Pinson to lead international HPB association
C. Wright Pinson, M.D., MBA, deputy vice chancellor for Health Affairs and senior associate dean for Clinical Affairs, recently achieved the highest honor in his specialty when he assumed the presidency of the International Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (IHPBA) at the association's Ninth World Congress, held in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
C. Wright Pinson, M.D., MBA
The IHPBA is liver, biliary and pancreas surgery's premiere organization. The association's World Congress attracted more than 2,200 HPB and transplant surgeons from 94 countries. The IHPBA is divided into three regional associations, which combine to span the globe — one covering North and South America, one covering Asia and the Pacific, and the third covering Europe and Africa.
Pinson has been a member of the IHPBA and its precursor organization since 1988. Previously, he served as the treasurer and then the association's president-elect and on the executive council for a decade.
Also, he previously was elected president of the American Hepato-Pacreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA), the association's North and South American chapter, from 2003 until 2005.
“I have always been devoted to my specialty of hepato-pancreato-biliary surgery and liver transplantation,” Pinson said. “The AHPBA and the IHPBA have been the professional organizations where I have devoted most of my energy. This is because I perceived there was value in developing this specialty through these associations. It has really made a difference in terms of the quality of care patients receive around the world in the specialty of HPB surgery.”
In addition to its core mission of relieving worldwide suffering caused by hepato-pancreato-biliary disorders through education, training, innovation and patient care, the IHPBA founded a journal for the specialty titled HPB. Pinson was a co-editor of the journal, which has been in development since the late 1990s, increasing from four to 12 issues per year. HPB was recently accepted into Medline.
Also, the IHPBA has developed curricula and training accreditation standards for clinical fellowships around the world. In addition, the IHPBA Ken Warren foundation supports two research fellowships each year.
“The organization has accomplished much in just two decades,” Pinson said. “Also, I must admit I enjoy the international friends I have made. I am looking forward to the meeting in Paris in 2012.”