PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - André A.J. van Zundert AU - John A.W. Wildsmith TI - The European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy (1982–2012): <em>30 Years Strong</em> AID - 10.1097/AAP.0b013e31829dd891 DP - 2013 Sep 01 TA - Regional Anesthesia &amp; Pain Medicine PG - 436--441 VI - 38 IP - 5 4099 - http://rapm.bmj.com/content/38/5/436.short 4100 - http://rapm.bmj.com/content/38/5/436.full SO - Reg Anesth Pain Med2013 Sep 01; 38 AB - Abstract Inspired by the earlier establishment of the American Society of Regional Anesthesia, but with a structure to accommodate the diverse languages and health care systems of Europe, the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia (ESRA) held its first scientific meeting in 1982. During the following 30 years, ESRA grew from strength to strength and implemented a number of important educational initiatives, the story of these developments being the subject of this review. ESRA’s prime function is to publicize the evidence on regional anesthesia and encourage its further development, but it also led the way in democratizing European anesthesia societies by being the first to open its membership to all. A recent revision of the constitution has further increased the society’s democratic nature.Educationally, activities grew from a single annual congress to include zonal meetings, cadaver workshops, a major online program, and collaborations (guidelines and conferences) with other societies. Finally, the introduction of a Diploma qualification in regional anesthesia was an entirely novel project.