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The Portuguese Hernia and Abdominal Wall Society is a national non-profit association
established on September 27th, 2019, by a group of young surgeons from across Portugal. They recognised the importance of focusing on hernia surgery and felt that a multidisciplinary approach was essential. Their primary objectives include advancing hernia surgery based on current evidence, promoting knowledge sharing, and facilitating training opportunities nationwide.
The society's main aims are to:
- Encourage the development of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery in Portugal;
- Develop a spirit of solidarity among its associates for the exercise of common rights and obligations;
- Promote training and quality of surgical treatment of Hernia and Abdominal Wall;
- Promote clinical research in the field of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery and disseminate these results;
- Organize meetings, seminars, conferences, or scientific congresses;
- Advise on the planning and development of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery Units;
- Promote participation in congresses and seminars for its members, either nationally or abroad;
- Obtain funds to achieve its objectives;
- Develop a multidisciplinary forum for the development of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery.
Since 2021, SPH has been hosting an annual gathering featuring sessions focused on key topics in hernia care. These themes, including Inguinal Hernia, Ventral Hernia, Complex Hernia, Parastomal Hernia, Hiatal Hernia, Multidisciplinarity in Hernia Care, and Education in Hernia Care, may vary slightly from year to year. Each gathering has attracted between 146 and 198 participants, indicating growing interest within the Portuguese surgical community. We also innovated by starting a very successful pre-congress course on abdominal wall radiology. Moreover, we have observed a rise in the number of abstract submissions (from 30 in 2023 to over 60 this year), providing opportunities to showcase the diverse work conducted across the country.
The SPH's board is composed of three distinct parts:
- General Assembly
- President: Rogério Senhorinho, General Surgery Assistant (Hospital do Espírito Santo, Évora)
- Secretary: Ana Rita Falcão, General Surgery Consultant (Hospital de Torres Vedras)
Members of the General Assembly - Carmen Maillo, General Surgery Consultant, EHS Wing for Congresses (Hospital dos Lusíadas Lisboa)
- Ana Marta Pereira, General Surgery Consultant (Hospital de Santa Maria da Feira)
- Pedro Botelho, General Surgery Assistant (Hospital Curry Cabral, Lisboa)
- Board of Directors
- President: Gabriel Paiva de Oliveira, General Surgery Consultant (Hospital Garcia de Orta, Almada and Hospital dos Lusíadas Lisboa)
- Secretary: André Oliva, General Surgery Consultant (University Hospital of Coimbra)
- Treasurer: António Ferreira, General Surgery Consultant (Hospital de Vila Nova de Gaia)
Members of the board of Directors - Sónia Ribas, General Surgery Consultant, EHS Secretary for Publications (Centro Hospitalar Póvoa de Varzim-Vila do Conde, Hospital Lusíadas Braga)
- Ricardo Souto, General Surgery Consultant (Hospital de Cascais)
- Sílvia Neves, General Surgery Consultant (Centro Integrado de Cirurgia do Ambulatório, Hospital of Santo António - ULSA, Oporto)
- Audit Committee
- President: Manuel Mega, General Surgery Consultant (Hospital Amato Lusitano, Castelo Branco)
- Secretary: Gilberto Figueiredo, General Surgery Consultant (Hospital de Leiria)
Members of the Audit Committee - Raquel Sanchez, General Surgery Assistant (Hospital do Espírito Santo, Évora)
- João Pinho, General Surgery Assistant (Hospital da Figueira da Foz)
We also attribute the status of Honorary Member to professionals for their value and relevance in the field of hernia care. We have seven honorary members so far:
- Prof. René Fortelny
- Prof. António Bernardes
- Prof. Marja Boermeester
- Prof. Augusto Lourenço
- Dr. Rui Soares da Costa
- Dr. Fernando Ferreira
- Prof. Manuel Lopez Cano
And we expect two more in this year’s gathering.