President Introductory Letter, WSRM 2017

The 9th Congress of the World Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery (WSRM) was successfully held at the COEX Convention and Exhibition Center in Seoul from June 14 to 17, 2017. The theme, “Bridging the Gap and Beyond,” was met with more than 350 international faculty and 1,350 microsurgeons from 72 countries. The participants from North, Central, and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa made it a truly global event. We are quite proud of this record-setting meeting.

The success of the Congress is largely credited to the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Prof. Myong Chul Park, and his leading chairmen of the Scientific Program, Professors J. P. Hong and G. H. Mun, as well as their local societies for their contributions and commitment to our success. Two years of planning, which began in 2015 after the 8th WSRM Meeting in Mumbai, was evident in the well-orchestrated programs.

The nod to our Korean traditional culture during the “President Speech,” the “Tribute to the Giants” honoring a few of our truly great innovators, and the “Best Innovative Case” events were new to our meeting and welcome additions to our program.

I sincerely hope that the Congress will continue to grow, and that WSRM members will appreciate the value and significance of their membership in this global society. We particularly welcome young microsurgeons who would benefit from the fellowship, friendship, and mentorship that is cultivated at a meeting like ours. We encourage all members to attend our 10th World Congress Meeting in Bologna, Italy, in 2019 where “Ad augusta per angusta,” or “Great achievements through narrow paths,” defines our field of reconstructive microsurgery.