It is my honor and privilege to serve as your President for the upcoming two years.
I attended the 1st Asian Oceania Conference in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (AOCPRM), May 16-19, 2008 in Nanjing, China. I went to thank Professors Jianan Li and Leonard S.W. Li for arranging a post conference ISPRM Retreat for those members of the President Cabinet who could attend. From this, two task force initiatives emerged: (1) re-evaluating the current governance structure to improve efficiency of operations and communication, and (2) developing guidelines to define the obligations and responsibilities for future World Congresses after China (2013) with respect to the host country and ISPRM, have been established.
The grade 8.1-ricter Sichuan Province Earthquake and its significant aftershocks have claimed at least 40,000 lives with another 30,000 plus missing. There are 150,000 injured and approximately five million people have lost their homes and are displaced. Approximately 80% of the homes and other buildings in the area have been destroyed or severely damaged. Presently, the land area affected by this terrible earthquake is approximately equal to the states of California and Washington.
On May 19th some members of the ISPRM President’s Cabinet met with the Chinese Association of Rehabilitation Medicine (CARM) to discuss the preliminary plan from CARM for rehabilitative services post earthquake.
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The official who we met in Nanjing to discuss the potential ways for ISPRM to assist was Dr. Yuejin Wang, the Director of the CARM, the Chair of which is the Vice Minister of Health. ISPRM will try to get WHO to cooperate with respect to support for the earthquake victims including donations, volunteers, facilities and equipment. The surplus funds from the AOCPRM Conference will be donated for the earthquake relief and rehabilitation.
China has about 8,000 to 10,000 physiatrists but their definition of a physiatrist presently is those doctors who have worked in a rehabilitation department for four years. China is still formulating the accreditation of its specialists.
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Joel A. DeLisa, MD
President
