Presidents Corner

Chris Ziady  -  President

Message from the President

As the newly appointed President of SAGES, I would like to welcome the two new SAGES Council members (Johan Botha and and warmly welcome back Jan van Zyl who previously served on Council in 2003-2005. Sandie Thomson as Past President will take over the "International liaison" portfolio and be responsible for the Dutch 3 month and 2 week course components. In addition he will be responsible for the Train the Trainer programme. I am very pleased to announce Reid Ally as the President- Elect for SAGES. He maintains responsibility of liaison with AMAGE,WGO and continues the important work of the SAGES Academy of Digestive Diseases.

Christo van Rensburg is the incoming Secretary of SAGES and in addition to the duties of Secretary will continue with the responsibility for the Academic and Scientific portfolio and the management of the scholarships. Paul Goldberg remains the Treasurer. He has done a good job so far in looking after the Society's interests. Johan Botha was asked to take over the Guidelines portfolio from James Garisch. There are a number of guidelines to be scrutinized and he will keep up the high standard of the SAGES guidelines committee. Keith Newton will be in charge of liaison with the HODs of the academic units, and more importantly, will look at the restructuring of the Gastroenterology certificate which is in need of an update.

Corne' Kruger will assist with the scholarship management and will implement an audit of previous awards. Schalk van der Merwe assists on the Academic and Scientific portfolio and will be involved in the organisation of the first SAGES annual endoscopy workshop coming up in March 2008. Jan van Zyl takes over the communications portfolio with the responsibility of the SAGES website and the official journal of SAGES.

Stephen Grobler had already served 3 terms (6 years) on SAGES Council, and was therefore ineligible in terms of the constitution to be voted back on to Council. As he has done a sterling job on the Private Practice Committee portfolio, he was invited on to council as a fully co-opted member to be able to continue this important work. Chris Kassianides is also co-opted to Council for his involvement in the Gastroenterology Foundation portfolio. In an attempt to write up the history of SAGES, the past presidents have been asked to write up an account of their years as President. Solly Marks will act as editor and endeavour to put a book together.

My obligation to you the members is to keep SAGES an active, relevant society giving directive to the discipline, through our council. My sincere thanks to the society, for the honour and trust bestowed on me for this duty.

Chris Ziady
SAGES Council 2007 - 2009
President:Dr Chris Ziady
President-Elect: Prof Reid Ally
Secretary: Dr Christo van Rensburg
Treasurer: Prof Paul Goldberg
Past-President: Prof Sandie Thomson
Council members: Dr Johan Botha
Prof Keith Newton
Dr Corne’ Kruger
Prof Schalk van der Merwe
Prof Jan van Zyl
Co-opted members: Dr Stephen Grobler (Private Practice)
Dr Chris Kassianides (Gastroenterology Foundation)
Honorary Life Members: Emeritus Prof IN (Solly) Marks
Emeritus Prof Issy Segal
SAGES Secretariat: Karin Fenton
Contact details: P O Box 13241, Mowbray 7705
Tel: +27-21-404 3062 (9am – 2pm)
Fax: +28-21-447 0582
Karin.Fenton@uct.ac.za
www.sages.co.za