It seems appropriate at this, the 68th annual meeting of our Society, to review some of the contributions that colon and rectal surgeons have made in the field of medical education, to analyze some of the changing concepts in medical education as they affect our specialty, and to offer suggestions that, hopefully, will elevate the standards of medical care of patients with diseases of the colon and rectum and improve the influence and the image of our group.

The American Proctologic Society can be proud of its contributions to medical education. Its contributions to the congress of the American College of Surgeons, regional meetings, and the American Medical Association have been well received. The postgraduate teaching seminars given by the University of Minnesota, the Cleveland Clinic, the Ford group, and the Lahey Clinic Foundation have been beneficial to many. The Amer'can Board of Colon and Rectal Surgery has been responsible for the high standards that have been maintained by its diplomats and for the development of training programs.

Much remains to be done. As of September 1, 1967, there were 306 active certified colon and rectal surgeons in the United States; from July 1, 1966, to June 30, 1967, only eight diplomates were certified.