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SURGICON is an INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS organized by the Romanian Student Society of Surgery. The first edition will take place during 24th October - 27th October 2019 in Bucharest, Romania.
Over the time, hands-on workshops became our hallmark - but we’re not stopping at the basics! Today, we cover every surgical field, from both a theoretical and a practical perspective! Workshops, conferences, scientific sessions, debates & contests - you name it and we provide it!
We intend to put Romania on the map of the medical world! We are expecting over 400 participants & over 200 volunteers, we are organising over 40 hands-on workshops, we are inviting over 12 speakers & 4 keynote speakers in order to follow the passion which unites us all: surgery! If, as well, this is what lights your fire, SURGICON is the place to be and the feeling to embrace!
It all started more than a decade ago, with a group of no more than 5 students who believed in one thing: hands-on education! Today, our family comprises over 600 students throughout Romania! We deeply care for our values and we work hard for our mission to become reality! Join our cause now!
World-renowned surgeons will focus their talks on research perspectives in surgery
and challenges faced on the road to becoming a successful practitioner
Ottavio Alfieri, MD, PhD
Professor of Cardiac Surgery, Chief of the Department of Cardiac Surgery
When the mitral valve becomes dysfunctional, be it through stenosis or regurgitation, a question arises: to repair or to replace?
The recipient of the 2018 European Society of Cardiology Gold Medal, Ottavio Alfieri MD, PhD, Professor of Cardiac Surgery and Chief of the Department of Cardiac Surgery at ‘San Raffaele’ University Hospital, Milan, is not only an accomplished surgeon and researcher - with over 15.000 patients and 600 peer-reviewed papers - but also a pioneer in the field of mitral valve insufficiency treatment, and an advocate of surgical repair over replacement.
His ‘edge-to-edge’ technique, also known as ‘Alfieri stitch’, is both a simple, elegant solution for mitral valve repair, and the basis of the currently most used type of percutaneous correction of mitral regurgitation!
During his career, Dr. Alfieri has been a mentor to numerous enthusiasts of cardiovascular surgery, some of which have went on to become themselves world-renown surgeons in this field.
At SURGICON 2019, the professor will delve deeper into the intricacies of mitral valve pathology, tackling the variety of treatment modalities in the context of their rapid evolution. This will give us a unique opportunity to take a glimpse into the past and future of cardiac surgery, through the eyes of one its most distinguished practitioners!
Henri Steyaert, MD, PhD
Professor of Pediatric Surgery, University of Oxford Head of Pediatric Surgery Department; Clinical Head of Surgery
When a child’s life is in danger, his whole future stays in the hands of a doctor who must use the best techniques, keeping in mind that children are not "little adults", and find the best solution accordingly.
Dr. Henri Steyaert, president of the European Society of Pediatric Endoscopic Surgeons (ESPES), has over 30 years of experience in the field of pediatric surgery. One of its objectives is to adapt minimally-invasive surgery for young patients in need, as the results obtained from studies on adults cannot be translated to children. He has also pioneered new techniques dedicated to pediatric patients exclusively, for example in surgical oncology and urology.
He has published over 120 peer-reviewed articles, he's been the chief of the Pediatric Surgery Department of Queen Fabiola Children's University Hospital in Brussels, Belgium and holds trainings and conferences for doctors and medical students worldwide.
Passion, ambition and hard work have driven him through his entire career and continue to do so, being an inspiration for all students at the beginning of their road towards becoming a successful surgeon and not only.
Victor Volovici, MD, PhD(c)
Neurosurgeon at Erasmus University Medical Center (IM delegate for the EANS, Co-Chairman of the EANS Microneurosurgery Course)
We believe that initiative is the key to many doors in the medical field, besides hard work and curiosity, and dr. Victor Volovici confirms it! In 2013 he was a part of the organising committee of the first edition of the Neurosurgical Masterclass in Cluj-Napoca, which reached its 7th edition this year, because, as he says, "there's nothing compared to what you learn from the actual surgery."
Victor Volovici, MD, PhD(c), alumnus of the "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, is now a neurosurgeon at Erasmus University Medical Center from Rotterdam, Netherlands. The dutch center is considered to be the best European institution in clinical medicine!
As the avid researcher he is, his studies focus on microsurgery and vascular neurosurgery. He has devised the "double stitch everting technique" as a modification of the end-to-side anastomosis, resulting in reduced time and increased efficiency!
He is a pioneer of the microsurgery training field, demonstrating the superiority of the flower petal system over the chicken leg training.
Tim Goodacre MBBS FRCS
Professor of Plastic Surgery, Oxford Radcliffe University Hospital; Vice President of EBOPRAS
Last but certainly not least, Keynote Speaker Tim Goodacre MBBS FRCS brings the list of SURGICON 2019's conferences to an end! 💯
Dr. Tim Goodacre is a plastic surgeon with an Honorary contract at the Oxford University Hospitals, Former President of the British Association of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons in 2011 and currently serves on the Royal College of Surgeons Council as BAPRAS elected representative.
His interest in plastic surgery was stimulated while in training as a general surgeon, continuing his work on head and neck and cleft care, running the craniofacial team. 👨⚕️ Furthermore, his academic interests have developed across the spectrum of reconstructive plastic surgery.
He is involved in many research projects, including the development of novel tissue expanders for paediatric word and the evaluation of role of early psychological intervention in cleft management. 👶 Throughout Dr. Goodacre’s career, he kept a close interest in the development of reconstructive plastic surgery in the world, especially in Africa. 🌍
He spreads happiness and joy, not only by advancing and enjoying the practice of plastic surgery, but also by his passion for non-medical fields like opera, cricket or football. ⚽️
Ferdinand Waldenberger, MD, PhD
Professor of Cardiac Surgery, Chief of the Department of Cardiac Surgery
🔸 Part of the team who performed the first-ever heart transplant in Austria, in 1984 ✔
🔸 Responsible for the first-ever successful heart transplant on a newborn in Houston, Texas ✔
🔸 Professor of Cardiac Surgery, Chair Health Economics and Organizational Ethics, 'Sigmund Freud' University, Vienna
Ferdinand R. Waldenberger, M.D, Ph.D. is a prominent worldwide figure in surgery. Some of his career highlights include numerous artificial heart implants, complex surgeries on the aortic arch with selective cerebral perfusion and in Berlin, 1997, the first bypass surgery on a beating heart in a German-speaking country.
His career also includes charitable activities such as numerous operations in Sudan and Yemen, where he performed various surgeries. He is also famous for an impressive TEDx Talk where he tackled 'The ethical dilemma of a heart surgeon'.
Currently, Ferdinand R. Waldenberger, is the Hospital Director of General Hospital Klinikum Klagenfurt, Austria and also a Professor at 'Siegmund Freud' Private University
Dan Mircea Enescu, MD, PhD
Professor of Pediatric Plastic Surgery, Romanian Academy member
Being the founding father of Paediatric Plastic Surgery in Romania is impressive on its own 👶🏼, but for Prof. Dan Mircea Enescu MD, PhD is just one achievement from a long list of outstanding feats.
A world-renowned expert in the management of burns in children, inventor of topic antibiotics for the treatment of burnt-patients, inventor of the Transplant-Banks for Skin and Pancreas and the recipient of the 1999 'World Saloon for Inventions, Research and Industrial Innovation Silver Medal', Prof. Enescu believes his greatest achievement is playing a 🗝 role in the training of students and young doctors.
His involvement in the medical field did not stop at Romanian’s border, taking part in EUROCRAN, EUROCLEFT and Operation SMILE – an international quest in the treatment of the cleft lip and palate.
Besides his excellent surgical skills, outside the operation room, prof. Enescu is an excellent manager, transforming the century-old 'Grigore Alexandrescu' Hospital into a modern facility which allows high class surgery and becoming one of the best European hospitals. 🔝
Paul R.V. Johnson, MD, PhD
Professor of Pediatric Surgery; Director of the Oxford Islet Isolation and Transplantation Programmes
The ultimate goal of making pancreatic islet transplantation applicable to children? Sounds promising and impressive at the same time! 👏🏻
Director of the Oxford Islet Isolation and Transplantation Programmes and Professor of Paediatric Surgery, Prof. Dr. Paul R. V. Johnson of John Radcliffe Hospital, England, leads an active research group encompassing basic, translational and clinical research.
His research specifically focuses on two major factors:
✔understanding the molecular structure and interactions of the pancreatic matrix and
✔ developing strategies for islet immunoisolation.
Prof. Johnson is Immediate Past-President of the International Pancreas and Islet Transplant Association (IPITA). He has chaired several Research Advisory Boards, including those of the British Association of Paediatric Surgeons, DRWF UK, DRWF Sweden and the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Him coming to Romania and joining our congress is a unique opportunity to sneak peek into such extensive research, as well as to learn about the intricate principles of pancreas transplantation! 🔍
Viorel Ibric-Cioranu D.M.D., M.D., Ph.D
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon, Euroclinic Hospital Bucharest; Former President of the Romanian Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Society; Professor at the Faculty of Medicine,
Can you imagine having an MD not being enough to do surgery?
Well, in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, you need to be two times Doctor (in Medicine and Dentistry!) to be able to operate. This only emphasises the difficulty and the knowledge needed to treat the pathology of this surgical field correctly.
Prof. Viorel Ibric-Cioranu DMD, MD, PhD, is one of the leading Romanian experts in OMFS, with over 40 years of experience, specializing in the tumor resections, mandibular reconstructions and implantology.
Being the author of over 40 fully-published articles, having more than 200 national and international congress participations and being a former President of the Romanian Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Society makes prof. Ibric one of the best European OMFS surgeons.
Attending his presentation at SURGICON will give you a better perspective into the complexity of the cranio-facial area and might add a fee more years to your undergraduate studies!
Cătălin Copăescu MD, PhD
Head of the the Gastrointestinal Minimally Invasive and Bariatric Surgery Department, Ponderas Academic Hospital, Bucharest Director of the Bariatric Center of Excellence, Ponderas Academic Hospital, Bucharest Executive Director of the Bucharest Surg
Saying that Prof. Dr. Copăescu’s accomplishments are extraordinary would be an understatement.
His career is defined by a lot of firsts for Romania. The most remarkable of them are: first laparoscopic bariatric surgery performed in Romania, the first clinic in South-East Europe dedicated entirely to bariatric surgery, first bariatric surgery performed laparoscopically in Romania to be transmitted live to an international congress: the 22nd Congress of Digestive Surgery in Rome.
He is also the first and only Surgeon of Excellence in Romania in metabolic and bariatric surgery, having double certification: European (from the International Federation for Obesity Surgery) and American (from the Surgical Review Corporation).
To learn more about Prof. Dr. Copaescu’s career path, join us at SURGICON 2019 to find inspiration and mentorship!
Ionuț Gobej MD
Neurosurgery Department, Ponderas Academic Hospital, Bucharest Founder of the Neurosurgery Department at Colentina Clinical Hospital
After several specializations at prestigious hospitals in France, Doctor Ionuț Gobej is one of the neurosurgeons that pushes the state of Romanian neurosurgery to new heights.
A passionate adept of keyhole surgery, Dr. Gobej chooses to operate the majority of cranial afflictions, from tumors to vascular malformations, using minimally-invasive techniques. In addition, he is one of the few surgeons in the world to practise endoscopic spinal surgery.
After his return to Romania, he founded the Neurosurgery Unit of Colentina Hospital and was its leader for three years. He then partnered with his colleague, Doctor Dorin Bica, to implement the Neurohope project. The NGO aims to facilitate the progress of romanian neurosurgery, through head hunting and by sponsoring medical students and young doctors to expand their knowledge and skills in this ever-evolving field. Doctor Gobej currently works at Ponderas Academic Hospital.
Luminița Teodorescu MD
Associate Founding Member and primary physician at OFTALMIX SOP Medical Clinic Bucharest Vice-President and Founding Member of the Romanian Society of Strabismology and Paediatric Ophtalmology
Luminița Teodorescu MD is one of the leading ophthalmological experts in Romania, with more than 30 years of experience in this field. She is also one of the founding members of SRSOP (Romanian Society of Strabismlogy and Paediatric Ophtalmology) and also Founding Member of the OFTALMIX SOP Medical Clinic Bucharest.
With over 60 improvement courses, 30+ presented papers, 15 fully-published articles and 15 courses organised by her, it’s safe to say that Dr. Luminita Teodorescu is not only a professional but also an enthusiast in academic development.
Simona Dima MD, PhD
General Surgery, First Grade Scientific Researcher President of the Scientific Council, Fundeni Clinical Institute Research Coordinator of Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation Center, Fundeni Clinical Institute
Liver transplantation is the accepted standard of care for end-stage liver disease due to a variety of etiologies.
The research coordinator of Digestive Diseases and Liver Transplantation Center and President of Scientific Council, Simona Dima MD, PhD, of Fundeni Clinical Institute, has an impressive number of publications regarding general surgery!
Dr. Simona Dima has done several trainings such as Training in “The Islet cell transplantation, course and basic research for islet isolation, purification, islet culture, cryopreservation” in Southern California Islet Cell Resources Center, Departments of Diabetes at the City of Hope National Medical Center Duarte, California. Furthermore, she did a fellowship in pancreas transplantation - Diabetes Institute for Immunology and Transplantation, University of Minnesota.
At SURGICON 2019, attending her presentation will give you a better perspective into liver transplantation and enhance your curiosity about this subject.
Octavian Munteanu MD, PhD
Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Emergency Hospital of Bucharest; Member of Romanian Gynaecological Endocrinology Society; Member of Rmanian Obstetric and Gynaecology Society; Member of Romanian Anatomy Society
As a doctor, every procedure you perform carries certain potential unpleasant side effects, and it should be everyone’s goal to maximize the healing effect, while minimizing the risks.
In order to do that, Octavian Munteanu MD, PhD proposes an insight in one of the distresses in gynecological surgery, in an attempt to familiarize the audience with the best approach in dealing with it and assuring the best outcomes for the patients.
Having actively participated in many congresses and working with students as an Assistant Lecturer in the ‘Carol Davila’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Anatomy Department, he is highly engaged in medical education and has a high interest in sharing his knowledge with the future surgeons-to-be.
We will host over 37 types of hands-on surgical workshops. More coming soon!
Concerning one of the most tempting surgical fields for many medical students, this workshop’s aim is to help you get familiar with the main techniques and materials used in tracheostomy and different types of pulmonary resections and sutures. You will also learn how to insert a tube into an obstructed windpipe and how to properly perform the basic procedures.
This workshop will teach you about the surgical approach in intestinal anastomosis using mechanical sutures, while also comparing them to the classical manual ones. The hands-on part will consist of practicing on biological material using circular and linear intestinal staplers.
As its name suggests, this workshop will focus on the orthopaedic management and treatment of fractures. You will get acquainted with the most common types of limb fractures and the indications of casts and splints for their respective treatment. You will also get the chance to place casts and splints for both upper and lower limb fractures
Our workshop will cover the fundamentals of the vaginal hysterectomy, as it is a commonly performed procedure in gynaecology. This procedure is used for treating conditions such as endometriosis, fibroids or prolapse. You will learn about the anatomy, and discuss the types of hysterectomies. You will perform the techniques involved in this procedure, but also simulate the transvaginal approach.
This workshop will present the main surgical techniques used in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, with a focus on: marginal mandibular resection, bone graft reconstruction and various flaps. You will get familiar with the specific instruments, discuss the principles and approaches in OMF surgery.
This workshop will present the key principles behind bowel surgery. You will become familiar with the principles of mesenteric dissection, enterectomy, as well as different types of manual intestinal anastomoses and the various situations in which they can be applied. During the practical part, you will perform a termino-terminal anastomosis.
This workshop is meant to teach you the basics behind the most frequent gynaecologic surgical interventions. You will get familiar with specific instruments and you will get the chance to openly discuss the principles and approaches in gynaecological surgery. Afterwards, you will perform an ovariectomy, an excision of a uterine fibroid and a hysterorrhaphy.
At this workshop, you will become familiar with the specific surgical instruments used in aesthetic surgery and you will discuss operative techniques (such as rhinoplasty, facelift, liposuction) supported by preoperative and postoperative images. You will also get the chance to learn the steps for the breast augmentation procedure and to perform it on biological material.
This workshop will sum up some of the most important aspects and procedures in the field of kidney surgery. First, you will discuss frequent procedures used in urology, but you will focus mainly on the kidney. Then, you will learn how to perform a partial nephrectomy, pyeloplasty and other techniques pertaining to this field.
This workshop will present the key principles behind thyroid surgery. You will discuss the surgical approach of thyroid pathology and learn the indications for thyroid surgery. You will get to perform vascular hemostasis, subtotal thyroidectomy, coniotomy with the principles of tracheostomy and ligatures of the main branches of the thyroid artery.
This plastics’ workshop will collect the most frequent procedures performed, while focusing mainly on skin reconstruction. You will get familiar with the specific surgical instruments used in the field. You will also learn how to manage a surgical wound and how to perform a rotation flap, a bilobed flap and an advancement flap.
This workshop will establish the key principles behind microsurgical anastomoses. You will discuss basic and advanced microsurgery notions and instruments. You will have the opportunity to perform an end-to-end vascular anastomosis under the microscope. Please take note that elementary knowledge and previous practice in microsurgery is essential for the successful outcomeof this workshop.
For those of you who take an interest in ENT, this workshop will give you the chance to learn about some procedures and instruments used in septoplasty. You will simulate this intervention and correct any defects or deformities of the nasal septum using biological material.
This workshop will simulate arterial graft harvesting from biological material using no-touch technique. Participants will be familiarized with the incision and the dissection of the biological material, ligature of the collateral vessels, and arteriotomy. Then, the participants will simulate the closing of the patients using multiple-layers sutures.
This workshop will present basic principles of Ophthalmology, from eye anatomy and specific instruments to clinical evaluations techniques and basic ophthalmic surgery skills. You will get the chance to perform comprehensive eye examinations, as well as a corneal replacement procedure. The basics of cataract surgery will also be a part of the workshop.
This workshop focuses on an important part of plastic surgery: tendon reconstruction. At first, you will get acquainted with the specific instruments used in plastic surgery. Then, you will learn how to manage a surgical wound and how to perform tendon sutures.
Hepatic resections are performed as a part of the surgical management for benign or malignant pathologies of the liver, while most of them are primary or secondary liver tumors. With the aid of this workshop, you will learn about the different types of hepatic resections, recall some of the liver anatomy and even test your knowledge of the hepatic blood supply and distribution. After laying the theoretical foundation, you will perform typical and atypical hepatic resections, and you will also become more familiar with the Pringle manoeuvre.
This is one of the workshops you need to attend in case you are just entering the surgical field, as you will become familiar with the main surgical instruments, learn how to manage a surgical wound and practice elementary surgical procedures such as different types of knots, incisions and several types of sutures (continuous and discontinuous), as well as indications on when to perform each of them.
The aim of this workshop is to establish the baseline in radius fractures and their types of treatment. You will learn the different fracture patterns, the surgical treatment and the steps of the surgical techniques followed in the O.R. and post-operative care. You will also get the chance to practice what you’ve learned by stabilizing a radius shaft fracture with plates and screws.
A general surgeon will mainly perform a total resection of the stomach (gastroectomy) for treating Zollinger-Ellison syndrome and for gastric cancer. With this workshop, you will find out more about the open variety of this procedure, as well as about the alternatives and the challenges of putting the digestive track back together. After covering the theoretical part, you will have the chance to do a total gastrectomy and then a reconstructive procedure, using the omega-loop gastric bypass technique.
Welcome to the future! Along with our partners from SofMedica, our team organises a workshop on robot-assisted surgery, the last border conquered in surgery. You'll get to see a live demonstration on how to operate with the help of a robot, with theoretical information on every step. Come and meet Da Vinci!
In this workshop, you will learn the basic principles of craniotomy, which is a surgical procedure that involves the removal of a part of the skull. This procedure may be performed to treat brain tumors, hematomas or aneurysms. You will also become familiar with the specific neurosurgical instruments and be able to perform a craniotomy.
This workshop gives you the chance to dissect and analyse the anatomical structure of the heart, and to observe its vasculature, as well as its anatomical variants.
As the fielld of microsurgery is rapidly developing, this workshop will present some of its key principles. You will have the opportunity to discuss basic microsurgery notions and specific instruments. You will get the chance to perform sutures under the microscope on a range of materials, such as Sun Lee discs, leaves and petals.
Whether the patient has a gastric ulcer or is suffering from obesity, you have to initiate his/her management by thinking of the best approach to the stomach. If you want to find out the basics of gastric surgery, gastric resections and stomach pathologies, this workshop is just the one for you. As a participant, you will have the chance to learn how to perform gastric sutures, bulbantrectomies, and Bilroth I & II procedures.
This workshop will present the key principles behind trauma and resectional hepatic surgery. You will become familiar with the relevant anatomy, main surgical instruments, surgical approaches of the liver and hepatic hilum, types and principles of liver resections, as well as assessment and management of liver trauma. You will also practice surgical liver hemostasis maneuvers and perform typical and atypical hepatic resections.
This workshop will present you the key principles behind vascular surgery. You will learn the special instruments used in vascular surgery and how to perform different procedures such as arteriotomy, arteriorrhaphy and angioplasty, as well as vascular anastomoses, and study the main indications for vascular surgery.
This workshop will teach you how to perform some of the most frequent procedures in cardiovascular surgery, with a focus on coronary bypass. You will discuss the surgical approach of the heart, become familiar with the special instruments used in cardiovascular surgery, learn about extracorporeal circulation and bypass procedures and perform a coronary bypass yourself.
Laparoscopic surgery allows for faster recovery time, less pain and smaller scars than open surgery. Our workshop approaches the fundamentals of laparoscopic sugery, covering the basic principles, ergonomics, preoperative and postoperative considerations. You will have the chance to practice the instrument and camera handling, knot-tying, dissection and suturing techniques, on pegboards and on biological material.
This workshop will teach you how to perform some of the most frequent procedures in cardiovascular surgery, with a focus on heart valve surgery. You will discuss the surgical approach to the heart, become familiar with special instruments used in cardiovascular surgery, learn about extracorporeal circulation, prosthetic heart valves and perform a valve implantation.
This workshop will teach you the basic steps a surgeon undergoes prior to entering the operating room. You will have the opportunity to learn about asepsis and antisepsis, the proper way to wash your hands before the surgery, how to put on your surgical coat and many more.
A digestive stoma is either a temporary or a permanent opening, created for treating several conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, bowel obstruction and even cancer. This workshop will present you the basic principles regarding ileostomy, gastrostomy and colostomy procedures. You will learn how to correctly manoeuvre an intestine, to observe its vascularisation and finally, the surgical approach for making a stoma. You will also learn about the post-operative complications that might accompany the ostomy procedure.
The aim of this workshop is to highlight the procedures performed on the upper digestive tract. In the begining you will learn some aspects of the pathologies in this field. The hands-on experience will consist of performing a gastrectomy, various types of fundoplication techniques used in the treatment of gastric reflux and many more.
This plastics’ workshop will establish the most frequent procedures performed, while focusing mainly on skin reconstruction. You will get familiar with the specific surgical instruments used in these procedures. You will also learn how to manage a surgical wound and how to perform a Z-plasty, W-plasty and V-Y-plasty.
This type of surgery represents the solution for many conditions and our workshop takes care of both the theoretical, and the practical part of deciding whether this is the best option for various kinds of patients. You will learn to perform the most frequent procedures in urology, with a focus on the urinary bladder. Our trainers will also teach you how to successfully perform ureteral reimplantations, cystorrhaphies and many other procedures.
The main part of this workshop is represented by the surgery techniques used in the treatment of herniated discs. You will also learn about laminectomy and the skeletonization of paravertebral muscles.
This workshop provides exposure to lung anatomy and dissection skills. Moreover, it encourages you to find out how our lungs move as we breath and to relate the structure of the lungs to how they work when we breath. At the end of the workshop, you will know to describe the look, colour and feel of the lungs, to explore the bronchi that enter the lung and how they divide.
