The concept of a new American society dedicated to a multidisciplinary approach to breast health management was first discussed at an informal gathering of members of the Annual Meeting of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) in 1976.
Istvan Nyirjesy, MD, proposed a new society dealing with all aspects of breast disease, and one that would have an active collaboration with colleagues in Europe. The first formal symposium was held in Washington, DC, in 1977. Dr. Nyirjesy was elected president of the Gynecological Society for the Study of Breast Disease and served until 1980.
Throughout the years the Society has continued to play a significant role in cosponsoring and/or supporting several organizations internationally through our symposium-related activities.
Douglas Marchant, MD, began discussions with the Elsevier publishing company that culminated in the first issue of Breast Disease in 1987. The journal continued publication until 1996. During that time the journal was the official journal of our Society, which had been renamed the American Society of Breast Disease. In 1992 we began our relationship with Blackwell publishers, who produce our official journal, The Breast Journal.
Past Presidents:
Istvan Nyirjesy 1979-1981
Douglas J. Marchant 1981-1983
Gordon F. Schwartz 1983-1985
Norman L. Sadowski 1985-1987
Edward A. Sickles 1987-1989
Bruce H. Drukker 1989-1991
Saar Porrath 1991-1993
George N. Peters 1993-1995
Melvin J.Silverstein 1995-1997
Michael D. Lagios 1997-1999
Andrew D. Seidman 1999-2001
Debu Tripathy, 2001-2003
Barbara F. Rabinowitz 2003-2005
Benjamin O. Anderson 2005-2007
