First WGO regional meeting with the TSG: a template for future regional gastroenterology collaborations

The World Gastroenterology Organization that, for decades, has organized a quadrennial world congress of gastroenterology in various parts of the world, recently collaborated, in conjunction with the Turkish Society of Gastroenterology, in its first regional meeting in Antalya, Turkey. This venture was embarked upon for several reasons: first, to collaborate with a major national gastroenterology organization; second, to address regional issues in digestive diseases; and third, to provide an accessible forum for education in the science and practice of gastroenterology to individuals from areas (e.g., Central Asia) where the specialty remains relatively under-developed. The success of the endeavor can be gauged, not only by an attendance of over 1000 individuals, but also by the level of interaction that took place between colleagues from Europe and North America, on the one hand, and Turkey and surrounding regions and the rest of the world, on the other. The emphasis was firmly on issues that are relevant to the area and on the development of education and training in gastroenterology in the region: approaches that must, ultimately, impact positively on the care of those afflicted by digestive disorders in these nations.