Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Preparations for the ISHRS 34th World Congress in Rio de Janeiro are progressing with tremendous energy and a clear sense of purpose.
Over the past several months, we have held numerous planning meetings with the co-chairs and members of the committees responsible for the scientific program, Cases of Surgical Interest, focused sessions, debates, the Surgical Assistants Program, video-based education, and many other important components of the Congress. The overall structure is now well advanced, and we have entered the detailed phase of refining the sessions, confirming responsibilities, and ensuring that every part of the program contributes to a cohesive and rewarding Congress experience.
Our objective is not simply to fill a schedule. We are working to create a program that is scientifically rigorous, clinically useful, highly interactive, and socially engaging. The Congress will combine high-impact general sessions, focused discussions, case-based learning, structured debates, research updates, concise video presentations, and a dedicated educational pathway for surgical assistants.
We are also protecting meaningful time for questions and discussion. A presentation should not end when the final slide disappears. It should lead to an exchange of experience, thoughtful disagreement, and practical conclusions that attendees can bring back to their patients and practices.
One of the most challenging—and most important—parts of this process has been the review and placement of submitted abstracts. This year, we received 196 abstracts, an outstanding response that reflects the vitality and continued development of our field. We were especially encouraged by the large number of strong, relevant, and innovative submissions.
The quality of the submissions also made the selection process extremely difficult. To make the review as balanced and collective as possible, we relied on scores and input from across the Scientific Committee. Abstracts were considered not only for their scientific merit, but also for their educational value, clinical relevance, originality, topic balance, and the format in which their message could be communicated most effectively.
Not every worthwhile idea is best served by a traditional oral lecture. Some topics require a more detailed scientific presentation, while others are better demonstrated through a concise video, a focused-session discussion, a case-based format, or the Cases of Surgical Interest program. By thoughtfully matching content to format, we hope to present more valuable ideas while maintaining the coherence, pace, and educational quality of the Congress.
The Cases of Surgical Interest program is being substantially redesigned. The committee is working to make it more dynamic, visual, accessible, and conducive to discussion. Short-video blocks are also being developed for subjects that are better shown than described—particularly techniques, procedural sequences, clinical findings, and practical surgical lessons. Our debate sessions are being structured to examine timely and sometimes controversial questions from more than one perspective, while encouraging active audience participation and practical conclusions.
At the same time, integrity remains one of the central principles of the Rio Congress.
This Congress should be a place where our Society clearly reaffirms that hair restoration surgery is medical and surgical care. It should be performed by qualified, appropriately trained hair restoration physicians, supported by well-trained surgical teams. The physician must remain responsible for patient selection, diagnosis, treatment planning, the critical surgical steps, patient safety, and the ultimate outcome.
Scientific advancement is essential, but it must always be accompanied by ethical practice, professional accountability, and respect for the patient. These principles are being incorporated throughout the program—not only in sessions devoted specifically to ethics and safety, but also in our discussions of technique, technology, team structure, education, and clinical decision-making.
We are giving equal attention to the human side of the Congress. Education becomes more valuable when people have time to meet, ask questions, challenge ideas, share experiences, and build professional relationships. We are therefore developing expanded opportunities for faculty-attendee interaction during breaks, expert-led conversations, structured networking, and other activities that encourage discussion on multiple levels.
We also want Rio to be especially welcoming to first-time attendees and our newest members. Newcomer orientation, facilitated introductions, and networking opportunities are being designed so that new participants do not feel like observers at the margins of the meeting. They should feel included in the professional community from the moment they arrive and comfortable approaching faculty, committee members, and fellow attendees.
The core framework of the Congress is now in place. The remaining work is detailed but essential: refining session flow, confirming speakers and moderators, coordinating the recommendations of the different committees, and aligning the scientific and social components so that the Congress feels connected from beginning to end.
We remain on track, and the enthusiasm, cooperation, and commitment of our co-chairs, committee members, abstract reviewers, faculty, and staff have been exceptional.
Rio de Janeiro will provide a remarkable setting, but the true strength of this Congress will come from its people and its purpose. Our goal is to create a meeting where excellent science is matched by practical education; where difficult questions are discussed openly and respectfully; where integrity is visible throughout the program; and where established, new, and future leaders in our field feel part of the same professional community.
We look forward to welcoming you to Rio.
Warm regards,
Maxim Chumak, MD, FISHRS
Program Chair
ISHRS 34th World Congress – Rio de Janeiro 2026