Dear Colleagues,

contemporary rheumatology frequently changes its face. The last decade brings new diagnostic tools and medicines but first of all successively improved algorithms of diagnostics and management. Undoubtedly, it is beneficial for our patients although the innovations are limited and refer to selected disorders only, and therapy is almost always symptomatic. Rheumatic diseases guard closely their secrets and despite a significant medical progress, we are facing commonly severe clinical problems in our daily clinical practice. Some of them are still insolvable.

Despite a long list of medical meeting, the quickly altering state of contemporary rheumatology reaffirms our hope of fruitful congress. We do hope that the 22nd Congress of the Polish Society of Rheumatology will be a chance for searching answers to some questions originated in our clinical practice. We are also convinced that our specialty should integrate with other fields of medicine, and we have to consider our patients as an integrated indivisible whole. What is more, easy access to scientific reports, recommendations and guidelines is associated with our need for discussion and exchange of opinions.

We welcome you cordially in Katowice with hope that the current Congress of the Polish Society of Rheumatology will be the great time for Polish rheumatology, opportunity to acquire new details and all above personal meeting of colleagues from Poland and abroad. In separate session, the meeting of the health professionals and representative of the associations of patients will take place.

We are very pleased that you have decided to visit Katowice, and we are convinced that you will feel here traditional Silesian hospitality.

Piotr Wiland
President of the Polish
Society of Rheumatology 2011-2014

Eugeniusz Józef  Kucharz
President-elect of the Polish
Society of Rheumatology 2014-2017