We may not have it all together, but together we have it all. The importance of intra- and interdisciplinary collaboration.

Although sub-specialization allowed the development of research in depth and made the management of patients more adequate and safe, the ‘reconstruction’ of unity in human knowledge and clinical practice remains a difficult but necessary challenge. In the ideal World, profound collaboration between all those involved in medicine (physicians, scientists, engineers, industrial companies, universities and scientific societies) will overcome all possible hurdles in this process. When decided and applied, the results of joint efforts are really impressive. Recently, the ESGE, +he Academy and the ESHRE, realizing the need for united action, have established common initiatives thus changing a dream into reality. Female genital anomalies is a topic within the interests of ESHRE and ESGE since they are benign entities affecting reproductive potential of the women but, on the other hand, their treatment is nowadays feasible and effective with endoscopy. An evidence-based updated new classification has been recognized as an urgent priority for their management. EAGS, recognizing this need, has established, quite early, a scientific project on that issue; the characteristics of the new system have been clarified through a systematic and critical re-evaluation of the existing proposals and, thereafter, a proposal for a updated clinical classification of uterine anomalies to be used as the scientific background for a working group of experts in the field has been prepared (Grimbizis et al., 2013a; 2013b). It was obvious that ESHRE and ESGE, based on that preparative work, could further contribute to this common challenge from a different but supplementary point of view if a common “platform” of action could be found; this was accomplished with the establishment of a common working group under the code name CON(genital)UT(erine)A(nomalies). Once the platform was found, a scientific committee has been appointed to run the project, and DELPHI procedure was adopted as the method to look for a consensus between the scientists and to develop the new system. Once the project came to the end and the classification was ready, after getting approval by the Executive Committees, the new system was published in the official journals of the two Societies at the same time (Grimbizis and Campo, 2010; 2012) ( Fig. 6 ). This was really a very important step forward since the fruitful collaborations of the European Societies interested in the matter created actually a European classification system in a hot issue of clinical interest.

The examples mentioned above actually gave us an idea of the framework and the crucial points for a successful and uneventful collaboration between scientific Societies. First point is to outline the topic of common interest and clearly describe the aims of the collaboration. Secondly, it is important to find a platform for collaboration. This can be different depending on the issue and on the priorities, but it should certainly be functional and flexible. To establish the diploma programmes independent Steering Committees for each Society where established as for the new classification the work was performed by a common working group the CONUTA group. Third point is to define the method to accomplish the aims. This also could be different depending on the issue and the required final result. And last but not least, since it might be the most important point, is to clarify the borders of the cooperation for each Society. The own responsibilities and rights and the respect for each Society’s independence and its distinct scientific entity are key points of any common initiative. Finally, although rules are always the basis for an uneventful collaboration, the persons involved in each process are of equal importance. Open-minded, inventive, team-workers, opinion makers and bearing new ideas scientists are the ideal candidates for these initiatives. Collaboration (between societies) is not always an easy task to be achieved but it is certainly worthwhile because it creates the opportunities to explore new horizons in research and clinical practice. It is our assignment to collaborate in the pursuit of the best possible care for every patient worldwide and, now that the window to the medicine of the future is unlocked, it is our common responsibility to keep it open.