Dear Colleagues,

Thanks to you, the "World Endo" initiative is off to an impressive start. As of the end of June, we have raised sufficient funds to sponsor 9 urologists/surgeons from countries that have never had a representative at an Endourology Congress.

To date, due to your generosity, physicians from the following countires will be present at the World Congress this November in Kyoto: Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Ethiopia, Oman, Figi, Zimbabwe, Mongolia, Kenya, Senegal. To be sure, they will greatly enjoy and learn much at the outstanding congress that has been developed by Dr. Tadashi Matsuda, and his colleagues, Dr. Yoshinari Ono, Dr. Seiji Naito and Dr. Tomonori Habuchi. The theme of this year's Congress: "Minimally Invasive Urology: Future Vision and Education," perfectly fits the ongoing World Endo global initiative.

With your continued support, we will bring to this year's meeting, urologists/surgeons from some of the most impoverished and remote countries in the world to experience the educational opportunities available at the World Congress of Endourology. The body of knowledge that these individuals might bring back to their respective countries could have a tremendously positive impact for the urological care of so many people in their respective homelands.

In the past, the World Congress has never had delegates from more than 65 countries; the goal of "World Endo" would be to have half of the 194 countries in the world represented. I believe as we learn together, the level of collegiality and understanding created in Kyoto will last long after the final word is spoken from the podium.

It has been said that, "In our diversity, lies our strength." The strength of the Endourology Society can only be enhanced by our making a collective effort to bring individuals from myriad countries in Asia, Africa, and South America to the 29th World Congress of Endourology in Kyoto.

In order to bring to Kyoto an urologist/surgeon from a country that has never previously attended a WCE, it will require $3,000. Already $33,000 in scholarships have been pledged/donated by members of the society. I hope we can raise an equal amount of funds over the next few months and thus provide many more countries with this unique opportunity to provide an otherwise unobtainable educational experience for one of their best and brightest urologists

If you individually or perhaps a group of urologists in your group together could provide a similar scholarship of $3,000 we could truly transform this year's Congress into an international tour de force. All those providing a "World Endo" scholarship will be recognized in the program book and at the meeting itself.

Please donate now by clicking here.

Again, thank you for the honor of being your President. Through your philanthropy and ongoing support, our society will continue to grow much to the benefit of urologists worldwide and the patients they treat. We can never begin to quantitate the amount of pain and suffering on a global level that has been overcome or avoided due to the major advances that have come at the hands of the various members of the Endourology Society.

To that end, it remains incumbent upon us all not only to "spread the word" but to disseminate the expertise to all hands, near and far.

Sincerely,

 
Ralph V. Clayman, M.D.
Dean - School of Medicine
Professor of Urology
University of California - Irvine


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