AASPN

Dear friends and colleagues, Asian-Australasian Society for Pediatric Neurosurgery (AASPN) is founded in 2013 as an academic society in the field of pediatric neurosurgery representing Asian and Australasian continents.

According to the Constitution of AASPN, the purpose of the Society is the advancement of pediatric neurosurgery in Asia and Australasia in all of the aspects in pediatric neurosurgery by (1) facilitating the personal association and inter-society communication in the region and worldwide, (2) developing and supporting education and training programs, (3) aiding in the establishment and development of pediatric neurosurgical services in developing countries, and (4) fostering research in pediatric neurosurgery and allied sciences. The primary means of achieving these purposes are holding Congress of AASPN at intervals of two years, and educational programs as needed. These activities may be held for members of the Society and persons who are involved in the field of pediatric neurosurgery.

It is my great honor to be the 4th President of AASPN succeeding preceding presidents, Professors Tai-Tong Wong, Chandrashekhar Deopujari and Hioraki Sakamoto. The Immediate Past President Professor H Sakamoto started his term of presidency in 2019 and the 4th Congress was scheduled in 2021 in Sendai, Japan under the leadership of Professor Reizo Shirane which was also expected to be the end of Professor H Sakamoto' s term. However, the COVID-19 pandemic made the Congress postponed to 2023 and terms of all positions of Executive Board (EB) were extended to the end of the pandemic. Even AASPN should go into the hibernation in its official activity, the President and Secretary should spend hard time to make plans for the Congress and the educational program (Asian-Australasian Advanced Course in Pediatric Neurosurgery, AAACPN) during the period of 'invisible future'. Fortunately, the 20th AAACPN, which was initially scheduled to be held in 2020 in Cairns, Australia, was held via on-line in January 2023 with the leadership of Professors Wirginia Maixner and C Deopujari.

Professor H Sakamoto wanted to step down from his presidency as the 20th AAACPN was finished on January 14 2023 instead of at the time of Congress AASPN2023 Yokohama (December 2023). He thought he stayed too long as the President (for more than 3.5 years).
I also wanted to finish my term at the time of AASPN2023 Yokohama instead of at the time of AASPN2025 Surabaya. I wanted the turnover of the leadership of AASPN to catch up the time lost during the pandemic. EB held in December 2022 approved. I succeeded the position of the President and Professor W Maixner was elected as the new President-Elect. She will be the 5th President at AASPN2023 Yokohama.

Even though the term of my presidency is short, I will do my best for a few agenda with EB members. We have to help preparation of successful Congress AASPN2023 Yokohama with close cooperation with Professors R Shirane and Nobuhito Morota. This is the first face-to-face activity since the pandemic and, more importantly. the 10-year Anniversary of the foundation of our Society. In addition, we have to re-design the format of AAACPN. The new establishment and experience of online education system led us think about blending of on-line and off-line education activities. 'Mainly online course plus off-line activity during the period of Congress' may be an option. Lastly, the Central Office should be stable again. During the period of pandemic, there was no official activity, no sponsors, and almost no membership fee collection. We have to reset the mechanism of maintenance and advance of our Society as well as the function of archive.

Dear friends and colleagues,

I would like to cordially ask you a favor for our Society. Please join AASPN2023 Yokohama and exchange updated scientific information and enhance our friendship enjoying natural scenary and delicious food of Japan with hospitalities of Japanese colleagues. Updated information will be posted on the websites of AASPN and AASPN2023 Yokohama, and e-blasted to you. Please support our Society by membership fee payment, active participation to the educational course and sending historical material including photos and documents for archive.
Your contribution will be critical for achieving the goals of our Society.

Thank you for your attention.

Kyu-Chang Wang February 20 2023
President, AASPN