I could say that my attachment to the Federation and the closeness I feel for it comes from my childhood. My father, Abel Villegas Botero, used to remember the 7^th Colombian Gynaecology and Obstetrics Congress held in the city of Cúcuta in December 1967 with great affection as it brought together (officially) the different societies and regional associations involved with the specialisation in the name of Fecolsog. He always attended the national conferences and enjoyed the scientific conferences and social activities with equal vigour and energy as they presented an opportunity for him to meet and become reunited with national colleagues and friends as well as foreigners; this continues being a structural part of our organisation. Fecolsog today, seen as a scientific and professional organisation, organically conserves the ideas which led to its formation and the sense of belonging instilled in its affiliates. However, today it has additional momentum and aspirations produced by new challenges and the needs of Colombian gynaecologists-obstetricians. The current setting forces our Federation (without forgetting its roots) to understand its members’ expectations and adapt them to the reality of Colombia and how healthcare is defined in Colombia today. The times are far gone when the doctor-patient relationship which governed medical practice in my father’s time; they led to a real link between professionals and the sick. The times when doctors were protagonists of society and we formed a fundamental part of the country’s decision-making groups are also long gone. Our Federation’s challenges today are thus different and complex. We must adjust ourselves to our reality; we must work towards assuming our leadership again and constructing spaces defining our speciality and guiding the Federation towards sustainable paths involving leadership and teamwork. We cannot waste the Federations’ opportunity regarding national and international leadership. We must exploit the space which we have gained during the last few years and move decisively towards the type of organisation which we have envisaged.

The Federation cannot forget its scientific vocation and its obligation to provide its affiliates with elements for maintaining its ongoing academic growth. Outreach and further education programmes and strengthening congresses and events related to the specialisation thus continue being the main pillar of our work. However, present circumstances require that our profession becomes strengthened to seek working conditions resulting in a better situation for our members and our patients’ wellbeing.

The vision of a more organised Federation adopting an entrepreneurial approach has demonstrated that this route leads to a sense of belonging and is path shared by our affiliates. However, a purely economic/ financial view may divert Fecolsog’s real ends. Our Federation is changing with the times and with the needs involved in practising our specialisation and we must thus seek not only economic gain but also political, social, professional gains and constructing our own particular identity. Reinvesting our achievements in Colombia’s specialists is the only viable way in which the Federation can become everybody’s property and also their responsibility.

It is time that the Federation should become more visible and, really, a national referent. We must continue working in this line, trying to ensure that not just the general population is aware of us and knows about us as a professional association governing obstetrics and gynaecology in Colombia but also that public and private institutions look to our organisation as a fundamental ally and main consultant in creating, developing, conserving, following-up, evaluating and strengthening Colombian females’ healthcare and wellbeing policy

As you may recall, my programme proposal when seeking the Fecolsogpresidency involved three main aspects: continuity supported by new ideas, consolidation of ongoing work and improving communication. In the weeks since I took possession I have begun to work on developing these initiatives, aided by the whole of the magnificent board of directors which will accompany me until 2014. News and accomplishments will come showing that the Federation (through the aforementioned points) can and must change in line with the times and current demands. I hope that this arduous work which we have undertaken will be supported by all specialists in Colombia and together, shoulder to shoulder, we can continue along the path of constructing change in our organisation.

In the name of the board of directors, and especially in mine, I would like to greet you and place our management at your disposition. There could not have been a better vehicle for doing so than our beloved Revista Colombiana de Ginecología y Obstetricia. We look forward to receiving all of your contributions. I thank you all for your support and look forward to your commitment and work in structuring the Federation which, as we know, Colombian Gynaecologists and Obstetricians deserve and, by Fecolsog’s definition, females in Colombia.

It only remains for me to say thank you and remind you that we are at your service. I send our warmest greetings to all of you.

Juan Diego Villegas-Echeverri, M.D.

President Fecolsog 2012-2014