Though the 2024 edition of the Charing Cross (CX) International Symposium (April 23–25) in London, England, marks a new era, it will be tinged with sadness as the first without its visionary founding chairman Roger M. Greenhalgh, MD.
Professor Greenhalgh, renowned internationally for his surgical skill and unparalleled contribution to vascular education and research, died in October 2023 at the age of 82. At the time of his death Professor Greenhalgh was emeritus professor of surgery at Imperial College in London and head of its Vascular Surgery Research Group.
Through a long and distinguished career, he was a staunch advocate of the use of rigorous evidence to address grey areas in vascular disease management and led more than a dozen trials in the field of aneurysm management including the UK Small Aneurysm Trial (UKSAT) and the UK Endovascular Aneurysm Repair (EVAR 1 and 2) trials, authoring more than 300 papers in all areas of vascular surgery.
His commitment to peer-to-peer education saw, aged 37, Professor Greenhalgh found the CX series of international symposia and annual books in 1978. This began as a small, focused symposium at the Charing Cross Hospital, with between 100 and 200 attendees, covering topics including smoking and arterial disease. Over the next 45 years, he stood at the helm as it grew to become the leading event in the vascular education calendar.
Professor Greenhalgh played a pivotal role in the creation of the European Society for Vascular Surgery (ESVS), which was launched at CX in 1987, and was instrumental in the development of surgical training and standards across Europe through the Union Européenne des Médecins Spécialistes (UEMS).
Throughout the years notable pioneers such as Michael DeBakey, Denton Cooley, Jesse Thompson, John Mannick, John Bergan, Jimmy Yao, Ted Diethrich, Juan Parodi and Frank Veith have graced the CX podium. Tom Fogarty spoke of his catheter and Andreas Grüntzig spoke of angioplasty in the 1980s. Julio Palmaz gave news of endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) at CX 1990.
In 2024, CX brings together thousands of attendees of multiple disciplines from across the globe to share new evidence and techniques to improve the care of patients with vascular disease in the mould set by Professor Greenhalgh, championing the highest quality education, innovation and evidence.
This legacy will be carried forward by new CX co-chairs Dittmar Böckler (Heidelberg, Germany), Andrew Holden (Auckland, New Zealand) and Erin Murphy (Charlotte, United States). Professor Greenhalgh personally nominated the trio to carry the baton and honor the style of education established over the event’s 45-year history.
“It is an honour and a privilege to carry on his legacy and vision with colleagues, friends of Roger and his son Stephen. I will never forget his credo: ‘…to discover and promote new talents and bring medical education and CX to the next level, year by year. It’s all about controversies and especially consensus in academic medicine, but also in life…’,” Böckler says.
“With the passing of Professor Roger Greenhalgh, we have lost a pioneer, an inspiration, a mentor and an icon of vascular surgery,” adds Holden. “Roger’s passion for education, evidence-based and patient-focused care as well as the value of an inclusive, multidisciplinary approach has greatly influenced many of our careers.”
“Working alongside Roger was an opportunity to witness gracious leadership, which was both a rewarding and humbling experience. I will deeply miss our chances to converse and collaborate,” comments Murphy. “I am [honored] to have been a part of his journey. His legacy will endure through the knowledge he imparted and the educational framework he established, which will continue to enrich global education for years to come.”
