BOMSS Representative Welcome Message

I welcome you all to Belfast for the AUGIS Annual Scientific Congress in September, where BOMSS will have a very active presence and where we will have a significant contribution to the scientific programme. The venue and programme look very exciting and I hope as many of you as possible will join us in Northern Ireland in September for what promises to be a great couple of days.

BOMSS continues to go from strength to strength, with an ever increasing membership. We now have nearly 300 members and hope to pass the 300 mark in the not too distant future.

We have just held our own Second Annual Scientific Congress in Wakefield, West Yorkshire, in January of this year. This was attended by over 200 delegates and proved a great success. The scientific programme proved very stimulating, with many National and International speakers and parallel specialist workshops. This is a format that we aim to repeat in Bristol in 2012 and Scotland in 2013.

We have forged closer links with IFSO, our International Umbrella Organisation, with all members of BOMSS now also having automatic IFSO membership and the option of discounted subscription to the journals Obesity Surgery and SOARD.

I look forward to seeing you in Belfast in September.

Best wishes

Roger Ackroyd
BOMSS Honorary Secretary