Pacific Rim
College of Psychiatrists
LEADERSHIP
MESSAGES
Dear current and future PRCP friends
It is my utmost pleasure and honor to serve as the President of the Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists.
The Pacific Rim College of Psychiatrists (PRCP) is an association of psychiatrists from countries bordering the Pacific Ocean. The College was formed in 1980 by a group of 56 psychiatrists from 10 countries: Canada, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and the United States. Psychiatrists associated with the University of California, Los Angeles, played a prominent role in establishing the College. Although primarily formed by academic psychiatrists, membership is open to psychiatrists in any area of practice.
Thanks to the support of everyone concerned, the PRCP and the World Association of Cultural Psychiatry Joint Congress Tokyo 2025 was a huge success. Based on the expanded network of psychiatrists and mental health professionals in the region, I aim to develop PRCP activities and contributions during my tenure. The capable Board and the Executive Committee suggest possible areas of development and leadership include:
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The development of webinars
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Reinforcement of the relationship between the PRCP and national societies
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Reinforcement of the collaboration with the Asian Federation of Psychiatric Associations
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Reinforcement of gender-balanced leadership within the PRCP
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Reinforcement of support to the early career psychiatrists' network in the region
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Reinforcement of the journal, Asia-Pacific Psychiatry.
The PRCP aims to foster the development of mental health services and to support improvements in education and research.
The PRCP also provides excellent opportunities to establish and expand networks in the region through its biennial conferences. The next PRCP congress will be held in the Philippines in January 2027.
I encourage you all to join the PRCP to strengthen your regional networks, and I hope to see many friends and colleagues at the Congress in the Philippines.
With kindest regards
Tsuyoshi Akiyama
PRCP President
PAST MESSAGES
President Yong Chon Park, M.D., Ph.D.
PRCP President, 2023 - 2025
Dear Colleagues of PRCP,
First and foremost, I would like to share with you the exciting news that the 2025 PRCP Meeting will be successfully held, thanks to the meticulous preparations of Dr. Itsuo Asai and Tsuyoshi Akiyama. Moreover, the collaboration with the World Association of Cultural Psychiatry is sure to spark great interest among many mental health professionals.
Numerous programs have already been arranged, and there will be a wealth of engaging content, making it an exciting academic conference. I would like to express my gratitude to our Japanese colleagues for their efforts in organizing this event. Additionally, Tokyo is a beautiful and vibrant city, full of attractions that make it a place you can visit over and over again. Beyond the conference, the 2025 PRCP will provide ample opportunities to explore and experience the city. Meeting old friends and making new connections in a fresh setting will undoubtedly further stimulate our academic interests.
Although there is still a long time until September 25, 2025, the thought of that day already fills me with anticipation. I look forward to meeting you all, greeting new colleagues, catching up with old friends, and engaging in meaningful academic exchanges. These interactions will not only deepen our scholarly insights but will also foster personal growth, broadening our perspectives.
The world today is fraught with global conflicts and wars that leave us worried, disoriented, and often saddened. It is heartbreaking to witness the persistence of such turmoil. However, throughout human history, darkness has often coexisted with the emergence of new hope and joy. Even after the sun sets, it rises again the next day, and despite storms and tempests, peace and calm will eventually return. People may pass away, but new life continues to be born, a beautiful reminder that nothing in this world remains still.
On a personal note, South Korea has recently endured an unimaginable crisis in its healthcare system over the past year. The pain and sorrow brought on by political populism have disrupted the medical system. However, I believe this too shall pass. While it is a source of personal shame, I would like to share this painful experience with my PRCP colleagues, discuss potential solutions, and exchange our individual circumstances. Medical students are still unable to attend classes, and it is uncertain whether new students will even be admitted. The chaos in the educational system when new students do arrive is unimaginable at this point. Interns and residents are also unable to join hospitals and are engaged in a battle against government policies. Senior colleagues are providing financial and emotional support to them, but it is a situation that brings much sadness. South Korea's medical education system is currently in deep turmoil, but I remain hopeful that, with time, dawn will break, bringing brighter days ahead.
Dear PRCP colleagues, I hope to share these experiences with you in a more uplifting and constructive manner when we meet in Tokyo in September 2025. There is an old saying that one should not send letters written at night, but I have intentionally written this letter late in the evening to reach out to you. I may feel embarrassed later, but my desire to connect with you all more closely has motivated me to do so. I look forward to seeing you in Tokyo on September 25, 2025.
Yong Chon Park, M.D., Ph.D.
PRCP PresidentProfessor
Department of Neuropsychiatry
College of Medicine, Hanyang University