Page 33 - NEWSLETTER_28

ΣΥΝΕΝΤΕΥΞΗ
Often, the Society tries to offer something to this large group, but it may not always meet your specific needs. The management of such Societies is often very difficult and political. When there are too many people managing too many people, it is not easy. Societies are good, but they do not always meet your expectations in terms of sharing information. Time- wise, they are not very valuable. You spend days there, but at the end of the meeting, there are a couple of meetings and sessions that you enjoy and benefit from. This is especially important as you become more senior. When you're young, it's more fun, but as you become more senior, you may find that Society meetings are not as beneficial. Elite Societies like SPUS are wonderful because you can communicate openly and friendly with experts without competition. I find that I benefit more from these meetings than any other. The group meeting is only two days, but you learn much more than from a meeting that lasts many days. The main benefit is also that you share the same ideas and feelings with those in the Society. It's a good feeling to be a part of such a group which is actually like a club.
I am also a member of another such society, the AAGU Surgeons, which includes 50 Americans and 25 international doctors. Professor Liatsikos from Patras has recently become a member as well. It is a similar group where you achieve something and then work and interact with successful experts.
I believe it is important for us all to become active members in our Societies. I have been a very active member of ESPU for years, holding various positions including Presidency now. We need to work towards making our Societies more efficient and useful for members and simultaneously be cautious with those going for their personal agendas.
I like to discuss with Society members the philosophy of not just thinking about what the Society can give us, but rather what we can do for the Society. It should be a teamwork effort, where the more you give to the Society, the more you will receive. We need the effort of every member to contribute to the impact and success of the Society. By working together, we can make our Societies efficient and beneficial for all members.
F.N.: You are the training program Coordinator in the Department of Pediatric Urology at Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine. This
unit is the first center in Turkey and one of the few centers in Europe to receive a qualification certificate for providing Pediatric Urology training in Europe. What are your responsibilities in this position?
Prof. S.T: I started the program in 1999 and we received accreditation in 2003. My goal was to replicate what I had learned from a training program in Seattle. At the time, there were about 12 training programs in America, including one in Seattle. I attempted to replicate their methods with some modifications. We began a fellowship program, even though there was no official fellowship at that time. Many of the fellows I trained back then have gone on to become leaders in Pediatric Urology in Turkey and some in Europe. Dr. Vasileios Tatanis is now poised to take on a major role in Greece. Therefore, my role is quite traditional. I initiate the program, teach the fellows both in theory and practice, maintain communication with them, provide career support, and essentially act as a mentor. It functions like a school with a total of approximately 14 members who form a close-knit family. We collaborate, assist each other and build our professional network. I am the current leader of this program, but I have an excellent partner, Professor Serkan Dogan, who will soon take over my responsibilities.
T.S.: You have served in different positions of both Pediatric Urology Societies in Europe and in U.S., while you are currently the President of the European Society for Pediatric Urology (ESPU).
In your opinion what were your most important contributions to these societies?
Prof. S.T.: As I previously mentioned, I have served in various positions within ESPU. I have held roles as the Education Committee Chair, Scientific Secretary, General Secretary, and President. Prior to these positions, I was involved in the Education Committee where I initiated the Committee’s courses. Each year, the Education Committee hosts an annual course, with past courses being held in different countries such as Greece. The purpose of these courses is to educate local young pediatric urologists on the general field of Pediatric Urology. One significant initiative I started was the development of Guidelines for Pediatric Urology. In collaboration with the European Association of Urology (EAU), I led the
Tεύχος 28 | Mάρτιος - Απρίλιος 2024
33