International Association for the

Comments from the Milazzo Congress

As the end of the year is approaching, it is customary to look back and to comment on what important events have taken place during the last twelve months in our lives. In the IAHN’s life, there were a few happy steps towards the materialization of its goals. In my capacity as President of the Association for the years 2013-2015, I am motivated to share my thoughts with you. Undoubtedly, one major step was the soldering of the collaboration with the ERA-EDTA. After fruitful discussions, a common contract was finalized, setting the Nephro-historical events for both parties to work on. Thus, an historical session took place during the ERA-EDTA’s Congress in London in May this year, a column was allocated to relevant matters both in the Follow Us and their website, a common editing committee was established for historical articles there and Professors Wiecek and Argiles representing the ERA-EDTA participated in our Milazzo Congress and delivered lectures there. All these took place in an amicable and friendly manner, and I am sure the same will happen during the Vienna 2016 ERA-EDTA Congress  where the IAHN was again invited to participate.

However, the main event that represented a culmination of our efforts was the IX International Congress for the History of Medicine at Milazzo, Sicily, Italy. It was a real success. The weather was kind with us, although in the last few days heavy gales poured over the island. When we arrived, Milazzo was smiling. The town is familiar to many of us, as it had hosted previous similar events. It is a Medieval and Renaissance settlement crowned by the Federico Segundo castle. It has a charming port whence the boats from the famous Aeolian Islands depart. However, its main asset for all IAHN Members is its resident Professor Ricciardi Biagio, Nephrologist and Historian of our profession. He has always been generous and the last event was no exception. It gave us all the opportunity to meet old friends from around the world. Naturally, the most interesting part was the scientific program. There were 5 state-of-the-art lectures, 23 free communications, 11 posters with a full discussion and a Round Table Discussion dedicated to the memory of the late Gabriel Richet, to whom the entire Congress was dedicated. It is very difficult to present even a summary of what was presented but, in general, most of the time was dedicated to topics from Classical Antiquity, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance and the Enlightenment. The members enjoyed this panorama of the History of Nephrology, which was highlighted with a visit to the tomb of the 13th century alchemist-scientist Arnaldo di Villanova in Castello di Montalbano Elicona. The last night’s social dinner in a picturesque town tavern was as usual an event to remember. Thanking again Professor Ricciardi Biagio and his team for organizing such a Congress, I want to thank all the members of the previous Council and the whole Association’s membership for helping me in my duties and honouring me with their friendship and finally to wish a bright Presidency to the new President, the always enthusiastic Professor Vincenzo Savica for the years to come. See all of you in Vienna next year

Professor Athanasios Diamandopoulos

Past-President IAHN, Past –President ISHM

Nephrologist/Archaeologist