What have urologists and the EAU achieved in 50 years? EAU’s 50th Anniversary comes to an end with History Congress at EAU23
By Loek Keizer
hesitance to adopt technological breakthroughs even as basic as the written word can offer a perspective. All in all, the History Congress served not just to open up a window to the recent past, but to offer perspective for discussion on very current issues. Experienced urologists reflected on what had been, or still remains to be achieved within their subspecialties. Young urologists showed the way forward with new avenues in treatment and research, building on their predecessors.
Webcasts are available of the presentations given at the History Congress. Visit www.eau23.org and browse the scientific programme or the EAU23 Resource Centre. Access is free if you attended EAU23, or can be purchased separately.
On its first day, EAU23 in Milan was joined by another congress operating in its slipstream: the EAU History Office hosted the 7th International Congress on the History of Urology. The congress boasted the participation of three (former) EAU Secretary Generals, moderating and giving presentations of their own. Notably in the morning session, Prof. Pat Walsh (Baltimore, USA) told the assembled audience the story of his and Prof. Donker’s discovery of nerve bundles around the prostate that led to the development of the nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy. Prof. Walsh hailed the serendipity of his initial meeting with Prof. Donker, as he invited the latter, a lonesome stranger, to join him and his wife for dinner when Donker was visiting the United States in 1977. Four years later, Prof. Donker invited Prof. Walsh to visit a windmill museum in Leiden, the Netherlands, but they instead decided to go to Prof. Donker’s lab where he was researching the anatomy of stillborn males. Within hours they had identified the nerve
The History Office at EAU23
Prof. Tony Mundy brought a prop to illustrate his colourful talk about the history of the treatment of urethral strictures, much of which he experienced or contributed to first-hand.
Beyond the day-long international congress, the History Office had a variety of activities and milestones in Milan. Partly due to the virtual nature of EAU20 and EAU21, the History Office could present three new publications in Milan. The commemorative EAU:50 marked the end of the EAU’s anniversary celebrations that started at EAU22 in Amsterdam. The 30th volume of De Historia Urologiae Europaeae was an anniversary in itself. Uniquely for Milan, this year’s congress gift Cache-Sexe: Covered, uncovered, discovered was written by Prof. Van Kerrebroeck.
Milan-based inventor of the eponymous basket.
bundles that preserved potency and the surgical technique was developed in the following year.
The exhibition also celebrated the 2023 winner of the EAU’s Desnos Prize for contributions to the History of Urology: Prof. Remigio Vela Navarrete (Madrid, ES). Prof. Vela Navarrete was selected by the History Office for his continued involvement in the field, authoring books on a wide range of historical topics, curating exhibitions and helping to set up the Spanish Urological Association’s own History Office.
Prof. Walsh’s reputation ensured a very well-attended session on the history of oncological urology that also featured experts like Profs. Ribal, De La Rosette and former Secretary General Prof. Per-Anders Abrahamsson. Using the past to look at the future In the afternoon, an eye-catching topic presented by Prof. Piet Hoebeke (Ghent, BE) was titled “#metoo” but covered (a history of) a wide range of gender- and sexuality-related topics that urologists and their patients might deal with. Patients may have different priorities or health concerns based on their gender identity or sexual preferences. EAU History Office Chairman Prof. Philip Van Kerrebroeck (Antwerp, BE) summed up the day with a wide-ranging philosophical talk that touched on the role of history, and indeed its importance, even at events like EAU23 that focus on the latest breakthroughs and technology. In looking at new developments in healthcare like artificial intelligence, big data or chip implants, previous generations’
As every year, the History Office prepared an exhibition across from the EAU Booth. This year it was tied to Prof. Van Kerrebroeck’s book and featured many of the unique and colourful genital coverings that are also featured in its pages. The exhibition also contained some notable artefacts from the EAU’s own past, tying in with the anniversary, and also celebrated Prof. Enrico Dormia, the
Prof. Walsh takes the audience back to his and Prof. Donker’s discovery, over forty years prior. This part of the congress was chaired by Profs. Van Kerrebroeck and Dirk Schultheiss and former EAU Secretary Generals Prof. Debruyne and Abrahamsson.
Prof. Remigio Vela Navarrete accepts the 2023 Ernest Desnos Prize for his contributions to the history of urology.
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