1. Welcome to The New European Surgical Academy (NESA) An Introduction

2. “Throughout history the authorities and systems were the main obstacles for any medical development.“ Dr. Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902) Physician and initiator of the study of cellular pathology

3. Actual situation  Many surgical procedures are based on traditions rather than on clinical studies  Even reasonable procedures include many unnecessary steps

4. NESA‘s aims and goals 1. Revision of existing surgical procedures and organisation  Optimizing and rationalizing patients` path in hospitals  Securing the correlation between proper indications and planned procedures  Analyzing and evaluating all the steps of surgical procedures in order to minimize and optimize them and reduce their costs

5. 2. Introduction of new procedures and of quality standards  Introducing re-evaluated surgical procedures  Creating all-European surgical quality standards and consensus documents

6. 3. Transfer of knowledge and know-how  Promoting interdisciplinary cooperation  Organizing European exchange programs for physicians  Transferring knowledge and know-how to countries with limited resources in collaboration with international organizations

7. The five NESA`s disciplines NESA will first concentrate on five disciplines. Obstetrics and Gynaecology Otolaryngology Anaesthesiology Urology Surgery

8. Background “Tradition is useful in many cultural fields, though in surgery it might be harmful. Therefore, tradition should not be used as an argument, and no operative step should be regarded as a taboo.“

9. NESA‘s structure Promoting and supporting Co-workers Executive Board Advisory Board International Board Country representatives Diplomats

10.  President : Prof. h.c. Dr. Michael Stark  Director : Dr. Francesco De Meo All other members : - are voluntary members - should identify with the aims and goals of the NESA - are appointed for limited periods Executive Board

11.  14 members  2 members per discipline and 4 additional members  Mission: Discipline representation, input of ideas and interdisciplinary thinking Advisory Board

12.  Persons or institutions with high professional and personal reputation  Members function as consultants to the Advisory and Executive Boards  Members promote the academy in various professional forums International Board

13.  Represent the members of their countries in NESA and NESA in their countries.  The representatives establish contacts to medical institutions, coordinate the communication with diplomats and partners and supervise studies in their countries. Country representatives

14.  The professional diplomats function as correspondents for certain disciplines such as breast surgery and gynaecological or surgical endoscopy  The regional diplomats function as correspondents in various institutions, hospitals or regions and supervise studies in their region. Diplomats

15. Team of the academy President Prof. h.c. Dr. Dr. h.c. Michael Stark Director Dr. Francesco De Meo Assistant to the President Ms. Clémence Delmas Secretary Ms. Sabine Wolf Location of the academy: Karower Str. 11 / House 214 13125 Berlin Germany

16. NESA‘s vision for tomorrow All-European surgical standards Dialogue among medical institutions Cost-effectiveness of surgical procedures Transfer of knowledge and know-how to countries with limited resources Well indicated and simple operations “Less is more“ Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886 – 1969)

17. “A stand can be made against invasion by the enemy, but no stand can be made against invasion by an idea.“ Victor Hugo