Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons
Formation1981
Typeprofessional association
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California
Location
Membership
6000+
Official language
English
President
C.Daniel Smith, M.D.
Key people
President-elect Jo Buyske, M.D.,
Past President Mark A. Talamini, M.D.

Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is a non-profit organization of surgeons.

SAGES describes itself thus:[1] SAGES represents a worldwide community of surgeons that can bring minimal access surgery, endoscopy and emerging techniques to patients in every country.

The mission of the Society is:

  • To provide leadership in surgery, particularly gastrointestinal and endoscopic sugery, to optimize patient care through education, research and innovation.

Publications edit

  • SCOPE: The Official SAGES Newsletter. Published Quaterly.
  • Mini-SCOPE: A quarterly e-newletter describing the Society's activities.
  • Surgical Endoscopy: The Official monthly journal of SAGES.

Milestones edit

1980

  • First organizing meeting

1981

  • The Society formally incorporates

1982

  • Preliminary statement on instrument cleaning.
  • Initiated a 40 member Resident Education Committee
  • Work began on SAGES first two major documents 1) Resident Training in Endoscopy 2) Granting Privileges.
  • An Instrument and Procedure Safety Committee was organized

1983

1984

  • Issued A Surgical Residency Guideline for Endoscopy
  • First colonoscopy model is developed
  • Second symposium held in concert with Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. 140 surgeons attended
  • A new management firm, now BSC Management, was hired

1985

  • SAGES earns a place at the American College of Surgeons table. Kenneth Forde, as our first Governor.
  • A decision to hold our own freestanding meeting the following year.

1986

  • SAGES first freestanding Scientific Session in Williamsburg. 110 adventurous surgeons attended. 11 brave members of industry exhibited.
  • SAGES 1st booth at the ACS Clinical Congress. Most frequently asked question: What IS SAGES?

1987

  • Issued Guidelines for Granting of Privileges for Surgeons in Flexible Endoscopy
  • Inaugurated the first Corporate Council

1988

  • With support from Springer Verlag, publisher of Surgical Endoscopy, the 1st World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery was held in Berlin, Germany
  • SAGES first Postgraduate Course was presented in 1988 at the San Antonio Meeting.
  • A Video Library was established

1989

  • SAGES Reaches 1,000 Members! Before the laparoscopic revolution.
  • Lap Chole is demonstrated by Jacques Perissat at the SAGES 1989 Meeting in Louisville. 100 surgeons stood in a crowded circle to watch the face of surgery transform.
  • Who should do laparoscopic cholecystectomy? SAGES published the first and most important statement on this topic in October, 1989. Surgeons who are able to perform the open procedure should do the procedure.

1990

  • The laparoscopic revolution ignited. SAGES undertook the mantle of leadership with its Training-the-Trainers Series of courses in 1990.
  • SAGES issued ”The Role of Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy --Guidelines for Clinical Application” i
  • SAGES also issued “Granting Of Privileges For Laparoscopic (Peritoneoscopic) General Surgery”. Some scientific order was brought to chaos.
  • SAGES conducted the first independent research study on Lap Chole. Taking almost one and a half years to complete, it tracked more than 2,500 cases
  • SAGES hosted the 2nd World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery in Atlanta in 1990. Attendance doubled!

1991

  • SAGES developed a process for course endorsement. The process is still flourishing.
  • Produced a document entitled: Summary Statement on Surgical Endoscopic Training and Practice.
  • SAGES began its long affiliation with Springer Verlag as the publisher of our official journal; Surgical Endoscopy
  • Published Guidelines for Office Endoscopic Services
  • Published Guidelines for Diagnostic Laparoscopy
  • More than 450 surgeons got their first hands-on introduction to laparoscopic suturing at the Monterey course

1992

  • SAGES Semi-Annual Resident Courses in Flexible Endoscopy were initiated .They have now trained more than 1,500 residents
  • SAGES Awards it first Research Grants.
  • Issued Guidelines for Training in Diagnostic and Therapeutic Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
  • The SAGES Lap Rappers were “born” at the Washington DC meeting, proving that the society had not only innovation, imagination, & courage, but a healthy sense of humor.

1993

  • Issued the milestone “ Framework For Post Residency Training”
  • First SAGES Preceptorship Registry was developed.
  • Phoenix Meeting set a new bar for incoming presidents

1994

  • SAGES became a CME granting organization.
  • Purchasing trends changed. SAGES created seminars for hospital materials managers (ASHMM)
  • Pioneer in Endoscopy Award is initiated

1995

  • SAGES first legislative education workshop for decision makers in Washington, DC .
  • First GI flexible endoscopy refresher course. More than 300 surgeons signed up.
  • Presented one of the first major telesurgery sessions as part of the annual meeting in Orlando.
  • SAGES initiates the Young Researcher Award - The first winner is now President Elect

1996

  • Published Guidelines for the Surgical Practice of Telemedicine.
  • SAGES became a member of the American Medical Association House of Delegates
  • Issued Guidelines for Collaborative Practice in Endoscopic / Thoracoscopic Spinal Surgery for the General Surgeon.
  • SAGES helped to organize an ad hoc meeting of fellowship coordinators
  • Hosted the 5th World Congress in Philadelphia. Largest meeting of its kind to date.

1997

  • With laparoscopic surgery now “the gold standard” for many operations, SAGES launched its Residency Integration Initiative
  • Presented our first Nurses Seminar in San Diego
  • Initiated first two advanced laparoscopic surgery courses for residents. One in Cincinnati and one in Connecticut.

1998

  • SAGES launched its Web Site. In ’98, 200 people per month visited the site. Now more than 70,000 people a month view it.
  • SAGES nominated Jeff Ponsky as its first member to the American Board of Surgery
  • Published its first definitive “how-to” manual on endoscopic surgery with Springer Verlag.
  • Patient Education Initiative was developed

1999

  • SAGES begins to develop FLS - Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery , a “Didactic Module and Manual Skills Test” including a CD Rom.
  • Initiates an outcomes registry which includes generic modules meaning that SAGES members can track ALL of their surgical cases in this module.
  • A colonoscopy prospective study tracked surgeons in more than 10,000 cases and proved, once and for all, that surgeons perform the procedure safely

2000

  • Primary Care Physician Education Initiative launched.
  • First webcast of portions of the annual meeting.
  • A new manual on the physiology of laparoscopy is put on the drawing boards
  • First joint meeting with IPEG (International Pediatric Endosurgery Group)
  • SAGES invited a candidate member to participate in its Board of Governors as an ex officio member.

2001

  • SAGES works with ASBS to issue Bariatric Surgery Guidelines
  • SAGES begins work on an EGD Study
  • Tiered dues structure is launched enabling membership in developing countries
  • SAGES initiates an e-newsletter
  • SAGES initiates a rural surgery task force

2002

  • SAGES and the American College of Surgeons agree to a joint Spring meeting beginning 2005.
  • SAGES joins an Inter-Society Fellowship alliance to help set standards for MIS fellowships (now the Fellowship Council)
  • SAGES accepts digital submissions of videos
  • Colorectal module added to outcomes registry
  • Increased number of advanced laparoscopic courses for residents
  • CME five year accreditation renewal
  • Undertook 3 year (and ongoing) project to revise all guidelines
  • Hosts the World Congress of Endoscopic Surgery ion New York . 2000 surgeons showed up!

2003

  • Move to an all-on-line abstract submission and review process
  • SAGES takes a more active role in CPT codes issues concerning stretta, bariatric surgery, etc.
  • Initiates liaison interest groups for pediatrics, bariatrics, rural, ethics and international issues
  • Launched “Pearls” CD collection containg the best tip[s in endoscopic surgery

2004

  • Revised Guidelines for the Surgical Practice of Telemedicine
  • Revised Guidelines for Surgical Treatment of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (Gerd)
  • Issued new Guidelines for the Clinical Application of Laparoscopic Bariatric Surgery
  • Leaders Visit Washington to discuss liability reform and reimbursement issues
  • First SAGES “Tool Box” issued
  • Pediatric Module Added to Outcomes registry
  • Launched FLS program

2005

  • SAGES 2nd Manual is Published. Perioperative Care n Minimally Invasive Surgery
  • SAGES first mannual, 2nd edition, is published in Fundamental of Laparoscopy
  • ACS joins SAGES as partner in FLS project
  • Patient information webpage is expanded
  • SAGES initiates work on FES, Fundamentals of Endoscopic Surgery, a flexible endoscopy companion to FLS
  • Initiates DVD Grand Round Series
  • First Spring Surgical Week

2006

  • Joins ASGE in NOTES project. Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery
  • Transmits two live seminars from SAGES meeting

See Also edit

References edit

External links edit