Welcome Notes

Welcome Note by the Honorary Chancellor and Founder

Dear Colleagues,

It is most encouraging to see the verve and efficiency with which Dr. Prapas has started the organization of the XVIIIth World Congress. After the Kyoto Congress that Dr. Matsumoto with the support of Drs. Hetzer and Osada made a success this meeting on Hippocrates' island of Kos promises not only professional value but also a superb cultural event.

I am also most pleased to inform you that Dr. Roberto R. Favaloro will host the XIXth World Congress. These will be a wonderful opportunity to honour the late Ren? G. Favaloro whose noble personality was belauded in the Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery in the year 2000.

During a visit in Athens and Delphi on the occasion of a panel discussion by the Seven Wise Men of the World in Cardiovascular Surgery, I could convince myself of the excellency of Greek hospitality. Join us at Kos, you will not regret it.


J. Wada, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S., F.C.T.S.
Honorary Chancellor of the W.S.C.T.S.

Welcome Note by the Chancellor

Dear Colleagues,

It gives me great pleasure to add my welcome to the 18th World Congress.

Dr. Prapas and his colleagues have organized an outstanding meeting in a spectacular location. The conference will bring together current knowledge and future promise in all fields of cardiothoracic surgery and related disciplines.

The meeting is timely. The techniques and applications of cardiothoracic surgery are changing, as is our understanding of how best to progress in merging our expertise with allied fields so as to produce optimal results for our patients.

We all have a lot to learn from each other, and the World Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery remains the only international society. The Society thus provides a forum where ideas and progress can be presented from all parts of the world, without geographical bias.

The Society was started 18 years ago by the important pioneers in the field, and meetings rotate between Europe, North America, Asia and South America. Plans are underway to hold the 2009 meeting in Buenos Aires, the 2010 meeting in India, and the 2011 meeting in Berlin.

Thank you for your support of the 18th annual meeting on the spectacular island of Kos. Please join us all in making this an unforgettable conference, and establishing the World Society as an important forum for the exchange of ideas.

With my warm wishes,


Stuart Jamieson
Distinguished Professor of Surgery
Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery
University of California San Diego
Director, California Heart and Lung Institute

Welcome Note by the Congress Chairman

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, it gives me great pleasure to invite you to the 18th WSCTS World Congress, which will be held οn the island of Kos in Greece, from April 30th to May 3rd, 2008.

So far the WSCTS 2008 appeal has been remarkable due to your personal recommendations, giving us the opportunity to welcome distinquished guests from all over the world and raising our expectations for a top quality scientific program. Towards this objective, the program will include sessions in all Cardio-Thoracic fields at the level of post graduate courses, as well as "Meet the Expert Sessions" on various topics of interest. Additionally, among our objectives for the WSCTS 2008 program is to incorporate multidisciplinary sessions aiming to improve the outcome of the cardio-thoracic patient through a team approach.

I am glad to inform you that the Greek cardio-thoracic community, along with the local authorities, has been very supportive through out the planning of the WSCTS 2008, sharing with us the same aspiration to organize a congress that will have a warm atmosphere, combined with our efforts to bridge the past with the future.

All of us will have the opportunity to sense the very origins of our profession, by attending WSCTS 2008 social events. It will be our honor to welcome you under the plane tree of Hippocrates, setting the scene for a multiple of social events to follow. Participants will experience the revival of the Hippocratic Oath and also engrave their names in a monument in honour of Hippocrates, especially commissioned for this event.

Our ambition for the 18th WSCTS World Congress is to outperform its precedents and we are therefore looking forward to your participation and contribution. "Philoxenia" the Greek word for hospitality has always been among our core values.

We look forward to welcome you to the Island of Kos to revive the Hippocratic Oath at the Historical place, while exploring the future of our profession.

Cordially Yours,


Sotirios N. Prapas
Chairman, 18th WSCTS World Congress