Council & Committees

COUNCIL

The representing body of the Society is the Council.

There are 13 members of the ESPGHAN Council. The Council consists of: President, Past President, General Secretary, Executive Treasurer, Education Secretary, Scientific Secretary, International Affairs Representative, and also one seat each is reserved for the representative of the Gastroenterology, Hepatology and the Nutrition committees. Young ESPGHAN and the Allied Health Professional Chairs are also Council Members The thirteenth Council member is the organiser of the next ESPGHAN Annual General Meeting. 

The Council usually convenes at least three times per year: the most compelling is the winter meeting which also includes the Strategy Day, then there is a meeting before the ESPGHAN Annual General Meeting and finally the one during the Annual United European Gastroenterology (UEG) Meeting in Autumn.

Chairs of other committees, the editor of the Journal (JPGN) or experts in various fields could be invited as guests, depending on the Agenda of the Meeting.

The Council in general, and each member within this body is assigned various duties which are clearly defined within the Constitution and also even more precisely in the Rules and Regulations  – both documents are easily accessible on the website. The same documents also define their election process.

Committees

The Executive Committee is responsible for the day to day management and administration of the society, the implementation of decisions taken by the Council, and steering the planning of scientific, educational and financial matters. It supervises the Association Management Office.

ESPGHAN has three standing committees focusing on gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition. All of these committees aim to promote child health and increase understanding and treatment of disease states. ESPGHAN members are also involved in various working groups that are linked to the appropriate standing committee and concentrate on particular aspects of child care and / or disease states.

Additionally, the Allied Health Professional Committee aims to enhance the multidisciplinary approach in Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition in Europe, and the Trainee Committee promotes and supports specialist training and guides trainees towards full membership of ESPGHAN.

Other committees within ESPGHAN include the following: Ethics, Finance and Publications.