ISE SPONSORED MEETING: AFES 2011 A GREAT SUCCESS

ISE SPONSORED MEETING: AFES 2011 A GREAT SUCCESS    

We are delighted to report on the huge success of the 16th Congress of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies (AFES) 2011. More than 1,400 participants from 34 countries came together at The White Palace Convention Centre in Ho Chi Min City, Vietnam for 4 days of innovative and exciting scientific content including more than 110 abstracts and 11 symposia and workshops.

The event, hosted by the Vietnamese Association of Diabetes and Endocrinology and in association with AFES combined an impressive scientific schedule with a lively social program steeped in colourful tradition.

  Figure 2 AFES 2011 Opening Ceremony

Figure 1 White Palace Convention Centre, Vietnam

AFES, a regional partner of ISE, is made up of 7 National Endocrinology Societies from the Asia/Oceania region comprising of: Malaysia (www.mems.my), Philippines (www.endo-society.org.ph), Singapore (www.emss.com.sg) Thailand (www.thaiendocrine.org), Indonesia (www.perkeni.net), Vietnam (VADE) and now Myanmar (MSEM) who were proudly introduced as the latest addition to the Federation at this years congress.

In support of the its regional partner ISE brought together a team of highly esteemed experts from the other side of the world including Professor Paul M Stewart (UK), Professor AJ van der Lely (Netherlands), Professor Felix Beuschlein (Germany), Professor Ian Hay (USA) and Professor Ashley Grossman (UK) to offer a truly global perspective to the meeting. The ISE led faculty presented important innovations and cutting-edge research in a combination of sponsored symposia and plenary sessions within the exciting schedule of events. Secretary General of the ISE, Professor Paul M Stewart said: “ISE are proud to have supported this terrific event as part of its mission to develop regionalisation at a global level. This congress has helped forge an important global partnership which will see AFES representation introduced onto the ISE Executive Committee in the very near future”.

ISE also awarded a Travel Grant and complimentary registration to attend ICE/ECE 2012 in Florence, Italy to three of the young award-winning trainees from the region in recognition of their excellent work. Local Organiser and Chairperson of VADE, Nguyen Thy Khue said: “I hope that through this Congress there will be a harmonizing of treatment regimens for endocrine disorders, and together as a region, we can bring forth the best care to our patients. In addition, the friendship forged and strengthened during this Congress will continue to grow and translate into research collaborations in the future.” More photographs of the event can be found here: www.facebook.com/isendo The next meeting, AFES 2013, will take place in Indonesia, for further information visit: www.afes2013.org

Figure 3 ISE Secretary General Paul Stewart