Dear colleagues,

According to Article 1 of its bylaws, the main aims of the Portuguese Society for Surgery of the Hand are fostering and improving the scientific knowledge of hand surgery, promoting the exchange with similar societies, organizing as well as being represented at national and foreign events.

 A 1 250 euros worth prize will be awarded to the best free paper presented by a resident, in order to stimulate the study of this surgery field. He / she will have to attend a postgraduate course in an accredited training centre. All the active paid-up members receive the Ibero Latin American newsletter of hand surgery. This newsletter hasn´t unfortunately been published on a regular basis; however, the new council intends to issue it quarterly. All members of Ibero Latin American societies are thus invited to send articles for further publication.

As you probably know, we are a member of the Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand (FESSH) and of the International Federation of Societies for Surgery of the Hand (IFSSH). The former promotes the organization of an annual congress in a European country, while the latter organizes a congress every four years. If that congress doesn’t take place in Europe, two congresses organized by the federations for surgery of the hand may be held in Europe and in another continent. “The Qualification and Accreditation Committee of the Federation of European Societies for Surgery of the Hand invite applications for three Junior Travelling Fellowships for trainees near the end of their training in hand surgery, visiting another Centre to gain a wider experience of hand surgery” and also promote a Senior Fellowship in Hand Surgery (www.fessh.com). All the paid-up colleagues can benefit from discounts in FESSH and IFSSH congresses, as they are entitled to be members of these federations, and in the subscription of the Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European volume).

The current SPOCMA council aims to keep this scientific exchange alive in order to improve the standard of hand surgery, although it is not an approved speciality, as it happens in most European countries.

Knowing that hand surgery is practised at the highest standard in our country, we call for the cooperation of all members and Heads of Hand Surgery Departments by sending free papers to be presented at national and international meetings.

FESSH urges national societies to have their own web pages translated and that is why we propose to remake our page, adding an English translation to it. Trying to keep the original spirit and layout we are going to introduce some necessary changes:

- creating a password-protected area for all members so as to allow them to know how to regularize the payment of their fees;

- sending newsletters with information of significant importance to all members who send their email addresses to my own address santacomba@mail.telepac.pt

The SPOCMA annual meeting of 2006 will be organized by the Plastic Surgery and Orthopaedic Departments of the Central Hospital of Vila Nova de Gaia. Further information will be given on our web site.

We have been invited by Dr. Carlos Irisari to organize an Ibero Latin American meeting, in Porto in 2008. Although there is no Ibero Latin American federation, these meetings have been held regularly, with a high scientific level and attractive social programmes, thanks to the commitment of the above mentioned colleague. During the General Assembly in May 2005 a Committee headed by Chairman Prof. José Amarante has been nominated to organize this scientific event.

As the developed and future work depends on the efforts of all members, on their constructive criticisms, on the participation in scientific meetings and general assemblies as well as on the payment of their fees, I call for an active cooperation with the Portuguese Society for Surgery of the Hand.

The President of SPOCMA