The European Medical Laser Association was founded in Locarno, Switzerland in 1983 under the name of ELA-ML (European Laser Association - Medical Laser). Its initial aim was to improve co-ordination between research, development and application of lasers in medicine, surgery and dentistry on an international level.
The founding members came from seven European countries: Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Germany, Spain, France and Belgium. A year later, in March 1984 the name was changed to EMLA and registered as a non profitable association in Amstgericht Stuttgart, Germany, Reg. No. GR. 14203/2/84 and VR 6821, 6.8.2002.
We took the example of the European Union and the United States of America and brought together medical doctors, physicians, biologists, chemists and researchers from around the world to join and create an association that works together and better in creating new ways for laser in medicine and also provides education through workshops and new laser literature.
The First International Congress of Laser Medicine and Surgery was organized by Zlatko Simunovic M.D., FMH, in June 1984 in Locarno, Switzerland. There were 128 participants at that conference from eight European countries who presented more than 30 papers. We successfully coordinated international research of different applications of laser use in medicine and surgery and laser devices technology.
At that time lasers had been used in the treatment of patients for about 10 years but the progress was very slow. Today there are numerous societies throughout Europe who use low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and high-power or surgical laser therapy.
EMLA is the oldest registered European association with international membership.
One could not have imagined that the association would spread throughout Europe, let alone throughout the world. This confirms EMLA as a respectable force among those involved in laser medicine and reinforces one’s belief that EMLA congresses deliver international news in medical science and bring new aspects to basic laser science and its application in clinical practice.
EMLA Congresses clearly demonstrate that lasers have been increasingly employed in numerous fields of medicine, surgery, dentistry and veterinary. All EMLA congresses include educational hand-on courses that give medical doctors, physiotherapists, nurses and others the opportunity to receive proper knowledge about the use of lasers in clinical practice Conditio sine qua non.
You can see EMLA’s activities through many photographs presented here: