The XIX National Congress of SIMEUP – Italian Society of Pediatric Emergency and Urgency Medicine ended in Catanzaro, which for three intense days transformed the Auditorium of the “Magna Graecia” University into the beating heart of Italian emergency paediatrics.
An event that brought over 500 professionals including doctors, nurses and specialists from all over Italy to the Calabrian capital, making the city the beating heart of Italian emergency paediatrics.
Leading the work was the national president Stefania Zampogna, director of the Pediatric SOC of the “San Giovanni di Dio” hospital in Crotone, who underlined: “This congress represented a moment of extraordinary scientific value, with reports of the highest level that touched on all the crucial themes of contemporary pediatric emergency. But it was also an opportunity for growth and discussion for our young specialists, who arrived from all over Italy. The future of emergency paediatrics passes through their training, their passion and their ability to innovate. Every moment, in a pediatric emergency, can make the difference between life and death must always be at the center of our action. The time we dedicate to listening, discussing and training is never wasted time: it is an investment in the future of our children and in the quality of care.”
During the inaugural ceremony, the president of the Calabria Region, Roberto Occhiuto, spoke and expressed Calabria’s pride in hosting such a high profile event and “for having a professional like Dr. Zampogna, a symbol of excellence and commitment”. Occhiuto reiterated “the Region’s attention towards strengthening the pediatric emergency network and the desire to build a healthcare system that is increasingly closer to the needs of children and their families”.
The following also brought their institutional greetings: Ernesto Esposito, sub commissioner for Health of the Calabria Region; Giovanni Cuda, rector of the “Magna Graecia” University of Catanzaro; Nicola Fiorita, mayor of Catanzaro; Pietro Ferrara, national vice president of the Italian Society of Pediatrics (SIP); Teresa Chiodo, president of the Juvenile Court of Catanzaro; Vincenzo Antonio Ciconte, president of the Medical Association of Catanzaro.
The scientific sessions addressed the main themes of contemporary pediatric urgency: the management of emergencies from neonatal age to adolescence, emergencies in children with complex pathologies, the protection of minor victims of violence and international cooperation in war contexts.
Precisely on this last topic, SIMEUP has started a collaboration project with the pediatricians of Gaza, aimed at sharing experiences and training programs, building bridges of knowledge and solidarity.
A moment of great emotional impact was the testimony of Elena Bonato, nurse at the Padua Hospital and Emergency collaborator, who recounted her recent experience in Gaza:“There are places where the emergency is not an event, but everyday life. There I saw horror and hope coexist in the same gaze of a child. And it is there that we truly understand the value of humanity in care.”
Great participation also for the round table, hosted by the journalist Massimo Razzi, entitled “Living and working in the emergency room: from press reports to reality”which saw leading experts such as Pasquale Di Pietro, Luigi Titomanlio, Liviana Da Dalt and Claudia Bondone discuss, offering a lucid and authentic reflection on the daily life of working in pediatric emergencies.
There was no shortage of moments of enthusiasm and involvement with the awards ceremony of the Clinical Games 2025, curated by Jacopo Pagani (Sant’Andrea Hospital – Sapienza, Rome) which celebrated the young specialists who stood out for their diagnostic-therapeutic ability, quick decision-making and team spirit. An opportunity to enhance the new generations of paediatricians, the heart and future of SIMEUP.
Among the most anticipated moments of the Congress, the lectio magistralis of Professor Antonio Urbino, past national president of SIMEUP, former director of the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Regina Margherita Hospital in Turin and today SIMEUP training coordinator.
Professor Urbino was awarded the “Grand Master of Emergency Paediatrics” recognition, for his excellent skills as a trainer, his constant spirit of innovation and the profound human qualities that make him a point of reference for the entire Italian pediatric community.
In these days, Catanzaro is not only the scene of a scientific congress, but also of a great moment of humanity, sharing and collective pride.
An opportunity to reaffirm that the strength of emergency pediatrics comes from the union of competence, passion and human relationships.
As president Stefania Zampogna recalled, “These days teach us that the time dedicated to listening, discussing and training is never wasted time: it is an investment in the future of our children and in the quality of care. Every moment counts. Always.”