In 1979, French surgeons J.P. Chevrel, J. Rives, and R. Stoppa initiated the modern history of hernia pathology and abdominal wall surgery.

A simple meeting of friends thus transformed into the founding of GREPA, Groupe de Recherche et d’Étude de la Paroi Abdominale; a scientific association, a reference model that transcended French borders and became a guide for the training of many Italian surgeons.
The appointment of G. Trivellini as president marked the beginning of a period of growth and commitment, including research, in Italy.

From Europe to the world: in 1998, the European Hernia Society (EHS) was established, currently comprising over 700 surgeons from 13 European countries, divided into National Chapters. The EHS, alongside sister societies such as the American Hernia Society, the Asian Pacific Hernia Society, the Australian Hernia Society, and the Afro and Middle East Hernia Society, later created a global network, with the First World Congress of Abdominal Wall Surgery in Milan in 2015 serving as its showcase.

The Italian Society of Hernia and Abdominal Wall Surgery (ISHAWS) was founded in December 2003, in Milan as the Italian Chapter of the EHS, proposed by three founding members: G.P. Campanelli, F. Corcione, and V. Mandalà, with P. Bocchi as the first National Delegate.

ISHAWS, the Italian Chapter, represents the National Chapter with the largest number of members, which is constantly increasing, all united by a specific interest in abdominal wall pathology and surgery.