Welcome note from Honorary Secretary / Local Organiser

The AUGIS Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) in Nottingham promises to be an exciting meeting in the World class venue of the East Midlands Conference Centre, on the Nottingham University Campus.  There is accommodation available at the conference centre in the university halls which will also allow free access to the University sports halls, gym and swimming pool – all within 100 metres of the conference centre.  With plenty of parking and access to Junction 25 of the M1 only 3 miles away the ASM conference registration and accommodation package offers easy access and great value. 

Alternatively first class hotel accommodation is available in Nottingham City Centre which benefits from proximity to the train station and the conference dinner.  A coach shuttle will operate between the major hotels and the conference centre, as well as the conference centre and conference dinner venue.

The conference reception will be held at Nottingham Castle and is open to all.  The Annual Conference Dinner will be held following the drinks reception in The Long Gallery at Nottingham Castle featuring topical local foods – we are limited to 200 people and tickets are likely to sell out long before the conference starts – so get your orders in early!

The programme has something for everybody – exploring the boundaries between specialist and generalist operations (who should do cholecystectomies, gastric bands and fundoplications?), how to introduce new procedures (including from minimally invasive liver surgery, oesophagectomy and robotic surgery). Day 2 will have parallel sessions for HPB and OG/Bariatric Surgery.  International speakers include Professor Ronnie Poon (Hong Kong), Dr Steven Strasberg (St Louis), Dr Phil Schauer (Cleveland) and Professor Giulianotti (Chicago).  Topics include the operation of choice after failed Gastric bypass; Surgical and Biological treatments for Hepatocellular Carcinoma; minimally invasive gastrectomy and the role of robotics in upper GI surgery.  There will be plenary papers, posters and the now well established Affiliates meeting on the first day.  With fees held at last year’s prices and heavily discounted for Affiliates and Associates we would encourage you to bring along other members of your hospital team to the meeting.  The meeting will finish with what promises to be a highly entertaining James IV lecture by Professor Hugh Barr and will end at 3pm prompt with free coaches back to the train station, conference hotels and airport.

On the Wednesday before the main meeting AUGIS will be holding a Trainees day at the Trent Simulation and Skills Centre on the Queens Medical Centre Campus adjacent to the University.  This will feature interactive simulator sessions, laparoscopic workshops, hands on trauma work with afternoon tutorials with AUGIS council members and faculty exploring all aspects of UGI surgery and a bonus session on “How to win the final fellowship prize”.  The event is sponsored by our Platinum Sponsors, (Covidien and Ethicon Endo-Surgery) and with limited spaces will be sold out very quickly.  It is open to all AUGIS Associate members attending the meeting and University accommodation will be also be available for this event.

So the message is book early to get the best rates and to take advantage of all the functions and facilities – and encourage your Trainees, Nurses and Dieticians to come along to what promises to be one of our best meetings yet.

Mr Ian Beckingham
Honorary Secretary, AUGIS