Dear Hernia Friends,
My name is Junaid Naqeeb. I am a General and Colorectal Surgeon from Ireland with a particular interest in abdominal wall reconstruction and minimally invasive hernia surgery.
I would like to sincerely thank the European Hernia Society for awarding me a Travel Grant to visit the Madrid Hernia Group during the week of 25th May 2026. The opportunity to spend a week observing one of Europe’s leading abdominal wall units was both professionally rewarding and personally memorable.
During my visit, I had the privilege of observing Prof. Miguel Ángel García Ureña and Dr. Javier López Monclús across Hospital Universitario del Henares and Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro. Despite the relatively short duration of the observership, the week was packed with learning opportunities and exposure to a wide range of complex abdominal wall procedures.
The operative experience included observation of PeTEP and eTEP repairs, complex abdominal wall reconstruction, chemical component separation with Botox for loss-of-domain hernias, and robotic abdominal wall surgery. I was particularly interested in the team’s approach to preoperative planning, patient selection, operative strategy, and the management of challenging abdominal wall defects.
One of the most valuable aspects of the visit was seeing how a high-volume specialist unit approaches complex hernia surgery in a systematic and reproducible manner. The discussions around operative decision-making, mesh positioning, component separation techniques, and minimally invasive reconstruction were extremely insightful. It was also fascinating to observe the integration of robotic surgery into abdominal wall reconstruction and to appreciate the technical nuances that can only truly be learned by spending time in an experienced centre.
Equally impressive was the culture of the Madrid Hernia Group. Despite their international reputation and busy clinical practice, Prof. Ureña, Javier, Laura, Alvaro, and the entire team were exceptionally welcoming and generous with their time. Every effort was made to ensure that I understood the rationale behind each procedure and felt included in the discussions taking place throughout the week.
Beyond the operating theatre, the visit offered an opportunity to experience Madrid itself. The city’s rich history, vibrant atmosphere, and renowned hospitality made the week even more enjoyable. The combination of outstanding surgical education and the opportunity to experience one of Europe’s great cities made this a truly memorable observership.
The European Hernia Society deserves enormous credit for supporting initiatives such as the Travel Grant programme. As hernia surgery continues to evolve rapidly, opportunities to visit expert centres, exchange ideas, and learn directly from leaders in the field are invaluable. Programmes such as these help strengthen collaboration across Europe and ultimately contribute to improving patient care.
I returned to Ireland inspired, with new ideas, new friendships, and a greater appreciation of the possibilities within abdominal wall surgery. I would strongly encourage any surgeon with an interest in hernia surgery to apply for an EHS Travel Grant and take advantage of the unique opportunities that the Society provides.
My sincere thanks again to the European Hernia Society, Prof. Miguel Ángel García Ureña, Dr. Javier López Monclús, and the entire Madrid Hernia Group for an unforgettable week.
