Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, dear Colleagues,
I cordially invite you to the 122nd Congress of the DOG German Society of Ophthalmology, scheduled to take place in Berlin from October 10 to 13, 2024.
Founded in 1857 in Heidelberg, the DOG is the oldest ophthalmological society in the world. For seven consecutive generations, the Heidelberg Chairs have served as secretaries of the DOG. Following in the footsteps of Prof. Wolfgang Jäger it is an honour for me as the second Heidelberg Chair to assume the presidency and the organisation of the Congress in 2024.
The Congress will be hosted at the familiar Congress Centre at the Estrel Hotel in Berlin, utilizing its well-known and well-equipped rooms and foyers for symposia, courses, workshops, poster exhibitions, as well as an extensive industrial exhibition.
After the pandemic years, our hope was to resume face-to-face congresses and events that would facilitate personal interaction, a sentiment strongly echoed by participants at DOG 2022. Unfortunately, the subsequent war in Ukraine has once again created a situation that severely hampers our scientific exchange, travel and international cooperation.
The theme of DOG 2024 will therefore be “International Collaboration, Cooperation and Networks” emphasising togetherness and transcending borders and barriers. Berlin, as an international city, serves as an ideal location to open the Congress to a diverse international audience, offering a rich forum for knowledge.
Symposia featuring international societies and experts from all over the world will broaden our perspectives on the latest developments in ophthalmology, including topics such as artificial intelligence, implants in ophthalmic surgery and advances in transplant surgery.
Furthermore, collaboration between professional societies, private and public partners and networking in our field will be crucial to address future challenges such as outpatient care and investor-driven ophthalmology. A special focus will be directed towards our young colleagues and the next generation of scientists, as the issues we face today will significantly impact their future. The DOG 2024 aims to facilitate an intensive and collegial exchange of knowledge to address these challenges.
With this in mind, it is with great pleasure that I extend this invitation to you to join us for the DOG 2024.
With warm and collegial regards
Prof. Dr. med. Gerd Auffarth
President of the DOG