Welcome Message

Welcome Message from the President
of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons

It is a privilege and a pleasure to invite surgeons from Australia and New Zealand to attend the joint scientific meeting of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons in July 2010. This is the second joint meeting and promises to be bigger and better than ever.
The RCST are generous hosts and have supported the visits of ten surgeons from Australian and New Zealand to contribute to the program in a variety of specialty areas.
There are already close relationships between our Colleges with regular exchanges at leadership level. 
Historically it is interesting that the greatly respected  King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej, was born in 1927, the same year the RACS was established.
In 1987, sixty years later, the first of many young Thai surgeons travelled to Australia as Weary Dunlop Boon Pong scholars. This has continued with strong bilateral support and up to four scholars every year.
More recently there have been exchanges of younger Fellows at our respective annual  scientific congresses.
We all have much to gain from these interactions. I invite all Fellows of the RACS to consider attending the joint congress - it will be a rewarding experience.

Professor Ian Gough, President, the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons