by Congress Organizers from the International Society of Cryosurgery
The 17th World Congress of the International Society of Cryosurgery was held in Bali, Indonesia, last December. At the opening ceremony, Prof. Dr. Akmal Taher, Sp.U(K), Director General of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Indonesia, welcomed the delegates. A total of 109 delegates from four continents—Asia, Europe, North America and South America—attended what was agreed to be one of the most favorable worldwide scientific and medical events.
The congress scientific program was carried out through three days. The ISC hymn was introduced in lyrics and music and the ISC flag was hoisted at the opening congress ceremony for the first time since 1972.
The World Day of Cryology, December 12, was introduced and delegates resolved to celebrate this day each year worldwide. The upcoming 18th ISC bodies will officially submit an application to the World Health Organization to so honor the date in the near future.
Two workshops on contemporary cryosurgery on animals were held in the modern Bali Teaching Center under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Yaron Har-Shai (UK), Prof. Dr. Lizhi Niu (China) and Dr. Jayson S. Brower (USA). Thirty-four doctors attended. Sixty oral presentations were given on topics such as modern cryoscience, cryomedicine and cryosurgery, and one satellite symposium on the basic mechanisms of low temperatures was led by Prof. John G. Baust, PhD (USA) and Prof. Dr. Vyacheslav M. Tyutyunnik (Russia). There was also a poster session.
The best scientific presentations were awarded the Grand Gold Medal and ISC Gold Medal. Original paper awards, an oral presentation prize and book awards were also distributed. The memorable cultural gala dinner was held on the beach with Indonesian National Dancing.
In two sessions of the ISC General Assemblies, task analyses were presented by ISC President Prof. Dr. Nikolai N. Korpan (Austria) and discussed with the ISC Board of Governors and congress delegates. These included the ISC hymn, ISC flag, ISC badge, World Day of Cryology, and nominations for ISC awards. Candidates for the new ISC President and ISC Board of Governors for 2013-2015 were proposed, discussed and elected. The paper ballot election was supervised by the Election Commission: Dr. Vladimir Anikin (UK), Prof. Dr. Masashi Watanabe (Japan) and Prof. Dr. Yevgenia A. Kryuchyna (Ukraine).
Prof. Dr. Kecheng Xu, Chairman of the Fuda Cancer Hospital in Guanzhou and Honorary President of the Asian Society of Cryosurgery (China), was elected the 18th President of the ISC.
The new 18th Board of Governors of the ISC are:
Prof. Dr. Sajio Sumida – Japan; Prof. Dr. Kecheng XU – China; Prof. Dr. Mikhail Khanevich – Russia; Dr. Barlian Sutedja – Indonesia; Dr. Patrick J. Le Pivert – USA; Dr. Juana Elida Mauro – Argentina; Prof. Dr. Masashi Watanabe – Japan; Dr. Vladimir Anikin – UK; Prof. Dr. Lizhi Niu – China; Prof. Dr. Olexii I. Dronov – Ukraine; Esther Lee Poh Law – Malaysia; Prof. Dr. Yaron Harshai – Israel/UK; Prof. Dr. Junta Harada – Japan; Prof. Dr. Alexii V. Zhao – Russia; Prof. Dr. Yueyong Xiao – China; Dr. Jayson S. Brower – USA; Dr. Juozas Prushinskas – Lithuania; Sergei V. Kungurtsev – Russia; Prof. Dr. Tadashi Shimizu – Japan; Prof. Dr. Nikolai N.
Korpan – Austria.
Prof. Dr. Sajio Sumida and Prof. Dr. Nikolai N. Korpan were made Honorary Presidents of the ISC and awarded a diploma with a special medal and the ISC President Prize “in recognition for ongoing commitment and dedicated service.”
The next ISC World Congress will be held in Doha, Qatar, in 2015. For more details, visit http://www.isc.cryosurgery.at, submenu: 17th World Congress/General Overview & ISC Laureates 2013.
