Ultraschall Med 2018; 39(02): 129-131
DOI: 10.1055/a-0571-8489
Editorial
© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

1978 – 2018: German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM) – 40 years of success

1978 – 2018: 40 Jahre Erfolgsgeschichte der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Ultraschall in der Medizin (DEGUM)
E. Merz
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Publikationsverlauf

Publikationsdatum:
05. April 2018 (online)

The German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine was created from the German Working Group for Diagnostic Ultrasound (DAUD) in 1978. The latter was founded in 1971 by just 15 scientists from the fields of neurology, neurosurgery, trauma surgery, gynecology and obstetrics, internal medicine, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and physics and was registered with the registration office in 1972 [1]. In 1976, it was decided at the annual ultrasound convention in Heidelberg to combine the yearly conventions of the German, Austrian (ÖGUM), and Swiss (SGUM) ultrasound societies into one Dreiländertreffen to be held on a rotating basis in the three countries. Given the growing number of members, the decision was made at the DAUD member meeting during the first Dreiländertreffen in Vienna on 12/8/1977 to rename the DAUD the German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine effective 7/5/1978 [2]. While the number of members was still only 152 in 1978, it has continuously increased since then with a total of 10 647 by the end of 2017 ([Fig. 1]). Today, the German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (DEGUM) is not only one of the largest scientific medical societies in Germany but is also one of the largest ultrasound societies worldwide. It is comprised of sections and working groups.

Zoom Image
Fig. 1 Number of DEGUM members from 1978 to 2017 with trend line.

Abb. 1 Entwicklung der DEGUM-Mitgliederzahlen in den Jahren 1978 – 2017 incl. Trendlinie.

From the beginning DEGUM’s goal was to achieve a professional training standard for physicians in the field of diagnostic ultrasound by means of congresses, continuing education events, and continuing education courses/seminars. In the last 40 years, DEGUM has organized 14 Dreiländertreffen in Germany, 3 of these in cooperation with Euroson ([Table 1]), as well as numerous continuing education courses.

Table 1

Dreiländertreffen (DLT) in Germany (modif. according to DEGUM Internet portal [3]).
Tab. 1 Dreiländertreffen (DLT) in Deutschland (Modif. nach DEGUM-Internetportal [3]).

DLT

EUROSON

Date/Datum

Location/Ort

President/Präsidenten

40th

10/26 – 29/2016

Leipzig

A. Hagendorff/O. H. Gilja

37th

25th

10/9 – 12/2013

Stuttgart

A. Schuler/F. Piscaglia

34th

10/20 – 23/2010

Mainz

E. Merz

31st

19th

10/24 – 27/2007

Leipzig

V. Keim

28th

10/6 – 9/2004

Hannover

M. Gebel

25th

9/26 – 29/2001

Nürnberg

R. Goerig/N. Gritzmann/S. Tercanli

23 rd

11th

9/26 – 29/1999

Berlin

B. Frentzel-Beyme/D. Nürnberg

21st

10/1 – 4/1997

Ulm

B. Widder/K. Beck/N. Gritzmann

19th

10/12 – 14/1995

Dresden

A. Bunk/J. E. Erk

16th

10/21 – 24/1992

Karlsruhe

G. v. Kaik

13th

10/4 – 7/1989

Hamburg

B. Hackelöer/G. v. Klinggräff/J. Gebhardt

10th

10/1 – 5/1986

Bonn

M. Hansmann/D. Koischwitz/G.Trier

7th

9/25 – 28/1983

Erlangen

H. Lutz

4th

5/14 – 17/1980

Böblingen

G. Rettenmaier

In 2011 the ultrasound academy was founded as a DEGUM affiliate. It helps the course instructors of the DEGUM sections and working groups implement DEGUM-certified ultrasound courses and continuing education in ultrasound. The academy provides corresponding information regarding all DEGUM-certified courses via the course portal [3].

Well-trained ultrasound users can acquire a DEGUM certificate in all sections and working groups as proof of their qualification. The 3-level concept [4] that was established in diagnostic ultrasound in obstetrics already in the early 1980 s has since been adopted by all DEGUM sections/working groups as the corresponding qualification level concept.

Within the last years, DEGUM’s Internet presence has also been completely redesigned [3]. All important DEGUM-related information is clearly listed in corresponding columns. To enable as many patients as possible to profit from professional diagnostic ultrasound services, the names of certified physicians are listed on the DEGUM website according to area of specialization, level of qualification and location, allowing patients to perform a simple search.

The establishment of the European Journal of Ultrasound as a journal for members of the three German-speaking ultrasound societies in 1980 by R. Müller (SGUM), E. Reinold (ÖGUM) and G. Rettenmaier (DEGUM) marked a further milestone in the field of ultrasound. With 15 000 copies per issue, the journal is not only a successful mix of scientific articles and certified continuing education articles but is also one of the highest ranked imaging journals internationally.

DEGUM’s collaboration with the Austrian Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (ÖGUM) and the Swiss Society of Ultrasound in Medicine (SGUM) has resulted not only in the annual Dreiländertreffen but also an intensive exchange of ideas in the fields of science and continuing education. Together with EUROSON, international communication is also maintained.

The editors of the European Journal of Ultrasound wish the German Society of Ultrasound in Medicine great success in the coming years and continued fruitful collaboration with the cooperating ultrasound societies!