I am very privileged to be elected as the president of the Belgian section of the International College of Surgeons.

The final aim of the International College of Surgeons (I.C.S.) is to improve the lives of patients through the development and education of our members, and advancing the field of surgery. Our missions of teaching, conducting research serve the international community. Giving the global nature of the International College of Surgeons, diversity in health care delivery is of the utmost importance and is one of the ongoing goals of our college. The International College of Surgeons is a non-governmental entity in official relations with the World Health Organisation (W.H.O.) and is the only surgical society with this collaborative relationship, which further enhances our vision of global health care delivery.

In 1983 the Belgian section of the International College was refunded under the presidency of our good friend, the late Doctor Rafael Vandekerkhoven. From the beginning I was a member of the board: secretary-general, vice-president, adviser, ...

In addition of our international mission, we, members of the Belgian section, have also a special task in our country. We have to create a surgical society where all surgeons, as well from the south, the north and the east of our country, speaking different languages, could meet. We will try to receive in our College surgeons from academic centres, good regional hospitals, as delegates from our different scientific and professional societies.

We will give a special attention to our young residents. We will take care of the quality of their training. We will not forget that also a young trainee has the right to have a familiar life.

I invite al those persons, not now part of the Belgian section of the I.C.S. to become a member of our College, an organisation open to all races and all creeds.

Sincerely,

Prof. Dr. P.L.O. BROOS
2006, President B.S.I.C.S.