer and more comfortable forms of diagnostic and therapeutic endoscopy.

The next United European Gastroenterology Week is to be held in Lisbon, and this will provide an excellent opportunity for us to strengthen the ties of friendship between the Portuguese Society for Digestive Endoscopy and our European colleagues, whom we look forward to welcoming. I would like to take this opportunity to extend warm greetings to all the societies and to our colleagues in the field of gastroenterology, and to wish everyone a prosperous year 2000.

Dr. Carlos Albuquerque Pinho

President, Portuguese Society for Digestive Endoscopy

Corresponding Author

Carlos Pinho

Sociedad Portuguesa de Endoscopia Digestiva (SPED)

Av. Antonio Jose de Almedia, 5-F, 8°

1000-042 Lisboa

Portugal

Fax: + 351-217995538

E-mail: [e-mail]