German Society for Coloproctology

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Koloproktologie e.V. (DGK), or German Society for Coloproctology, is a German non-profit scientific medical society dedicated to the interdisciplinary study, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anus. It was founded on 21 November 1990 in Düsseldorf as a registered voluntary association (eingetragener Verein, e.V.) and is headquartered with its office in Freiburg im Breisgau. Its stated purpose is the promotion of science and research as well as professional education in coloproctology, achieved through regular scientific meetings and congresses, support for continuing education, and support of young researchers, for example through scholarships. The society's clinical scope covers diseases of the large intestine and the rectum, including haemorrhoids, anal fistulas, anal incontinence, pelvic floor disorders and all diseases of the colorectum. The DGK describes itself as giving coloproctology a voice and, through its scientific findings, commitment and initiatives, working for improved treatment and possible prevention for people with diseases of the anal region. Among its core activities are the organisation of the annual German Coloproctology Congress (Deutscher Koloproktologen-Kongress), the development of interdisciplinary guidelines, the awarding of scholarships and research funding, and the publication of specialist literature. The annual congress has been held in Munich since 1997 and is described by the society as the largest annual scientific event in the field of coloproctology; the 44th congress in March 2018 drew around 1,300 visitors. The 53rd German Coloproctology Congress is scheduled for 11–13 March 2027 in Augsburg. The DGK's official publication organ is the journal coloproctology, published six times a year, which serves as the official organ of the DGK together with the Berufsverband der Coloproktologen Deutschlands (BCD), the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Coloproctologie (ACP), the Austrian Society of Surgery, the Swiss Working Group for Coloproctology (SAKP) and the German Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility. In September 2019 the DGK published the two-volume Manual der Koloproktologie, which it describes as one of the first medical specialist societies to publish the standard work of its field under open-access conditions; the second edition is now freely downloadable. The society awards the Jens J. Kirsch Prize for outstanding research in coloproctology (since 2003) and a poster prize for the best poster presentation (since 2004). It was admitted to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF) in 2001 and is a member of that association. In 2018 the DGK reported 770 members. Its board consists of five officers: president, first vice-president, second vice-president, secretary general and treasurer.

The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Koloproktologie (DGK) was founded on 21 November 1990 in Düsseldorf as a non-profit registered association (e.V.). Its founding was significantly influenced by the professional and financial support of the then Berufsverband der Proktologen Deutschlands and by the personal commitment of P. Forstmann and Th. Hager. The founding members were R. Alpers, W. Brühl, P. Forstmann, Th. Hager, C. Junghans, J. J. Kirsch, J. Lill, G. Mahlke, J. Meier zu Eissen, H. Mlitz, F. Raulf, H. Schüler, V. Wienert and O. Zenner. Th. Hager was elected as the first president and remains an honorary member of the DGK. The society's goals are the promotion of interdisciplinary research into diseases of the colon and rectum, support for the education and further training of physicians, the creation of guidelines, and the organisation of meetings and congresses, including for the exchange of experience at the international level. The interdisciplinary character of coloproctology is to be expressed in particular through the composition of the board and executive committee, the membership and the scientific congress programme. From 1991 to 1996 the annual congress — the "Koloproktologie-Tage" — was held jointly with the Berufsverband Coloproctologie Deutschland in Bad Homburg. In 1995 the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Coloproctologie (CACP) of the German Society of Surgery joined as co-organiser. Because of growing attendance, regularly exceeding 400 participants, the event moved to Munich in 1997. The annual German Coloproctology Congress has been held in Munich since then and is described by the society as the largest annual scientific event in coloproctology; the 44th congress, held 15–17 March 2018, counted around 1,300 visitors. The DGK was admitted to the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF) in 2001 and is a member of that umbrella organisation. In 2018 the society reported 770 members. Its office and registered seat are in Freiburg im Breisgau. In 2017 a change to the statutes was adopted at the members' meeting, reducing the board to five officers: president, first vice-president, second vice-president, secretary general and treasurer. The board listed in the German Wikipedia article comprises Martin E. Kreis as president, Stefan Post as first vice-president, Reinhard Ruppert as second vice-president, Alexander Herold as secretary general and Thomas Schiedeck as treasurer. The society awards the Jens J. Kirsch Prize for outstanding research in coloproctology since 2003 and a poster prize for the best poster presentation in coloproctology since 2004. Its official publication organ is the journal coloproctology, published six times a year, which is the official organ of the DGK together with the Berufsverband der Coloproktologen Deutschlands (BCD), the Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Coloproctologie (ACP), the Austrian Society of Surgery, the Swiss Working Group for Coloproctology (SAKP) and the German Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility. In September 2019 the DGK published the two-volume Manual der Koloproktologie, which it describes as one of the first medical specialist societies to publish the standard work of its field under open-access conditions; the second edition is now freely downloadable. The 53rd German Coloproctology Congress is scheduled for 11–13 March 2027 in Augsburg.

• 2019

  Two-volume Manual der Koloproktologie published in September 2019 under open-access conditions.

• 2018

  44th German Coloproctology Congress held 15–17 March 2018 with around 1,300 visitors; society reported 770 members.

• 2017

  Statutory change adopted at the members' meeting; board reduced to five officers.

• 2004

  Poster Prize for the best poster presentation in coloproctology awarded for the first time.

• 2003

  Jens J. Kirsch Prize for outstanding research in coloproctology awarded for the first time.

• 2001

  Admitted as a member of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Wissenschaftlichen Medizinischen Fachgesellschaften (AWMF).

• 1997

  Congress moved to Munich due to growing attendance (regularly over 400 participants); held annually in Munich since then.

• 1995

  Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Coloproctologie (CACP) of the German Society of Surgery joined as co-organiser.

• 1991

  Annual congress (Koloproktologie-Tage) held jointly with the Berufsverband Coloproctologie Deutschland in Bad Homburg from 1991 to 1996.

• 1990

  Founded on 21 November 1990 in Düsseldorf as a non-profit registered association (e.V.).

• 53rd German Coloproctology Congress scheduled for 11–13 March 2027 in Augsburg.

Interdisciplinary scientific medical society representing coloproctology in Germany, providing guidelines, congresses, education and open-access specialist literature.

• coloproctology (journal)

  Official publication organ of the DGK, published six times a year; also official organ of BCD, ACP, the Austrian Society of Surgery, SAKP and the German Society for Neurogastroenterology and Motility.

• Manual der Koloproktologie

  Two-volume standard work of the field, published September 2019 under open-access conditions; second edition freely downloadable.

• Deutscher Koloproktologen-Kongress

  Annual scientific congress held in Munich since 1997; described as the largest annual scientific event in coloproctology.

1. 1Deutsche Gesellschaft für Koloproktologie – official websitekoloproktologie.org
2. 2Geschichte – Deutsche Gesellschaft für Koloproktologiekoloproktologie.org
3. 3Deutsche Gesellschaft für Koloproktologie – Wikidatawikidata.org
4. 4Deutsche Gesellschaft für Koloproktologie – Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org