World Gastroenterology Organisation (WGO) - Global Guardian of Digestive Health. Serving the World.

50th Anniversary of the WGO

WGO 50th AnniversaryWith its roots going back to 1935 (1st International Congress of Gastroenterology, Brussels) the World Gastroenterology Organisation was incorporated on 29 May 1958, with the mission to increase public awareness of, and to improve, education and training in digestive disorders.

In celebration of WGO’s 50th Anniversary, a multitude of special events were planned and carried out. They are all listed below. In addition, WGO is pleased to announce the establishment of the new WGO Foundation, which also launched two new fundraising campaigns: the Global Mentor Fund Campaign and the Future Fund Campaign which will help to secure the future of global training and education for the next generation.

Events:

  • WGO 50th Anniversary Celebration

Campaigns:

  • Global Mentor Fund Every year the WGO Foundation will honour and celebrate Mentors who have made significant contributions to gastroenterology on a global scale. A special WGO Global Mentor Fund has been established. This is an opportunity for former students, colleagues and trainees to honour their own Mentors and at the same time make a meaningful contribution to the future of gastroenterology in developing low-resource countries. Read more »  » details [ « close this section ]
  • Future Fund In order to ensure the future of WGO’s training and education programs, especially in developing low-resource countries, the WGO has set a goal to raise donations and/or pledges of $25 million USD during 2008 leading up to Gastro 2009 in London. Read more »  » details [ « close this section ]

Publications:

  • WGN Anniversary Edition WGO released a commemorative edition of World Gastroenterology News, in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of WGO. This special publication contains rarely seen material from the WGO archives, messages for the future of gastroenterology from the WGO President, Eamonn Quigley and the Director of the new WGO Foundation, Bernard Levin, and important information about how WGO is working to improve global digestive health through its education and training programs and facilities: Train the Trainers workshops and WGO’s thirteen Training Centres. Access past issues of WGN »  » details [ « close this section ]
  • Touch Briefings Series WGO has partnered with Touch Briefings, a world-renowned medical publisher to publish a series of articles and advertisements about WGO’s 50th Anniversary. The five part series will be highlighted throughout 2008 in: US Gastroenterology Review, European Gastroenterology Review and Asian Gastroenterology Review.
    Visit the Touch Briefings website »      » details [ « close this section ]

Symposia/Conferences:

  • 1st African/Middle East Conference on Digestive Oncology Date: Feb 1-2, 2008
    WGO and IDCA were pleased to present this landmark conference which was the first of an annual series. The conference included State-of-the-art lectures, a postgraduate course, interactive discussions and a pan-African live demonstration. The language of the congress was English and a simultaneous French translation was also available. Read more »      » details [ « close this section ]
  • DDW Symposium Training the Gastroenterologist of the Future: May 21, 2008, San Diego 8:30 - 10:00 am
    Open to all DDW attendees, WGO hosted this special symposium which addressed vital educational and training issues in gastroenterology.
    Full program » ( PDF file format )
    View presentations here »      » details [ « close this section ]
  • UEGW Symposium
  • AIGE Symposium

Special Activities :

  • Training Center Launches: Brazil, Colombia, Fiji, Mexico
  • World Digestive Health Day/Year On May 29, 2008 WGO launched its annual world digestive health campaign: Optimal Nutrition in Digestive Health and Disease in collaboration with Danone.

    Throughout the year, this collaboration resulted in a number of projects and events which will highlight the roles of good nutrition in maintaining digestive health and in dietary factors in digestive disorders.

    Activities:
    - publication of the original findings of a 20 country study headed by Dr. Alan Walker (Harvard University Medical School) into Map Digestive Disorders (MDD) for reference by nutritional scientists and the media. » Map of Digestive Disorders
    - publication of nutritional recommendations to improve health and reduce MDD developed by a WGO Scientific Task Force for reference by consumers and healthcare/nutritional professionals. » 10 Nutritional Recommendations
    - publication of one WGO Global Guidelines on Probiotics and Prebiotics. » View Guideline here
    - a special World Gastroenterology News supplement and E-News on Nutrition and Probiotics in Digestive Health. » View E-Newsletter here
    - emphasising the theme as part of the curriculum in all nine postgraduate training centres throughout the world      » details [ « close this section ]
  • Congress Booth at DDW, UEGW, APAGE
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