The ASCRS Annual Meeting in Vancouver was a huge success, attracting a record 2,468 registrants, including 1,478 physicians. It was the largest “stand alone” meeting in ASCRS history, excluding Tripartite meetings.

The venue, on the waterfront with mountains in the background, was a delight, and the program delivered on its promise of providing something for everyone in every type of colon and rectal surgery practice—individual or small group community practice, multispecialty clinic, or academic.

Outgoing President Dr. David Beck presents Annual Meeting Chair Dr. Charles Whitlow with a plaque of appreciation.

“We had excellent content, and that’s the key to making the ASCRS meeting one colorectal surgeons don’t want to miss. However, content is only part of what delivers a rewarding, worthwhile educational experience,” Program Chair Dr. Charles Whitlow, New Orleans, LA , says.

“Our meeting afforded an exceptional opportunity to interact with people from all corners of the globe to get a unique viewpoint on different practice techniques and approaches. I am very proud of all the work everybody did to produce this outstanding educational opportunity,” Dr. Whitlow says.

Highlights of the scientific program included an exciting multidisciplinary session on advanced rectal cancer, a comprehensive review of surgery for ulcerative colitis, and a timely symposium on how the world’s leading experts approach the “bane” of the colorectal surgeon—anastomotic leaks.

The Annual Meeting’s educational opportunities went beyond the scientific to critical practice management issues, such as navigating the shift to electronic patient recordkeeping and better understanding how healthcare reform is changing medicine. It featured a unique Canadian perspective on the host country’s healthcare system

One of the hot issues in clinical practice is moving to electronic medical records to improve efficiency. To prepare for the future, Drs. Brooke Gurland, Cleveland, OH, and Genevieve Melton-Meaux, Minneapolis, MN, directed a program, “Leveraging Health Information Technology for Colorectal Surgery.” It provided a blueprint for action under the federal directives that will mandate a shift to electronic recordkeeping.

A corollary concern is finding straight answers to many questions about the healthcare reform law Congress passed last year. Dr. David Margolin, New Orleans, long one of the Society’s leaders in this area, directed a program entitled “Healthcare Economics—Impact of the Changing Healthcare Environment on Colon and Rectal Surgeons.” It included an insider’s look at how the Canadian system works by Dr. Hartley Stern, Montreal, QC, Canada.

Some Annual Meeting photo highlights

The 2010-11 ASCRS Executive Council (front, left to right):  Drs. Judith L. Trudell (Vice President), Charles E. Littlejohn (Secretary), Outgoing President David E. Beck, Incoming President Steven D. Wexner, Past President James W. Fleshman; (top, left to right) Drs. José G. Guillem, Julio Garcia-Aguilar (Research Foundation President), Guy R. Orangio, Michael E. Abel, Janice F. Rafferty, and Robert D. Madoff.  Dr. Alan G. Thorson (Treasurer), and Dr. Mark L. Welton, not in photo.

ASCRS Past Presidents (front, left to right): Drs. Stanley Goldberg, David Schoetz, David Beck, Victor Fazio, Ann Lowry, Malcom Veidenheimer; (second row, left to right) Drs. Anthony Senagore, Eugene Salvati, John MacKeigan, Herand Abcarian, Robert Beart, Lee Smith, David Rothenberger; (top row, left to right): Drs. Philip Gordon, Lester Rosen, James Fleshman, H. Randolph Bailey, Richard Billingham.

Drs. Patricia Senagore, Scott Strong, and Mrs. Mary Strong chat at the reception.

Dr. Eugene Salvati socializes with Dr. Susan Stein.

Past Presidents Drs. David Schoetz and Bruce Wolff enjoy a reunion, with Mrs. Vikki Wolff.

Society Vice President Dr. Judith Trudell with Dr. Scott Steele, a Lt. Colonel in the U.S. Army.