We are now approaching the third year of the pandemic and it is questionable how long it will last. With Omicron there is currently a new variant that is at least more contagious than Delta. Sufficient data are not yet available on the course and effectiveness of the vaccinations. For a specialist society like ISGE, this is and will remain a difficult challenge. It is important to keep the members on board and to ensure survivability. Medical societies finance themselves very differently. We are grateful that we continue to be supported by sponsors. However, in order to be able to remain independent, especially in the scientific discourse, ISGE needs alternative financing options. The membership fees are an important component, but can only cover the costs to a lesser extent. Accreditation and courses were an essential part of this. Corona essentially took these options away from us in 2020 and 2021. We have created a new curriculum for 2022 and hope to be able to offer a wide range of offers to our members and those who want to become one again.

This means a lot of voluntary work by our members. Through our membership around the globe, we always receive new input, new ideas and new perspectives. The latter is very important not to be trapped in your own information bubble. ISGE is a real global society that enables an exchange as unreservedly as possible. We want to be in contact with the world and therefore offer various exchange options on social media. In addition, we offer weekly live surgery on the Instagram channel “ISGE-members”, as well as exchange in forums on the Facebook page “laparoscopy” or the Telegram channel “ISGE’s FANS Minimally invasive surgeries group”.

The whole world is held in suspense by the pandemic. It is therefore important that we stand together for the weakest. ISGE has set itself the task of making medical knowledge and training available all over the world. This was also a motivation to start this journal. Especially in order to enable a scientific excursus for as many as possible. With the manuscript manager you can easily upload your work and case reports or video articles and we have a tool to control the peer review process quickly. Since the reception has been positive so far, we can start volume 3 in the new year, which brings us close to the Pubmed registration. So, stay loyal to us and send us your articles, the best thing is to become a member of our community and take advantage of our offers.

We’ll make it through the pandemic together!
A big thank you to all active members of the ISGE!

Best regards
Guenter Noé