The future European gastroenterologist: circumstances, training and task.

Dept. of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.

The Section and Board of Gastroenterology within the EUMS/UEMS, representing the professional organisations of non-academic and academic gastroenterologists in the 15 EC member countries, have tried to create a uniform concept of the future European gastroenterologist, who should be able to pursue his profession within the EC in a reliable and controlled way after well programmed training in recognized centres. The training programme, to be agreed upon by the members, should aim at a high quality and not at a minimum common denominator. The programme should include a core of obligatory knowledge and skills, and should allow a variation of options which would enable the gastroenterologist to perform in varying professional and administrative environments, in cooperation with either internists, or surgeons, or working on his own.