Sustainability in endoscopic medical congresses and courses: Position Statement from the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy and the European Society of Gastroenterology and Endoscopy Nurses and Associates.

Key Takeaways for GI Nurses

• Professional societies ESGE and ESGENA are establishing formal sustainability guidelines for endoscopic conferences and educational events that will influence how continuing education opportunities are structured and delivered
• Environmental considerations are becoming integrated into professional development requirements, potentially affecting travel patterns for mandatory continuing education and certification maintenance
• Hybrid and virtual learning formats may become more prevalent in endoscopy education, requiring adaptation to new learning modalities and technology platforms
• GI nurses should expect changes in conference logistics, materials distribution, and event operations as sustainability measures are implemented across professional gastroenterology meetings

Clinical Relevance

This position statement represents a significant shift in how gastroenterology and endoscopy nursing professionals will access continuing education and professional development opportunities. As healthcare institutions increasingly prioritize environmental sustainability initiatives, GI nurses may find their departments more supportive of virtual attendance options and local educational opportunities rather than extensive travel to distant conferences. This change aligns with broader healthcare sustainability goals while potentially reducing professional development costs for both individual nurses and healthcare facilities.

The emphasis on sustainable practices in medical education reflects the growing recognition that healthcare professionals must model environmental stewardship. For endoscopy units, this may translate into increased adoption of virtual case presentations, online competency training, and regional networking events. GI nurses should prepare to engage more actively with digital learning platforms and hybrid educational formats, which may require developing new technical skills for optimal participation in virtual learning environments.

From an operational standpoint, this initiative may influence how endoscopy units plan staff development budgets and continuing education schedules. Departments may need to balance traditional in-person learning experiences with sustainable alternatives, potentially leading to more strategic selection of which conferences justify travel expenses and which educational needs can be met through virtual participation or regional events.

Bottom Line

The joint ESGE-ESGENA position statement on sustainability in endoscopic medical education signals a fundamental shift toward environmentally conscious professional development that will require GI nurses to adapt to new learning formats while maintaining clinical competency standards. This change presents both opportunities for more accessible continuing education and challenges in ensuring the same quality of professional networking and hands-on learning traditionally obtained through in-person conferences.