PRESIDENT ELECT

I am excited to inform you that the 13th Scientific Meeting of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists will be held in Tokyo from October 30 to November 2 in 2008. It will be the second time for us to meet in Japan and it is my great privilege and honor as a president elect to welcome you back.

In the past twenty-five years since the establishment of our organization, we have come to face complicated issues that require more diverse and innovative perspectives in psychiatry as social, economical, and political development face new demands worldwide. As psychiatrists, we need to become more aware and sensitive to the unique needs and challenges our patients experience. Today, it has become essential to develop strong working alliances internationally and inter-regionally to deliver more effective psychiatric treatment. For instance, international organizations like ours assumed a significant role in delivering interventions and treatment during crises such as Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami disaster. It is obvious that the alliances of Asian and Pacific Rim countries in Psychiatry are becoming more and more important.

The next conference theme is “ Recent Change in Pacific Rim Psychiatry: Evolution of Multicultural and Multidisciplinary Mental Health”, and our organizing committee is expecting participants from more than 20 countries. I hope to open a dialogue among ourselves reflecting on the idea of “collaboration” among countries, cultures, and professionals.

Around the time of the conference, Japan will be painted in beautiful autumn colors. I believe you will enjoy your trip academically, professionally, and leisurely. We plan to have special arrangements for young psychiatrists who have difficulty attending the conference due to the economic conditions in the mother country. I look forward to many participants and opportunities to meet you in 2008.

Prof Fumitaka Noda
Japan