The Guestbook of the Urology Department of Semmelweis University in Budapest: a Mirror of International Contacts

Purpose: The Department of Urology at Semmelweis University, Budapest was established in 1920 as one of the first independent urological clinics in Europe. The history of the guestbook begins in 1922 with Professor Illyés, the first appointed head of the department. Materials and Methods: Information was collected on the most famous urologists from those times, who were mostly working in the United States. In addition, guests from around the world were grouped according to the countries from which they came, highlighting the political situation of those times in Hungary. Results: Before World War II guests mostly came from the United States and a few other countries. However, after World War II almost no Western European or American guests visited, but there were still many urologist visitors from the Soviet Union and Eastern block countries. With a slight political improvement in 1961 Western European and American urologists increased visits to the department. Since 1997 Professor Imre Romics has been the department chair, and has seen the greatest number of visitors from around the world. Conclusions: The guestbook of the Semmelweis University Department of Urology is a real mirror of international contacts, and represents the last few decades of history of a country in the heart of middle Europe.