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Written by Prof. Mark Ferguson, University of Chicago, USA

As many know, the origins of the ISDE began synchronously in Japan and in the West, the latter primarily in Europe and the United States. It was founded by Professor Komei Nakayama (Figure 1) in 1979 with three objectives: to establish an international forum; to promote research performed with uniform standards on a worldwide scale; and to promote international friendship and communication. The first congress was held in Tokyo in 1980, with Professor Nakayama serving as ISDE President and as Congress President (Figure 2). The meeting was well attended by experts from both the East and West, as Professor Nakayama had an international reputation and had traveled extensively, enabling him to become friends with other international leaders in esophageal diseases (Figure 3). Guests included Professors Alberto Peracchia, Rudiger Siewert, Guido Castrini, Robert Giuli, and Ernesto Moreno Gonzalez. This first ISDE congress included topics on management of esophageal cancer, surgical complications, motility disorders, varices, and hiatal hernia/GERD, and also had movie sessions. It met all of the goals established by Professor Nakayama.

The second ISDE World Congress was held in Rome in 1983 (Figure 4), with Professor Guido Castrini of Rome (Figure 5) serving as Congress President and Professor Nakayama remaining as ISDE President (Figure 6). This was envisioned as a more multi-specialty meeting focusing on both malignant and benign esophageal diseases. During the congress Professor Siewert proposed that the Japanese and Western societies join together as one, with emphasis on expanding the concept of the original ISDE to include both gastroenterologists and surgeons. He suggested that the first step in this process should be a joint meeting in 1986 that he offered to host in Munich. It was also proposed by Professor Castrini that the ISDE found a journal, Diseases of the Esophagus, which would be the publication arm of the Society. This eventually was launched in 1988. The congress was well attended, and gave the encouraging message that the ISDE was a sound concept that had a promising future.

In our next installment, summaries of the third and fourth congresses will highlight how the ISDE matured and the pattern for its congresses was established. 

Figure 1. Professor Komei Nakayama, ISDE Founder.

Figure 2. Program from 1st ISDE Congress.

Figure 3. Opening ceremony from 1st ISDE Congress. 

Figure 4. Announcement of 2nd ISDE Congress. 

Figure 5. Professor Guido Castrini. 

Figure 6. Mr. Ronald Belsey and Professor Nakayama compare notes prior to beginning a session at the 2^nd ISDE Congress.