Nyhus–Wantz Lectureship: EHS/AHS Joint Hernia Congress—2012

When given the honor to deliver the Nyhus–Wantz Lecture at the 5th Annual AHS/EHS International Hernia Congress, the word that came to mind immediately was collegiality. The dictionary tells us collegiality is the cooperative interaction among colleagues. I believe that both Doctors Nyhus and Wantz epitomized this cooperation. Both surgeons were critical in the exchange of ideas between Europe and The Americas regarding herniology that were critical to our past and laid the foundation for our future. In addition, both Doctors Nyhus and Wantz and their work have been extremely important in my development as a hernia surgeon. During the lecture, I will try to touch on these concepts to honor those that have made us what we are today.