Dear Fellows and Colleagues

The 31 st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand will be held during 8 th - 10 th July 2006 at the Ambassador City Jomtien Hotel, Pattaya, Cholburi , Thailand and will be proceeded by the Pre-Congress sessions on Friday 7th July. The theme of this year meeting is “Update in Surgical Principles and Practice”.

It is also a great pleasure that the International Society of Surgery (ISS) has determined to join the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand’s 31 st Annual Meeting in 2006 to express their gratitude to the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand and the Local Organizing Committee for their great effort in organizing the International Surgical Week 2003 (ISW 03) supposed to be held in Pattaya, Thailand in August 2003. However, the ISW 03 was unfortunately cancelled due to the outbreak of SARS in Asia in 2002. The meeting in this July 2006 will therefore be a Joint Meeting of the 31 st Annual Scientific Meeting of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand and the International Society of Surgery. Many interesting topics and distinguished speakers from all over the world, organized by Professor J.R. Siewert, will proudly be included in this year"s scientific program.

Most importantly, the year 2006 will be a year of celebration and thanks giving in Thailand , for June 9, 2006 will mark the 60th anniversary of His Majesty The King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s accession to the throne. To celebrate the momentous occasion of His Majesty’s Jubilee, special sessions on the Royal Projects will be presented at this meeting.

May I take this opportunity to invite you all to attend this Joint Meeting of the 31st. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Royal College of Surgeons of Thailand and the International Society of Surgery, to celebrate the momentous occasion of His Majesty’s Jubilee, and to keep abreast of the current status of the art and science of surgery, as well as to meet your old friends and to make new ones.

Nopadol Wora-Urai , M.D., F.R.C.S.T.,
Chairman, Organizing Committee