Gastroenterology on Stamps

Gastroenterology is the medical sub-specialty concerned with the function and disorders of the stomach, intestines, liver and related organs of the gastrointestinal tract. Endoscopy is a non-surgical procedure done by a gastroenterologist to look inside the gut using an endoscopic camera to diagnosis and perform therapeutic procedures like snare polypectomy (excision of pedunculated polyp), argon plasma coagulation (stoppage of bleeding), and rubber band ligation (esophageal varices).

Some stamps related to Gastroenterology events had been issued. The majority are presented here. The World Congress of Gastroenterology (WCOG) is held every four years event under the auspices of the World Organisation of Gastroenterology (OMGE). Since its inaugural conference in 1958 in Washington, D.C.
 
WCOG has become the leading quadrennial gathering of the world's digestive disease physicians. The previous World Congresses where special stamps were issued for the event include- 1974 in Mexico City, Mexico; 1986, Sao Palo, Brazil; and Bangkok,Thailand in 2002, which is the first World Congress of Gastroenterology ever hosted in Asia. During the International Congress of Gastroenterology held in Rome in 1988, special stamps were also issued. Two years before the event, Dr. Aldo Torsoli, then President of the Congress, proposed that working team committees be assigned to address medical issues not easily resolved by usual scientific inquiry or review. Continued support led to a series of functional gastrointestinal working teams between 1991 and 1994 that first developed guidelines for the diagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome- The Rome Criteria
 
Other Gastroenterological events which issued stamps include: The First Bolivian-Japanese Gastroenterology Conference in La Paz, 1992, The 4th Asian Pacific Congress in Manila, Philippines, 1972 and the First Uruguayan Proctology Congress in Montevideo, 1965- one of the first GI event to issue a stamp. 
 
This Philippine stamp had two colors- ultramarine and multicolored in 20 cents denomination, 12.5 x 13 perforation. The heliographer was Setelepaino, Finland. 
 
The gastroenterologists who greatly influenced my medical journey are Dr. Gerardo Ypil, who inspires, challenges, and trains you to have a good clinical eye; Dr. Lamberto Garcia, who was a great teacher and motivator, one of the few doctors who told me to never give up when I contemplated on quitting residency; and Dr. Teresito Gabutin, who inspired me to do excel in my GI training and welcomed me with open arms to work with him in an medical institution that holistically cares in the service of the Almighty.


Click here to go to series 2 on Gastroenterology on stamps. 
 
"Lord, thank you for the privilege of entering the bowels of your creation. To see deep in the recesses of your fashioning. Enlighten us to diagnose for improving, the condition of our patients in suffering".  TAP

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