Alina Popescu & Christian Jenssen
Rarely has a congress been held under such unfavorable omens as the 33rd EUROSON in Timisoara together with the 18th WFUMB Congress, the 25th National Ultrasound Conference of the Romanian Ultrasound Society and the first WFUMB & EFSUMB Student Ultrasound Congress (STUC): no one knew for sure whether the Covid wave would actually subside in time. No one knew how many colleagues would make the journey to Romaniaa, neighboring Ukraine, where Russian troops are waging a war of extermination against the Ukraine nation. However, the admirable and unflinching optimism of the Romanian hosts, the diverse program with prominent and great speakers from all over the world was convincing: more than 1000 participants from 49 countries came to Timisoara, greeted by early summer weather, carried away by the great joy of seeing each other again and enjoying a "real" congress with personal encounters, and overwhelmed by the incredible hospitality of our Romanian friends. The numbers speak for themselves: this congress was highly successful and we were very happy to be co-presidents of this event together with Cristina Chammas (WFUMB) and Ioan Sporea (Romania).
Of course, one can never experience the whole congress, which took place in 8 lecture halls in the Timisoara Convention Center near the grandiose Opera House and in another two halls in the Regional Business Center (STUC). Nevertheless, we would like to share our personal highlights with you.
Oral original Research Presentations, May 26:
This was a real science marathon with 11 presentations in 2 hours. Almost all presenters were young: young physicians and researchers and medical students from 5 countries, most of them from Romania. The variety of topics was impressive, ranging from basic research (imaging with shear waves, generated by laser induced cavitation bubbles) to experimental clinical research (3D ultrasound ex vivo imaging of surgical specimens as a potential substitute for frozen sections; multiparametric ultrasound of liver parenchyma, thyroid gland and kidney transplants) to artificial intelligence for differentiation of benign and malignant renal tumors. Equally pleasing was the partly outstanding scientific quality of the contributions. Particularly stimulating was the lively discussion among the young researchers, which also took place at a high level. It was not easy for the jury to decide on the prize winners.
Ten Ukrainian Ultrasound Experts in Timisoara!
It was a special pleasure that ten Ukrainian EFSUMB members accepted the invitation to attend the congress. Some of them had to travel under very difficult conditions, such as Professor Oleg Dynnyk from Kyiv, who was one of the invited speakers. Iryna Bekalo had also come, from France, where she had fled with her family from Odessa. The EFSUMB awarded her the honorary fellowship, honoring not only Iryna's contribution to the development of ultrasound in Ukraine and her support of Ukrainian EFSUMB members who fled the war, but at the same time bowing to all Romanian colleagues who, sometimes at the risk of their lives, continue to care for their patients or, as refugees from abroad, support their fellow citizens and colleagues who remained in their homeland.
Special Lectures Session, EUROSON Congress, May 26:
Four ultrasound experts were honored with special lectures: for the first time a Turkish colleague, Professor Süha Süreyya Özbek from Izmir, held the EUROSON Lecture. For the first time two EUROSON lectures were presented in one year. And for the first time in EFSUMBs history an EUROSON lecture was held by a woman: Professor Maija Radzina from Latvia. The 17th DEGUM Lecture was delivered by a gynecologist: Professor Constantin von Kaisenberg from Hannover spoke about the DEGUM experience with the establishment and quality improvement of ultrasound guidelines, a topic that is also of great concern to us in the EFSUMB. My special favorite was the last special lecture, the Hans Henrik Holm lecture on Lung Ultrasound was given by Professor Christian Borbjerg Laursen in the presence of the first Hans Henrik Holm Laureate Christian Nolsoe (both Denmark). From all lecturers one could learn how to give didactically outstanding lectures in individually very different ways: with impressive aplomb, clear systematics, convincing statements, well-designed slides, clear language, a catchy lecture style, time discipline, and of course with great pictures.
The Opening Ceremony at the Opera House, May 26:
This was an evening of goosebump moments: the splendor of the freshly reconstructed architecture of the 1871 - 1875 neo-Renaissance style theater alone impressed the participants, who were greeted by saluting guardsmen in historical uniforms in front of the 1934 - 1936 neo-Byzantine style main portal. The whole evening radiated the joy of the Romanian hosts to welcome and literally embrace the European and worldwide ultrasound family in their country, in the city of flowers and cultural and national diversity, in Timisoara. A particularly emotional highlight was the awarding of Honorary Lifetime Membership to Professor Hassen Gharbi, Tunisia, by WFUMB President Professor Cristina Chammas. For me, it was a special honor to be presented with the EFSUMB Presidential Medal by Past President Professor Adrian Saftoiu (Romania). And finally, we were privileged to attend one of the rare performances of Ludwig van Beethoven's only ballet "The Creatures of Prometheus". That evening we all felt the overwhelming hospitality of our Romanian friends in a special way.
Presentations the WFUMB/Euroson 2022 Congress are now being released on Ultrasound Connections - Join free here to view >>