History of the
International Union
Adapted from the WUIP Manual, Melbourne 2018. Rabe E (ed.), Viavital Verlag GmbH, Cologne, Germany.
A Legacy Built Since 1947
Early Beginnings & Société Française de Phlébologie
Indeed there was an "Association of Specialists for Leg Diseases" in Germany between 1909-1934. However, the majority of authors agree that the Société Française de Phlébologie (SFP) was the world's first scientific phlebological association. Raymond Tournay (1893-1981) – who also coined the term "Phlebology" – and his colleagues founded this association in 1947. The SFP is considered the germ cell of the WUIP.
Phlebological Association of Italy & Germany
The second national association brought to life was the Phlebological Association of Italy in 1953; their founders were Glauco Bassi, Marcello Comel and others. The third national association was the Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Phlebologie (Germany), which was constituted in Frankfurt/Main.
Benelux Society of Phlebology
In 1957, the fourth association, the Benelux Society of Phlebology was founded in Eindhoven under the aegis of Hendrik Roelof van der Molen (1907-2001); it represents the countries Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Foundation of the WUIP
The WUIP was established by these previously existing national associations following the IV. Journées Internationales de Phlébologie d'Aix-en-Provence in the Castle de Meyrargues. Pierre Wallois was elected as first general secretary. In 1959, the German Erich Krieg (1902-1970) was elected first president of the WUIP.
First WUIP World Congress & Swiss Society
The first WUIP World Congress was held in Chambéry in 1960 under the direction of Jean Marmasse and Suzanne Bourgeois. There were visitors joining from many countries outside the founding nations. In the same year, 1960, a phlebological association was constituted in Switzerland.
Scandinavian Society for Phlebology
In 1963, Gunnar Bauer, Knud Hæger and colleagues founded the Scandinavian Society for Phlebology which represents the countries Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Following the death of the first WUIP president, Erich Krieg, in 1970, Hendrik Roelof van der Molen from the Netherlands was elected his successor.
Latin American & Canadian Expansion
Already in 1968, the first Latin-American purely phlebologically orientated association, the Sociedad Argentina de flebologia y Linfologia, was brought to life. On the occasion of the World Congress in Amsterdam in 1968, it was acknowledged by the WUIP bodies. In 1973, the Société Canadienne de Phlébologie was founded.
Global Growth
Peter Conrad and William Campell established the Australian & New Zealand Society of Phlebology in 1974. Brazil, Columbia, and Paraguay were the first South American countries with new associations. In 1978, György Rado inaugurated a Phlebological Section in Hungary, while Oswald Petter set up a section in the GDR.
The Founders
Raymond Tournay
Founder of the Société Française de Phlébologie (1947) and the man who coined the term "Phlebology".
Hendrik Roelof van der Molen
Co-founder of the Benelux Society (1957) and second President of the UIP (1971–1983).
Erich Krieg
First President of the UIP (1959–1970), elected at the founding congress in France.
Glauco Bassi
Italian representative, founder of the International Union of Phlebology.
Presidents of the WUIP
| Name | Country | Incumbency |
|---|---|---|
| Sergio Gianesini | Italy | 2023-2027 |
| Kurosh Parsi | Australia | 2019-2023 |
| Nick Morrison | USA | 2015-2019 |
| Angelo Scuderi | Brazil | 2011-2015 |
| Eberhard Rabe | Germany | 2007-2011 |
| Claudio Allegra | Italy | 2003-2007 |
| Hugo Partsch | Austria | 1999-2003 |
| Georges Jantet | France | 1995-1999 |
| Andre Davy | France | 1989-1995 |
| Jean van der Stricht | Belgium | 1983-1989 |
| Hendrik R. van der Molen | The Netherlands | 1971-1983 |
| Erich Kreig | Fed. Rep of Germany | 1959-1970 |
Legacy of Leadership
This portrait of the WUIP Presidents was commissioned and unveiled during the Inaugural Award Ceremony of the WUIP in Melbourne, Australia in February, 2018. It now resides in the WUIP office.
From UIP to WUIP
Historic expansion from UIP to WUIP and presidency turnover
The 2025 General Council stands as a historic milestone in the evolution of the Organization, marking its advancement toward a future in which it is clearly recognized as a World Union of International Societies dedicated to Phlebology and Lymphology.
At the same time, this evolution provided an opportunity to honor the Organization's distinguished heritage by preserving the historic acronym UIP, while adding a "W" to reflect its truly global dimension, togehter with the adding of the lymphology focus. Since its foundation in France in 1959, the acronym UIP had stood for Union Internationale de Phlébologie. At that time, achieving an international dimension by bringing together four founding European scientific societies represented a remarkable accomplishment.
By 2025, however, the Organization had evolved into a genuinely global scientific union, bringing together 90 scientific societies from across the world, adopting English as its official language, and embracing both venous and lymphatic practice within its scope.
Proposed by the 2023–2027 President, Prof. Sergio Gianesini, and supported by the majority of the Executive Committee, the evolution of the Organization's name was formally approved by the 2025 General Council, marking the transition toward a new global identity while preserving the legacy on which the Organization was built.
Visually, the new logo remains respectful of this tradition while incorporating the innovations outlined below.
Another historic step was taken by the 2025 General Council, which approved a proposal put forward vehemently by President Prof. Sergio Gianesini himself to prohibit the re-election of a President. This landmark decision was intended to ensure appropriate leadership renewal and rotation in the Organization's highest office, while preserving institutional continuity and recognizing the contribution of past Presidents. Upon completion of their mandate, Presidents retain the title of President Emeritus and are granted lifelong membership of the General Council.
Union Internationale de Phlebologie
- Brand identity history protection as extremely similar to the previous one.
- Opening of the previously closed valves, highligting the opening to the entire World.
- All continents representation, offering the chance of pins with globes of different metal to recognize different membership status (honorary members, emeritus state, etc)
- Green equator line to showcase the reach-out also to the lymphatic field.
- Writing explaining the meaning of Phlebology and Lymphology
The WUIP has grown from its European roots to become a truly global organization, connecting phlebology societies on every inhabited continent and advancing the science of venous and lymphatic disease worldwide.