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The Year of Polish Implantology |  |  |  |
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Stomatology
Andrzej WOJTOWICZ
The Year of Polish Implantology
It was a year full of implantological events, of which the most significant, promoting Poland, Warsaw and Polish implantology, was the 17th Convention of European Association of Osteointegration(EAO). Three years ago, for the first time in EAO history and as the first capital in the eastern block Warsaw was chosen as the location of the Convention. The choice of the place and subject turned out to be perfect since both the Convention participants' and EAO authorities' expectations were fulfilled.
The chairmen of the Convention were Prof. David Harris (Trinity College, Dublin) and me - the author of these words (Prof. Andrzej Wojtowicz - edit. note). The Convention gathered almost 3000 participants accommodated in "Kongresowa" Hall as well as in Concert and Warsaw Halls of the Palace of Culture and Science. Its convenient location (proximity of numerous hotels) had favorable impact on attendance and integration of implantologists from 64 countries from all over the world (there was no Russian delegation). Among the participants there was also a group of fellow doctors from the Ukrainian Implantological Society.
Poland was represented by around 200 doctors, mostly members of the National Dental Implantology Association (OSIS-EDI - Ogólnopolskie Stowarzyszenie Implantologii Stomatologicznej), for whom, for the first time in EAO history, a national implantological session was organised. Doctor Ł. Łomżyński (Prosthetic Department at the Medical University of Warsaw - MUW), doctor P. Wychowański (Dental Surgery Institute at the Medical University of Warsaw), prof. A. Wojtowicz, doctor K. Śliwowski (Düsseldorf) and doctor P. Majewski (Cracow, Jagiellonian University) presented our fundamental scientific achievements in the field of implantology. The selection of the lecturers was based on publications and the internet information concerning the authors. The session was led by prof. Eugeniusz Spiechowicz and prof. David Harris, who evaluated the level of the scientific presentations as very high. The presentations were in English.
Prof. Kazimierz Ostrowski, a retired histologist and embryologist of MUW favoured the Polish session opened by doctor Ryszard Majkowski with his presence. The media patrons of the session were the internet Medical Educational Platform and Dental Tribune International (DTI).
The Convention was opened by prof. F. Neukam, the President of EAO, and prof. E. Kamińska, the deputy rector of the Medical University of Warsaw. The ceremony was honoured by the presence of prof. Maria Wierzbicka, prof. Eugeniusz Spiechowicz and the Regional Medical Council Chairman Andrzej Włodarczyk. The Minister of Health as well as the invited representatives of the Ministry absented themselves from the event.
The official speeches were followed by an inaugural lecture "The Children of the Universe" given by prof. Aleksander Wolszczan, a renowned astrophysicist (University of Pennsylvania). Fragments of the lecture accompanied TVN 24 materials and discussions on prof. Wolszczan's political past. On the day of the Professor's lecture at the Convention Polish media revealed information about his collaboration with communist secret service. The lecture was not cancelled thanks to a very firm stance of the Convention Chairmen who definitely separated political issues from scientific achievements of prof. Wolszczan nominated for the Nobel Prize in physics. After the lecture, the Professor himself gave an interview for the TVN channel. Afterwards, he was a guest at a formal dinner organized by EAO.
As far as EAO programme is concerned it is necessary to mention the plenary sessions presentations by two Polish representatives given at a full house. Doctor Piotr Okoński and doctor Marek Karaś (the Medical University of Warsaw, Dubaj - a graduate of Medical Academy in Warsaw), presented perfectly prepared lectures on peritreatment care of implanto-prosthetic patients and reconstructive surgery of congenital defects of facial skeleton.
Innovative sessions on genomics, proteomics and implant surface as well as (for the first time) andorthodontic implantology and gero-implantology turned out to be extremely attractive and popular too - the lecture halls were full.
Apart from the debate the result of the general meeting was also electing the new President of EAO - prof. Christof Hammerle, a well-known Swiss implantologist, an ex-member of IADR Board of Directors.
From the Polish side the scientific organization of the Convention was the responsibility of myself and prof. Elżbieta Nastalska-Mierzewińska.
It was a very important scientific event in my life. I dedicated the Convention to my masters, professors of the Medical University of Warsaw and Medical Academy in Warsaw, my students and colleagues. I also know I succeeded in promoting Warsaw and Poland - a lot of participants have sent their congratulation letters and promises to visit our country again.
Prof. dr hab. med. Andrzej Wojtowicz M.D., Ph.D. is the Director of the Dental Surgery Institute at the Medical University of Warsaw