CEM15: Identifying needs of young urologists in Europe

Fri, 2 Oct 2015 • Joel Vega

Continuing education, specialized training and the crucial role of respecting diversity in a region such as Europe were among the key messages given during the opening session of the 15th Central European Meeting (CEM15) which opened today in Budapest, Hungary.

“We have to make the regional meetings as meaningful as possible to young urologists,” said EAU Secretary General Chris Chapple in his keynote remarks during the opening of CEM15, the longest-running meeting annually organized by the Regional Office chaired by Bob Djavan. “At the same time, we have to cater to the diversity in urology and we have to change and look at the needs of the next generation,” added Chapple.

Budapest is hosting the meeting for the third time since 2005 and 2001. Djavan and local organiseres Professors Peter Nyirady and Peter Tenke welcomed around 350 participants to the 15th CEM. They also underscored the active role Hungarian urologists have played in the past, which was reiterated and presented in more detail by Imre Romics in his overview lecture on the role of Hungarian surgeons in urology during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Romics cited the crucial contributions made by surgeons such as Geza Antal, Geza Illyes and Gyula Minder, among many others, who all did pioneering work in stone and kidney diseases.

In his talk regarding the EAU's vision and strategy, Chapple emphasized that young urologists should be in the forefront of innovation but this can only be possible if they get full support. “How we empower the next generation depends on what we are doing today. The Regional Meeting is designed for young urologists and not for urologists like me,” said Chapple.

Both Djavan and Chapple enumerated the various activities that are being organized by the EAU and its partners such as the European School of Urology, the various Section Offices, and the newly launched activities in online or Internet-based education programmes.

The 15th CEM, which will end on Sunday, has lined-up several workshops, debates among young urologists and Hands-on-Training courses in laparoscopy. This year the event also received 245 abstract submissions including from countries in Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia. Awards will be given to the best abstracts and the best presentation during the Country Competition of young urologists.