News from BSI

International Surgical Week (ISW) 2026
The International Surgical Week (ISW) 2026 – World Congress of Surgery, held in Mexico City, was an overwhelming success. The vibrant host city provided delegates with a memorable experience through its rich cultural heritage, warm hospitality, and dynamic atmosphere. BSI’s involvement began with a series of pre-congress breast surgery workshops held over the weekend. Two dedicated workshops focusing on breast ultrasound and oncoplastic techniques were organised by BSI and received excellent attendance and highly positive feedback from participants. 
The scientific programme was curated under the leadership of BSI President Dr Ines Buccimazza together with Scientific Committee Chair Dr Ipshita Prakash and Prof Jacqueline Jeruss. Developed with strong local support from the Sociedad Mexicana de Oncología, the programme delivered an outstanding educational offering focused on breast surgery. 
The BSI scientific sessions featured more than 50 internationally recognised speakers and attracted exceptional attendance, with many sessions reaching full capacity. The programme covered a broad range of contemporary breast surgery topics, including breast oncology, operative techniques, and emerging technologies. These sessions provided an excellent learning environment and facilitated valuable exchanges between trainees and experienced breast surgeons from around the world. The BSI debate session once again served as an important platform for international collaboration and discussion within the global breast surgery community. 

 

Presidential Address and Veronesi Lecture 
The Presidential Address was delivered by BSI President Dr Ines Buccimazza and was truly inspiring, representing one of the highlights of the meeting. The address reflected on the achievements of the organisation while presenting an exciting vision for the future. It was exceptionally well received and set a positive and motivating tone for the conference. 
The Veronesi Lecture followed the Presidential Address. This year’s prestigious lecture was delivered by Prof Dr Rajendra Achyut Badwe. Due to the geopolitical situation, Prof Badwe was unable to attend in person; however, a pre-recorded lecture was presented and provided thought-provoking insights to delegates. The session concluded with live audience interaction via Microsoft Teams, allowing participants to engage directly with him following the lecture. 
Despite ongoing geopolitical challenges, only one travel scholar was able to attend the congress. Therefore, local scholars were invited to participate in expert panel discussions and actively contributed to the “Stump the Expert” session. 

 

BSI networking dinner 
The BSI networking dinner brought together 75 BSI members and colleagues from around the world. The event provided an excellent networking opportunity, reconnecting with long-standing collab- orators, and strengthening international relationships. 

BSI leadership transition 
An important milestone during the meeting was the BSI leadership transition. During the fourth BSI Committee Meeting held in Mexico City, Dr Ines Buccimazza formally handed over the presidency to Dr Sharon Chan. Prof Jacqueline Jeruss was appointed President-Elect and Dr Ipshita Prakash assumed the role of Treasurer. Newly appointed Council members included Dr Isabella Karat (United Kingdom), Prof Jiong Wu (China), and Dr Shehrnaz Ismael (South Africa). 

 

BSI future collaborations and plans 
Looking ahead, BSI remains committed to strengthening its educational and international activities for the 2026–2028 term. The incoming Council will hold its first meeting on 20 June 2026 to begin planning future educational programmes and activities in preparation for the next International Surgical Week, which will take place in Cape Town in 2028. 
Educational initiatives over the coming years will continue to expand, including the development of webinars and online tutorials aimed at trainees. BSI will also continue its successful journal club activities, incorporating international expert panel discussions, debates, and guideline reviews. In addition, the Council has proposed the development of hands-on workshops in breast ultrasound and oncoplastic surgery to be delivered inter- nationally. These initiatives will be further discussed during upcoming Council meetings. 
BSI will continue to strengthen its international outreach through collaborations with local organisations and global breast surgery platforms. The Memorandum of Understanding with the Malaysian government remains active, and BSI’s international partnerships continue to expand. 
Collaboration has also been established with the 2026 CBCS & CSOBO Academic Tour scheduled for 11 September 2026, with Council member Sandra Krishnan representing BSI. The meeting will bring together leading experts in breast cancer research from Mainland China and Hong Kong to facilitate guideline interpretation and exchange practical experiences aimed at improving breast cancer care and patient outcomes. 

The Hong Kong Society of Breast Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting, taking place on 13 September 2026, will also welcome Prof Jiong Wu and Sandra Krishnan as BSI representatives. 
Meanwhile, the BEST Programme will continue its activities, with Dr Sharon Chan visiting Beijing from 17–30 June and Sandra Krishnan scheduled to visit China in September 2026. 
Through these initiatives, BSI aims to expand membership, enhance its international visibility, and further strengthen its position within the global breast surgery community. Members are encouraged to follow updates through the BSI website, where information regarding future activities, educational opportunities, and CPD-accredited events will be announced. We also look forward to the planning and preparation for the next International Surgical Week (ISW), which will be held in Cape Town in 2028. This upcoming congress represents another exciting opportunity to strengthen international collaboration and educational exchange within the global breast surgery community. Members are encouraged to stay tuned for future events and announcements as planning progresses.

 

Sharon W.W. Chan
President BSI

 

Kavitha Däster
Honorary Secretary BSI