February 16, 2023
Dear AAPCHS members and friends,
The world has moved on despite the great hurt caused by COVID-19. On the other hand, the COVID-19 epidemic has not subsided, and the struggle continues for us. I sincerely appreciate your efforts.
Despite these circumstances, the reasons for our founding the Asian Association for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery (AAPCHS) continue to exist. That is, there are areas and places here in Asia where the level of medical care needs to be raised, and we who live in Asia ourselves feel the mission to join hands and help each other. Shortly after its establishment, AAPCHS was caught in the storm of COVID-19 and was forced to postpone its first scientific meeting. The first Annual Meeting was held online in May 2021, hosted by China, and was a great success, with 120 cardiovascular surgeons from all over Asia participating. Furthermore, in September 2022, Malaysia hosted the second Annual Meeting, a hybrid in Kuala Lumpur, which was a great success with cardiovascular surgeons from 15 Asian countries and regions participating.
Finally, the 3rd AAPCHS Annual Meeting will be held in Japan this July. The 3rd Annual Meeting will be held concurrently with the 59th Annual Meeting of Japanese Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery, chaired by Dr. Takaaki Suzuki, Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Saitama Medical University International Medical Center, who will also serve as President. We are confident that this will be a wonderful gathering of Asian and Japanese medical professionals involved in pediatric cardiovascular surgery and pediatric cardiology on-site at Pacifico Yokohama. As the world rises from COVID-19, there is no doubt that AAPCHS will greatly develop and contribute to healthcare in Asia through cooperation and collaboration with you. Join us in changing healthcare for children in Asia.
Kisaburo Sakamoto M.D.
Founding President of Asian Association for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery (AAPCHS)