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SIS in a few words

The SIS was founded in 1976 in Strasbourg (France). Today, the SIS is a unique worldwide federation of more than a hundred learned or scientific societies, associations and groups, located in 5 continents, with a priority mission: to improve breast health by constantly putting the patient in the center of its concerns. It is a society turned towards the future with a particular focus on innovation, transdisciplinarity and contribution of digital technology.

Letter of the President, Professor Carole Mathelin

Dear Professors, colleagues, and friends of the International Society of Senology.

It is with pride and determination that I assume the presidency of our International Society of Senology at the start of 2026. 

We have come a long way since its founding in 1976, and it is with emotion and joy that we will celebrate its 50th anniversary together on October 1 and 2.

Thank you to the previous Presidents for setting the SIS on the path to innovation; thank you for their initiatives, always focused on the well-being of our communities and our patients.

My mission will be to work with you to consolidate these five key initiatives:

1.    CONFERENCES AND WEBINARS

    Support and promotion of the 23rd SIS World Congress in China (Tianjin, May 8–10, 2026). We hope it will be as successful as the 22nd Congress in Puerto Rico.

    Support and promotion of regional congresses across different continents, which offer tremendous opportunities for networking and sharing knowledge about the future of breast surgery, taking into account their specific geographic and societal contexts.

    Support and promotion of quarterly short-format webinars covering current developments in our discipline. These webinars are followed by thousands of breast specialists worldwide.

2.    NEW MEMBERSHIP

    Encourage the recruitment of new members (individual or institutional), coordinated by our vice presidents to increase the SIS’s presence on all continents.

    Promote cooperation agreements in partnership with professional societies, hospitals, cancer centers, and educational institutions, to promote education (an international university degree in breast diseases is organized annually), research, and international publications, and to foster international collaboration.

3.    CONTINUATION OF INTERNATIONAL ACCREDITATION PROGRAMS

    Continue to provide accreditation and certification for breast units seeking to enhance their expertise, strengthen their international visibility, and participate in the SIS/ISS network.

    Encourage the acceptance of young breast specialists into these units through fellowship programs.

4.    PROMOTE OUR JOURNAL, THE EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BREAST HEALTH, WHICH IS A POWERFUL TOOL FOR CONNECTING OUR VARIOUS MEMBERS.

5.    ENCOURAGE AND SUPPORT INNOVATION IN BREAST HEALTH IN ALL ITS FORMS

Innovation prizes, awards, or medals will be awarded to teams proposing innovative solutions in the field of breast diseases. 

All of this will be made possible thanks to you, the members of the board, members, and friends of the SIS, whom I look forward to seeing again on October 1 and 2, 2026, in Strasbourg to celebrate our 50th anniversary (at the European Parliament and at IRCAD, where the first innovation medals will be awarded). 

Prof. Carole Mathelin, your President

 

LETTRE DE LA PRESIDENTE

Chers Professeurs, chers collègues et chers amis de la Société Internationale de Sénologie

C’est avec fierté et détermination que je prends en ce début d’année 2026 la Présidence de notre Société Internationale de Sénologie. 

Que de chemin parcouru depuis sa création en 1976 et c’est avec émotion et joie que nous allons ensemble fêter son 50ieme anniversaire les 1 et 2 Octobre prochain.

Merci aux Présidents précédents d’avoir mis la SIS sur les rails de l’innovation, merci pour leurs initiatives, toujours tournées vers le bien de nos populations et de nos patient(e)s.

Ma mission sera de consolider avec vous ces 5 grandes actions :

  1. CONGRES ET WEBINARS
  • Soutien et promotion du XXIII ieme Congrès mondial de la SIS en Chine (Tianjin du 8 au 10 mai 2026). Nous souhaitons le même succès que le XXII ieme congrès à Puerto Rico.
  • Soutien et promotion des congrès régionaux dans les différents continents, qui constituent de formidables opportunités de rencontres et de partage du savoir sur la sénologie de demain avec ses particularités géographiques et sociétales.
  • Soutien et promotion des webinars trimestriels, sur un format court, portant sur l’actualité de notre discipline. Ces webinars sont suivis par des milliers de sénologues du monde entier.
  1. ADHESIONS DE NOUVEAUX MEMBRES
  • Favoriser l’adhésion de nouveaux membres (individuels ou collectifs), coordonnée par nos vice-présidents pour accroître la présence de la SIS dans tous les continents.
  • Favoriser les accords de coopération avec des sociétés savantes, les hôpitaux, les centres de lutte contre le cancer et les organismes de formation, pour favoriser l’enseignement (un diplôme d’Université international de sénologie est organisé chaque année), la recherche et les publications internationales et pour accroitre les échanges internationaux.
  1. POURSUITE DES PROGRAMMES D’ACCREDITATION INTERNATIONALE
  • Poursuivre les accréditations et certifications des unités de sénologie qui souhaitent majorer leur expertise, renforcer leur visibilité internationale et participer au réseau SIS/ISS.
  • Favoriser l’accueil des jeunes sénologues dans ces unités dans le cadre des fellowships.
  1. PROMOUVOIR NOTRE JOURNAL, L’EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF BREAST HEALTH, QUI EST UN FORMIDABLE OUTIL POUR RELIER NOS DIFFERENTS MEMBRES.

 

  1. FAVORISER ET SOUTENIR L’INNOVATION EN SENOLOGIE SOUS TOUTES SES FORMES

Des prix, récompenses ou médailles de l’innovation seront attribués aux équipes qui proposeront des solutions innovantes dans le domaine des maladies du sein. 

Tout cela se fera grâce à vous, membres du bureau, adhérents et amis de la SIS que j’aurai le plaisir de revoir le 1ier et 2 octobre 2026 à Strasbourg pour fêter l’anniversaire de nos 50 ans (au Parlement Européen et à l’IRCAD où seront remises les premières médailles de l’innovation). 

Pr Carole Mathelin, votre présidente

How it started

Since its creation in 1976, the SIS has come a long way. Below you can find a brief history of the society and the presidential gallery

SIS History

A few words on the creation of the SIS

SIS Presidential gallery

Past and present presidents of the SIS.

SIS board of directors

Prof Carole Mathelin

SIS President

Prof Vahit Ozmen

SIS Past President

Prof Atilla Soran

SIS President Elect - President of SIS accreditation and certification program

Prof Freddy Gnangnon

Vice President for Africa

Prof Francisco Plaza

Vice-President for Latin America

Prof Tolga Ozmen

Vice-President for North America

Prof Alexander Mundinger

Vice President for Europe

Prof Shigeru Imoto

Vice President for Asia

Prof Claudine Ordonez

Vice President for Oceania

SIS in numbers

Societies members of the SIS

years since the foundation of the SIS (1976)

international congresses

SIS-accredited breast units

SIS News

Find the latest news of the SIS or promoted by SIS

SIS members

Countries members of the SIS

  • Europe (15) : Bulgaria, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Latvia Lithuania, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
  • Americas (14) : Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Honduras, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Peru, United States, Uruguay, Venezuela
  • Asia (11) : Australia, Georgia, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Nepal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey
  • Africa (8) : Algeria, Cameroon, Congo (Dem. Rep.), Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzaina, Zimbabwe

Gallery

SIS by law

SIS is governed by its “By-Law” Document. (Under administration review)

Its was defined in 1976 and if details have been updated as par General Assemblies decisons (Presidents and Board Members in particular), the Aim of the missions and processes of SIS have remained unchanged, for the Care of the Patients. The official documents as well as its translation in English appear in attached files : SIS By law (EN) and SIS By law (FR).