Change at the helm of Fismad, the Italian Federation of Digestive System Diseases Societies, which from today will have as president Antonio Benedetti, current president of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy (Sige). The Governing Council has appointed a new president from among its members who will remain in office over the next two years. “I am really happy and excited – commented Benedetti – for this position of great prestige and responsibility. I will make my best efforts to continue the work of unifying the representation of Italian gastroenterology, in order to offer an increasingly reliable and representative interlocutor for stakeholders and for public decision makers “.
Benedetti, who today holds the position of director of the Gastroenterology Clinic of the United Hospitals of Ancona-Polytechnic University of Marche, began his long career in the early 90s carrying out, in addition to hospital activity, teaching activities in the field of Diseases of the digestive system and in the specialization school in Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy.
“The goal towards which we must strive – explained Benedetti – is that of greater recognition and adequate enhancement of the role of the gastroenterologist which constitutes an increasingly essential element in the approach to the patient, especially in the local area. From this point of view, it will be essential to work for the construction of a real ‘territorial gastroenterology’ which today exists in reality but which does not see its daily commitment formally and adequately recognized “.
Fismad – a note recalls – is a professional non-profit organization that brings together scientific societies that deal with diseases of the digestive system – liver, pancreas, digestive tract – and represents more than 4,000 hospital and university gastroenterologists and endoscopists, who work in both the public and private sectors. It was created in 2000 by the three founding companies Aigo, the Italian association of gastroenterologists and hospital endoscopists; Sied, Italian Society of Digestive Endoscopy and Sige, Italian Society of Gastroenterology and Digestive Endoscopy. All companies that have more than 50 years of history. Other companies have recently federated with Fismad, as ordinary members, such as Singem and Sigenp and supporting members such as: Adi, Siccr, Isse, Siicp. The role of Fismad is to coordinate efforts to increase knowledge and improve the treatment of digestive diseases through prevention, research, diagnosis, treatment and awareness of their importance.
“I thank the two illustrious colleagues who preceded me in recent years, Elisabetta Buscarini and Maria Caterina Parodi – concluded Benedetti – who have made a contribution to the growth of the Federation and in the wake of which my presidency will be placed for the next essential two-year period. Finally, I thank the presidents of the Gastroenterology Societies federated with Fismad who, representing the Italian gastroenterologists, will collaborate for the continuous institutional growth of our discipline “.