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WELCOME MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT OF EFICDear Friends and Colleagues, On behalf of EFIC, the European Federation of Chapters of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP®) we would like to welcome you to the “Pain in Europe V” Congress that will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, September 13-16, 2006. Since its establishment by Prof. Ulf Lindblom in 1993 EFIC has grown tremendously, currently with national and regional chapters from 28 countries in Europe and representing more than 15,000 individual members from different disciplines, all interested in improving the understanding of pain mechanisms, and the management of acute and chronic pain. During the presidency terms of Prof. Manfred Zimmermann, Prof. David Niv and Prof. Harald Breivik, EFIC has succeeded at achieving many goals. For example, four “Pain in Europe” Congresses have been held in Verona, Barcelona, Nice and Prague. And EFIC’s journal, The European Journal of Pain, published since 1997 under the editorship of Prof. Ulf Lindblom, Prof. Fernando Cervero and now Prof. Hermann Handwerker, has gained a very respectful place in the field of Pain Science and Medicine and now has over 3,000 individual subscribers. The European Against Pain initiative, which begun in 2001 under the leadership of Prof. David Niv, past president of EFIC, has gained continent-wide impetus under the slogan of “Don’t Suffer in Silence”, defining Chronic Pain is a Disease in its Own Right. With the “Global Day Against Pain” held together with EFIC, IASP® and WHO, in October 2004, we are now on the way to accepting pain treatment as a human right. Our Scientific Programme Committee, under the able leadership of Prof. Marshall Devor is preparing a programme that will cover most aspects of pain medicine from several disciplines. More than 140 distinguished speakers are invited to Pain in Europe V, bringing us all up-to date on recent developments both on basic research on pain as well as clinical management of pain as a disease. Poster presentations, and free communication sessions will allow every participant to bring to the Congress their own experience in the pain field and share it with colleagues. EFIC for the first time is offering a comprehensive Refresher Course, being planned by a committee under the leadership of Prof. Lars Arendt- Nielsen and Dr. Chris Wells. Pain in Europe V will be held this time in Istanbul; the city of 2000 years. Istanbul is a city uniting two continents with different cultures and civilizations, from the Ancient Greek, Roman, and Ottoman Empires to the modern Republic of Turkey. Participants will have the opportunity to savour the history of many centuries, as well as to experience famous Turkish cuisine and hospitality. I encourage and welcome everyone with an enthusiasm in Pain Medicine, to take part in Pain in Europe V, now one of the most important pain congresses not only in Europe but also worldwide. Professor Serdar Erdine
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