[Founding of the Polish Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons: continuation of the history of the West Pomeranian section of the Polish Association of Surgeons].

On occasion of the 120th anniversary of the founding of the Polish Association of Surgeons, we present the scientific and educative activities of the West Pomeranian Section of the Association during its 60 years of existence. The aim of this work is to present the profile of Prof. Tomasz Grodzki, one of the founders of the Polish Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons and head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at the hospital in Szczecin-Zdunowo. Attention is devoted to his educative and scientific contributions and to the role played by Prof. Grodzki in the development of thoracic surgery in the province of West Pomerania. In cooperation with the Department of Cardiosurgery, Second Clinical Hospital in Szczecin, Professor Grodzki, as head of the Thoracic Surgery Ward at the hospital in Szczecin-Zdunowo, organized the First Founding Congress of the Polish Society of Cardiothoracic Surgeons in April 26-28, 2002.