ESGENA

European Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Nurses and Associates

You are here: Home / About ESGENA / History

Founding of ESGENA

During the 1st European Conference for Endoscopy Nurses in Oslo/Norway in 1994 a small group of enthusiastic nurses met to discuss the possibility of forming a European Endoscopy Nurses Group. A second follow-up meeting took place during the World Conference of Gastroenterology in Los Angeles the same year. With the encouragement and financial support of the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ESGE) a working party was set up, with the remit to write the constitution for the planned society. The group met twice during 1995 to draft the constitution. The group members came from Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, and Norway.

Members for an interim governing board were chosen and presented together with the final draft of the constitution to the delegates at the 2nd European Conference in Berlin/Germany in 1995. The first elections of officers to the Governing Board took place in Paris/France during the 1st ESGENA Conference in November 1996.

So Far

Since 1996, the following colleagues held the office of ESGENA president:

  • 1996-1998
    Christine Petersen, The Netherlands
  • 1998-2002
    Ulrike Beilenhoff, Germany
  • 2002-2006
    Christiane Neumann, United Kingdom
  • 2006-2010
    Ulrike Beilenhoff, Germany
  • 2010-2014
    Michael Ortmann, Switzerland
  • 2014-2016
    Jayne Tillett, United Kingdom
  • 2016-2017
    Jadranka Brljak, Croatia
  • 2017-2022
    Marjon de Pater, the Netherlands
  • Since 2022
    Wendy Jo Carmel, Denmark

In a fast-changing world improving communication between practicing endoscopy and gastroenterology staff is essential to maintain good standards of practice. Communication between the society and its members is via the electronic newsletter and frequent mailings.

In order to advance education of endoscopy nurses in Europe, ESGENA founded the ESGENA Education Working Group (EEWG) which is focused on educational needs in further and advanced education. The group has developed

  • The European job profile of Endoscopy nurses,
  • The European Core Curriculum for endoscopy nursing
  • Various position statements and modules for continuing training

ESGENA has also started to support educational activities of its membership countries.