On behalf of the Organising Committee of the 10th Biennial Meeting of the International Gynaecologic Cancer Society, it is my pleasure to invite you to the Meeting which will be held from the 3rd to the 7th of October 2004 in Edinburgh.

Edinburgh is a city whose international contribution to medicine began in 1726 with the foundation of a Medical School by the Town Council. From the establishment of Edinburgh Royal Infirmary in 1741 to 1800, the number of students enrolled for the anatomy classes rose from 57 to over 400! Many students came from North America, especially Virginia, South Carolina and Pennsylvania. The broad training and great output of the Edinburgh School resulted in Edinburgh graduates travelling to all parts of the world. The American link was the most significant and indeed two Edinburgh medical graduates actually signed the American Declaration of Independence- Benjamin Rush and John Witherspoon.

Surgeons in Scotland, unlike their counterparts in England, were free of the control of the physicians and many Scottish surgeons studied in the great European centres. The Edinburgh College of Surgeons received its Seal of Cause in 1505 when it was necessary for a surgeon to demonstrate proficiency in reading the signs of the Zodiac!

They also had the monopoly to sell whisky - for medicinal purposes!
They were numbered among the craftsmen of the town and this is reflected today in the British surgeons' courtesy title of "Mr".

Famous graduates include Kelvin (temperature) Clerk-Maxwell (electromagnetic radiation) as well as Lister (surgical infections and antisepsis), Syme (surgery and amputation) Simpson (Chloroform) and MacEwen (inventor of the osteotome).
Research in Edinburgh's science parks continues to contribute to international developments in science and medicine, including the most notable Dolly the cloned sheep!

Edinburgh's fusion of fabled streets and historic buildings is contained within a vibrant modern city to provide the most inspirational of settings for a successful conference.
We intend to provide a stimulating scientific programme covering a wide range of topics relating to the prevention, early diagnosis and treatment of gynaecological cancers. We will continue to explore the means by which modern technologies can be used to assist colleagues in countries with fewer resources to deliver a better service to their patients.

We look forward to giving you a warm welcome in 2004.

Ian V. Scott MB,ChB. FRCOG
President
Organising Committee
10th Biennial meeting of the International Gynaecologic Cancer Society