TURKIREBS Istanbul Breast Cancer Reconstructive Surgery Workshop was held during 4 and 5 June 2016 in Istanbul. Marmara University School of Medicine hosted the event in which 54 trainees attended this 2-day training workshop. Totally 17 faculty members from General Surgery, Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery and Surgical Anatomy Departments from 12 different institutions took part in this hands-on postgraduate education programme. Attendants spent their time in 6 different modules in which they were coached to perform 14 different oncoplastic breast surgery techniques on live and foam models as well as fresh frozen cadavers. Those who passed the final exam received the official certification acknowledged by SENATURK and European Academy of Senology.

SENATURK faculty member Prof. Omar Z. Youssef has been elected as president-elect in Breast Surgery International (BSI). BSI will be organizing the Mastery of Breast Surgery Course during Breastanbul on 10 November 2016 in Istanbul.

SENATURK President Professor Bahadır M. Gulluoglu and First Vice President Professor Nuh Zafer Canturk were invited to 3rd International Symposium of Romanian Society of Breast Surgery and Oncology in Bucharest between 8-10 October 2015 as guest faculty. Professor Gulluoglu emphazied the significance of professionalism in breast surgery during his official opening talk. The congress president Professor Alexandru Blidaru who is also a SENATURK faculty member said the collaboration between Romania and Turkey is very fruitful by means of experience exchange. Turkish Ambassador in Romania his excellency Mr. Koray Ertaş also addressed the audience at the official opening of the congress emphasizing the significance of increasing scientific and health sector partnership between two countries. During the symposium along with Profs. Gulluoglu, Canturk and Blidaru, SENATURK faculty member from Cairo, Egypt Professor Omar Z. Youssef gave lectures on breast cancer as well. Also as a social event, Professors Gulluoglu and Canturk along with Prof. Dan Hershko, the president of Israeli Society of Breast Surgeons visited Turkish Embassy in Bucharest after the Ambassador’s kind invitation.

The Symposium on “Molecular Oncology in Breast Cancer” which is organized as a joint project by SENATURK and Acibadem University School of Medicine was held in 17 October 2015 in Istanbul. More than 50 physicians from all over Turkey attended the meeting in which 10 guest faculty gave lectures in three sessions. Molecular oncology in healthy women, patients with early as well metatstatic breast cancer were discussed during this one-day symposium.

SENATURK successfully organized its second breast ultrasound course in Istanbul in collaboration with International Breast Ultrasound School (IBUS). 30 physicians from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Latvia, Australia, Iran and United Arab Emirates received their certificates after completing theoretical and hands-on training sessions on three-day programme between 18-20 June 2015.

Istanbul Reconstructive Breast Cancer Surgery (IREBS) 2015 Workshop was held during 9-10 May 2015 in Istanbul with participation of 30 surgeons from Turkey, Greece, Saudia Arabia, Egypt, Morocco, Moldavia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Romania. All participating surgeons received their certificates after completing 2-day workshop including hands-on training on live and foam models.

Prof. Bahadır Güllüoğlu, the president of SENATURK, has recently visited European Parliament in Brussels to join the Partnership on Equity of Access to Quality Healthcare in European Union after receiving an official invitation from the Presidency of EP. This officially named Patient Access Partnership is planned to work as a network aimed at bringing together patients, the health community, health industry and policy-makers to discuss and promote solutions in tackling barriers and inequities in healthcare across Europe. Mr. Andrey Kovatchev who is the Quaestor, member of the Presidency of the EP, with a group of his MEP colleagues initiated the creation of an Interest Group on Access to healthcare in the EP last November. This group is thought to play a major role in providing a platform for discussion and concrete action, in cooperation with patients and the healthcare community. It is also expected to promote synergies and knowledge-sharing regarding disease specific initiatives in the EP relating to access, and other thematic interest groups to ensure maximum effectiveness. SENATURK was represented by Prof. Güllüoğlu at the official launch of the Group on 27 January 2015 in Brussels. “SENATURK is expected to contribute to the objectives of the Group with its extended network, trained human resource and significant expertise. That is why we are very happy to see SENATURK’s representation here at the Parliament today” Mr. Kovatchev said. During the official launch, Mr. Vytenis Andriukaitis, the Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, also underlined the importance of rising the standards of life parameters by increasing the cooperation among all stakeholders. Also MEPs Mrs. Biljana Borzan from Croatia, Mrs. Marian Harkin from Ireland, Ms. Kateřina Konečná from Czech Republic and Mr. Cristian Silviu Buşoi from Romania made short remarks about the Project as the co-chairs of the Group saying that this initiation of the Parliament is a hope for those who really need high standards of healthcare and should be embraced by all state members.

With the partnership of SENATURK, Acibadem University and EuropaDonna, International Istanbul Breast Conference Breastanbul 2014 has been held between 30th September and 2nd October 2014 in Hilton Bosphorus Convention and Exhibition Center. More than 600 registrants from 34 countries followed the three day-meeting in which 46 international faculty took part in scientific programme in three parallel sessions. The event was presented and supported by Turkish Basketball Federation and Federation of International Basketball Associations FIBA.