M.I.R.A.

New Minimally Invasive Robot-Assisted Surgery (MIRA) partnership

Dear Colleague;

MIRA, the international Minimally Invasive Robotics Association, strives to facilitate the exchange of information between clinicians and scientists interested in surgical telerobotics and robotics. Our membership includes Urologists, Cardiac surgeons, Thoracic surgeons, Gynecologists, General Surgeons, Colon & Rectal Surgeons, Otolaryngologists, and Computer Scientists. In the past, MIRA has sponsored multi-disciplinary sessions in conjunction with annual meetings sponsored by the American College of Surgeons, SAGES (Society of American Gastrointestinal Endoscopic Surgeons), EAES (European Association of Endoscopic Surgeons), SMIT (Society for Medical Innovation & Technology) and the SLS (Society of Laparoendoscopic Surgeons).

MIRA's 1st International Congress assembled in Innsbruck, Austria in December, 2005. The multi-specialty program attracted nearly 300 registrants and can be downloaded at www.MIRA2005.at. The abstracts were recently published in Surgical Laparoscopy, Endoscopy & Percutaneous Techniques (www.surgical-laparoscopy.com). Applications for membership in MIRA can be downloaded at www.teleroboticsurgeons.com.

MIRA's 2nd International Congress will convene in New York, New York between January 18th and 20th, 2007. The program will devote two days to open paper presentations to maximize the exchange of new information. Live demonstrations of Urologic, Cardiac, Thoracic, Gynecologic and Gastrointestinal telerobotic procedures will be telecast to the Congress. Saturday morning will offer specialty break out sessions. Experts will debate the utility of telerobotic techniques versus traditional laparoscopy. Abstracts are due October 31st, 2006 and can be submitted electronically at www.MIRA2007.com. The Preliminary Program, Registration and hotel information are also available at www.MIRA2007.com. The Union League Club (www.UnionLeagueClub.org) will serve as the venue and offers a convenient mid-town location at Park Avenue & East 37th Street in Manhattan.

Come join us in New York in January, 2007!

Garth H. Ballantyne, M.D., President, MIRA
Arnold Byer, M.D., Executive Director, MIRA