The Spring Board Meeting of the Society of Philippine Surgeons in America recently concluded with a cruise to the Nile River in Egypt, March 14-26. Some of the SPSA contingent of twenty-four members started with a side trip to Jordan before arriving at Cairo International Airport, The others who elected to go earlier to Jordan in November arrived from separate airports in the United States on the same day and all were met by representatives of UniWorld Cruises who brought SPSA fellows and members for a day stay at Four Seasons in Cairo. Thereafter the group flew to Luxor International Airport where every member of the tour group boarded the river boat Tosca for the excursions along the Nile, visiting the many historic places of antiquity and of civilization. Additional side trip options were taken advantage of by the group, some flying in to another airport for another visit to temples of pharoahs , others taking an early balloon ride through the dessert for an overview of some additional ruins. The Valley of the Kings, the Cairo Museum that houses many relics of Egyptian civilization, the burial places of Tutankamenh, Nefertiti and Nefertari, the Sphinx and the pyramids of Giza, the obelisks erected in a homage to a pharaoh , and many more stimulate the wonders of how many centuries before Christ, Egyptians were able to construct these monuments with ingenuity of the human mind.

During the cruise, the business of SPSA was conducted on board by the president of the Society, Dr. Romy Laygo who presided over the election of his successor as president, Dr. Honorio Cruz who is a long time fellow of the Society and a previous Executive Treasurer and member of the Board. A continuing medical education seminar also was held for two afternoons by the six speakers during the symposium. Dr. Edgardo Barcelona , SPSA surgical mission co-chair recounted the surgical mission conducted earlier in Ormoc, Leyte, Dr. Domingo Alvear, former SPSA president and founder of the World Surgical Foundation described his experience and treatment recommendations of superior mesenteric syndrome. Dr. Armando Dijamco, a nephrologist from Atlanta, Georgia gave an update on nanotechnology and its implication in the treatment of cancer, notable pancreatic cancer and the continuing efforts in the Philippines. An interesting topic on how to eat clean and healthy foods were dissected in a paper that was delivered by Mary Zamora, R.N., SPSA’s Executive Secretary and a dissertation on diversity was the subject of Dr. Edward Quiros’ talk. But the most that garnered so much interest was the extemporaneous presentation of Joseph Powers who described his continuing management of his juvenile diabetes that was discovered since he was 2 years of age. The Spring Board meeting ended with the Society planning for next year’s cruise in Scandinavia and the upcoming Fall meeting in San Francisco in conjunction with the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress in October.