The Role of Scientific Societies in the Evolution of Medical Congresses

Conversation with Professor Massimo Carlini

President, Italian Society of Surgery

In this conversation, Professor Massimo Carlini reflects on the evolving role of scientific congresses in medical education, the impact of the pandemic on professional exchange, and the opportunities and challenges that Italy faces as a destination for international congresses.

Professor Massimo Carlini has participated in more than 700 national and international congresses, delivered over 400 lectures, and performed more than 20,000 surgical procedures.

His professional reputation was recognised by the Italian Society of Surgery (SIC), which elected him President unanimously.

Drawing on this extensive experience and a remarkably precise analytical perspective, Professor Carlini reflects on both the strengths and the shortcomings of Italy as a congress destination — and on how the country could compete with any other destination, if it chose to do so.

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Professor Carlini, today one of Europe’s most important and historic medical associations, the Italian Society of Surgery, is under your leadership. What role do scientific congresses play in medical education today?

The pandemic has significantly changed the way scientific knowledge is updated and shared. Virtual events have reduced costs and travel requirements, and some of this legacy will certainly remain. Technologies and software for data transmission will continue to improve, and the development of 5G will allow the transmission of very high-quality images at extremely high speeds. This will make it possible to view surgical procedures through widely available digital devices, which is extremely important for training and professional development.

At the same time, however, the pandemic has confirmed something equally important: scientific research cannot be conducted entirely at a distance. It relies fundamentally on direct, face-to-face exchange of ideas, information and experience. Over the past two years we have all felt the absence of this interaction.

The medical technology industry has also suffered from the absence of in-person meetings, because instruments and equipment need to be seen and handled directly in order to be properly evaluated. This entire dimension of congress activity — not only in healthcare but in many sectors — has not been replaced by virtual formats. It now needs to fully restart.

You have participated in hundreds of international congresses and are a member of several scientific societies in Europe and the United States. What perception exists abroad of Italy as a destination for congresses?

Italy has a number of very attractive assets for the organisation of congresses. First of all, its geographical position at the centre of Europe makes it easily and pleasantly accessible from almost any country. Its long peninsula surrounded by the sea offers a wide variety of remarkable locations.

There is also a strong culture of hospitality, derived from Italy’s tourism industry, which is one of the most important in the country. Many of the professional skills developed in tourism are directly relevant to congress organisation, which requires the ability to manage large flows of people within a limited period of time.

In addition, the relatively short distances between major cities make it possible to move efficiently between different destinations, many of which have congress centres capable of hosting large numbers of participants and offering adequate hotel capacity thanks to the same infrastructure that supports international tourism.

It is a remarkable concentration of resources, and it is important to understand and explore them. Initiatives such as Association Days provide a valuable opportunity to learn about different destinations, venues and organisational models available for future congresses.

And yet Italy has lost positions in international congress destination rankings in recent years.

Yes, that is true. Several factors have contributed to this decline. Over the past years, a number of highly technological congress centres have emerged in countries that were more prepared to compete at this level. There has been a significant leap forward in terms of efficiency and infrastructure.

I am not referring only to the enormous congress centres in the United States, which are designed to host tens of thousands of participants perfectly. Even smaller European cities have invested in highly advanced facilities.

A few weeks ago, for example, I attended a congress in Leipzig in a congress centre that was extraordinarily efficient from every point of view. Italy did not have comparable structures for a long time. The modern congress centres that have been built more recently — in cities such as Rimini, Riccione or Trieste — arrived relatively late, when international competition was already well established.

Another factor was the introduction of regulatory constraints that limited the possibility of organising congresses in resorts, five-star hotels, historic castles and other exceptional venues. These locations were often one of the reasons why international participants were attracted to Italy. The experience of the place itself could compensate for the absence of certain technological features.

By removing that possibility, we eliminated one of the elements that had made Italy particularly appealing for international congresses.

What technological resources are still lacking in some Italian congress venues?

Let me give you a concrete example. In October the national congress of the Italian Society of Surgery will take place at the Rome Cavalieri Waldorf Astoria, a beautiful hotel located on Monte Mario with an extraordinary panoramic view of the city.

The same dates had been previously reserved by an American scientific society. During the site inspection, however, they realised that the venue was not connected to public transport and decided to cancel the event.

I am from Rome and I remember well the inauguration of the “Nuvola” congress centre designed by Massimiliano Fuksas. It is an extraordinary structure, probably one of the most beautiful congress centres in the world. In 2018 I organised a congress there with 4,400 participants. Do you know what was missing? Audio-visual systems. The building did not have its own permanent AV installations. There was no bar, there were no chairs in the meeting rooms, and the parking facilities were not yet completed.

The project also included the opening of a hotel — the “Lama” — next to the congress centre. For years it remained closed. At the same time, the Sheraton Rome Hotel & Conference Center, which had the largest number of rooms in the area, closed for renovation. All of this created significant logistical challenges for large congresses.

This interview is part of the Scientific Congress Insights editorial stream of the Congress Intelligence Journal