It is a great honor for me to assume the presidency of the Chapter for the year 2009 -2010. I would like to thank each and everyone of you for this opportunity; it is a great responsibility in these times of change and I hope to be able to carry out my duties for the well being of the chapter and for surgery in Puerto Rico. I wish first to congratulate the orgainizers of this years annual convention. The scientific program was excellent, the organization was exemplary as well as the social activities. Arrrangements are now being made to schedule the activities of the chapter during this year. Contacts have been made with industry representatives to be able to have several high quality educational events during the year. I am happy to announce several new appointments for this year. Dr Ignacio Echenique has been appointed as State Chair of the Cancer Committee for Puerto Rico, as I have finished my three year term with the CoC. Dr. Echenique is a well known colorectal surgeon with great interest advancing cancer management in Puerto Rico, and it is my hope and that of the chapter that his interest, experience and expertise can further the goals of the Commission on Cancer. Dra. Ivonne Baerga Varela will serve as the chairperson of the Program Committee for the 2010. Dra. Baerga is a Surgical Critical Care specialist actually working at our Veterans Administration Hospital. She brings to the chapter extensive experience in general, vascular and surgical critical care. She trained at the Mayo Clinic in Minnessota, and we expect that her expertise will strengthen our annual meeting. Dr. Edwin Torres has been elected President Elect for 2010-2011. Dr. Torres has served on the Socioeconomic Committee of the Chapter, where he has done an excellent work. He will remain in this position during this year, until he assumes the presidency in 2010. Dr Pedro Beuchamp will continue as secretary. Dr Hernan Cestero is finishing his term as treasurer, and we expect to hold an election for this important position during our next business meeting which will take place during the last week of April. Dr. Quirico Canario will continue his work with the Committee on Trauma, and we expect him to carry on with his excellent work/ Dr. Tito Lugo will remain in charge of the chapter web page. We will be using the page more frequently for communication and soon we will have available the photographs of the recent meeting, as well as the poster presentations to keep as a record in our page. Again, thank you for the opportunity, and I count on all of you for help and guidance during this endeavor. Sincerely Ramón K. Sotomayor, MD FACS President 2009 Message from the President of the ACS Puerto Rico Chapter... January 4, 2010 Dear members ,friends and collaborators of the Puerto Rico Chapter of the American College of Surgeons: This year the Puerto Rico Chapter will celebrate its 60th Annual Meeting. From the poster , you will see that it will be a very dynamic meeting with discussion of very important topics relevant to the changes in modern surgical practice. We have recruited the best talent to participate in the meeting. Speakers from major academic institutions in the US will participate,as well local surgeons presenting original work. There will be representation of the major medical devices and pharmaceutical industry, so this will be a great time to interact with them. I hope that as in the past years, you will support our chapter by participating. I also wish to extend to you a personal invitation to participate in saturdays dinner dance, as it will be a great time to greet old friends, I expect that this 60th convention will be a great opportunity to exchange ideas and work towards forming a better and stronge chapter. Hope to see you in february. Sincerely, Ramon K Sotomayor, MD FACS President Poster ACS-PR Chapter Meeting