September 04th, 2005

Letter from the President

Dear Colleagues,

My first words are addressed to my predecessor, Dr. Edward R. Laws, a great President who gave me a World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies in good standing. I had the chance to work with him during several years and to benefit from his knowledge and wisdom. He should be congratulated on having completed such an excellent presidency of WFNS.

Being the 14th President is obviously a great honour, following all those distinguished great men who chaired the WFNS before me. Moreover, to become the first President from Belgium, the country where the WFNS was founded 50 years ago, is also very emotional for me. From the bottom of my heart, I thank once again, all the Societies and Delegates who proposed my name for such a distinguished position.

In Marrakech, we had a successful World Congress of Neurosurgery in general, with more than 3000 registrants. However, may I take this opportunity to apologize, on behalf of WFNS, for the long wait that some of you may have experienced when registering for the Congress itself or for social functions and I sincerely hope that the rest of the Congress compensated for this. The scientific level was excellent so were the social activities and cultural programmes, with the attendance of Prince Moulay Rachid, who honoured us with his presence at the Gala Dinner. Organizing an International Congress of Neurosurgery is always a big and delicate enterprise. I express my sincere thanks to Prof. Abdeslam El Khamlichi and to his team for all their efforts.

As I have said in my maiden speech, during the next fours years I shall focus my energy on education and ethics in neurosurgery, the quality of life of all patients, support to our member societies, to neurosurgeons whichever country they may live in and in particular, those in poor, developing countries.

We should be reminded that in the developing world, a million brain and spinal cord accidents happen yearly and leave patients dead or heavily handicapped for the remainder of their life. Non-diagnosed and non-treated brain tumors account for several hundred thousands of new cases every year. In those countries, the number of disabled children from a neurosurgical illness account for forty percent of the population. That is the main reason why WFNS has decided to create a Foundation that will help in accomplishing its aims in education and the promotion of Neurosurgery, as well as the implementation of neurosurgery where no access to the population exists in order to be able to treat them. This is a big humanitarian project, which needs the help and support of everybody in order to be able to succeed. In advance, I thank all the colleagues who have spontaneously expressed their wish to participate in this great challenge.

Another wish during my presidency will be to implement tolerance and respect of identity in favouring personal relationships between neurosurgeons living in conflict areas, therefore showing that the WFNS can contribute towards peace, love and respect of one another whatever the religion, race or colour may be.

I know that I can rely on all the Officers of the new WFNS Administrative Council and the Chairmen of the different Committees, in order to succeed and I thank them in advance from the bottom of my heart for their engagement and solidarity towards my efforts, as well as the Director of our Central Office in Nyon, Mrs Janette Joseph, for the permanent and efficient care she takes of our WFNS.

With best wishes to all of you,

Jacques Brotchi, MD, PhD,
President, WFNS