Abstract

The European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy was founded in 1980 to further regional anaesthesia in Europe. The first congress was held in Edinburgh in 1982 and since that year the society has gone from strength to strength, with a current membership of over 4’700 throughout Europe and beyond. The society is still growing, and has now established a strong track record with 36 Annual Congresses. The scientific standard at the annual ESRA congress is now recognised as one of the best in Europe. The ESRA society holds several accredited cadaver workshops and courses each year and offers grants schemes as well as online educational content through the ESRA Academy. The European Diploma in Regional Anaesthesia & Acute Pain Management (EDRA) was created in 2005 with the goal of establishing standards in regional anaesthesia in Europe. The Diploma is intended to widen the activity spectrum of those specialists in anaesthesia, who are already in clinical practice and are interested in acquiring additional knowledge in the entire field of regional anaesthesia. ESRA also launched the EDPM, a new diploma in Pain Medicine. The purpose of the European Diploma of Pain Medicine (EDPM) is to harmonize and improve quality standards for safe, independent practice of pain medicine in Europe and elsewhere. The diplomas are intended to be complementary to national standards and enhance the competent, ethical, and professional care of diplomates.