WELCOME

My dear colleagues and friends,

Two years ago I was graciously invited to speak at a surgical conference in the Holy City, Jerusalem.  It was my first trip to Israel.  The experience was beyond words and has permanently changed me.  First, I was struck by the warmth and willingness of Israeli surgeons to welcome me into their clinical lives and to collaborate on projects and research.  I now have many new dear friends I didn’t have before the trip.  Secondly, I was impressed by the brilliance and ingenuity of the Israeli Biomed community, widely regarded as one of the most vibrant in the world.  Furthermore, I was greatly impacted by my travels through out the country, and of course, Jerusalem itself.  This birthplace of 3 major religions will not disappoint and I can guarantee will stir up all kinds of emotions.

With this as a background, I have worked to create a world class surgical conference in Jerusalem in November of 2009.  The purpose is two-fold: to share my experience with others and to put on a high quality meeting that will enrich faculty and participants alike.  The topics chosen in the disciplines of Bariatric Surgery/Minimally Invasive Surgery, Trauma/Critical Care, and Surgical Oncology are cutting edge, and the faculty is hand-chosen from the among the best in the world.  I urge you to join me in this unique opportunity.

Scott A. Shikora, MD