| ASEAN Federation of Cardiology
The ASEAN Federation of Cardiology was formed thorough the cooperation among representatives of the National Heart Association from five ASEAN countries
1. Indonesia
2. Malaysia
3. Philippines
4. Singapore
5. Thailand
Founded in 1973, it is a nonpolitical organization aimed at improving standard and practice of cardiology in the ASEAN region. In 2004, Vietnam was accepted to be the sixth member, and in 2007, Myanmar and Laos were accepted to be new members.
The Federation is operated by council members i.e. the President, the Vice-President, Secretary-General, Treasurer, President and Secretary from members of national heart associations/societies. The immediate Past-President is also included in the council. Since 2006, five members, one from each founding member country, have been added to be advisers to the council.
Members of the National Heart Association automatically become members of the Federation. The ASEAN Congress of Cardiology is organized bi-annually hosted by a country member of the ASEAN Federation on an alternative basis. The date is flexible to avoid coinciding with larger cardiology meetings such as Asian Pacific Congress of Cardiology or the World Congress of Cardiology. Chairman of the organizing committee of the preceding congress becomes the President of the Federation.
The first ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Bali, Indonesia, in 1975 under the chairmanship of Dr.Sukaman Sumaryono who subsequently became the first President of the Federation.
The 2nd ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Manila, The Philippines in 1977 under the chairmanship of Dr.Avenilo Aventura.
The 3rd ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Singapore in 1980 under the chairmanship of Dr. NC Tan.
The 4th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 1982 under the chairmanship of Dr. JS Eapen .
The 5th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Bangkok, Thailand in 1984 under the chairmanship of Dr.Kumpol Prachuabmoh.
For the second decade of the Federation, the 6th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Jakarta, Indonesia in 1986 under the chairmanship of Dr.Lilly I Rilantono. Two new events were added to the congress and became part of the tradition in subsequent congresses. The first event was the Young Investigator Award, which was a competition in scientific paper presentation by young members below 40 years of age from ASEAN countries. International judges were appointed to assure fairness in selecting the winner for the award. The recipients of the first young investigator award were representatives from Indonesia and Thailand. The second event was the Sukaman Lecture to honor Dr Sukaman, the first President of the ASEAN Federation of Cardiology, who was well respected by the ASEAN and Indonesian medical communities. The title of the lecture was ?The Trend of Cardiovascular Problems in ASEAN? delivered by Dr Charles Toh from Singapore. The subsequent Sukaman lecturer was selected from outstanding cardiologists in ASEAN countries, not from the host country and on a rotation basis. This lecture subsequently became Sukaman Memorial Lecture after Dr.Sukaman?s death in 1987.
The 7th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Manila in 1988 under the chairmanship of Dr Ramiro M de Guia, Jr. The first Sukaman memorial lecture was started in this congress. The lecturer was Dr.Lily I Rilantono from Indonesia on the topic ?ASEAN Cardiology: Today and Tomorrow?.
The 8th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Singapore in 1990 under the chairmanship of Dr. Joseph Sheares. Dr Kampol Prachuabmoh from Thailand was the second Sukaman memorial lecturer on the topic ?Changing Patterns of Cardiac Surgery in ASEAN Countries?.
The 9th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Kuala Lumpur in 1992 with Dr.Kenneth Chin as chairman of the organizing committee. The third Sukaman memorial lecture was given by Dr Yolanda Sulit from the Philippines on the topic ?Development of Philippine Cardiology and Cardiology in ASEAN Setting?.
In 1992, the Federation published its own ASEAN Heart Journal to replace the Philippine Heart Journal which was an official publication since 1976, with Dr.H.B. Calleja from Philippines as the editor. In 1999, the editorial office moved to Singapore and Dr.Mak Koon-Hou was appointed an editor. In 2007 the editorial office moved to Thailand and Dr. Rungroj Krittayaphong was appointed the editor.
The 10th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Bangkok in 1994, The chairman of the organizing committee was Dr. Prinya Sakiyalak. The fourth Sukaman memorial lecture was given by Dr Nik Zainal from Malaysia on the topic ?The Development of a Cardiac Service for a Developing Country - a Personal Perspective?. The importance of exercise for prevention of heart disease was emphasized in this congress by including activities such as jogging in the morning before starting the scientific sessions and adding sport competitions to the program.
The third decade of the Federation, the 11th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology in Jakarta in July 1997, in conjunction with the 5th Asia-Pacific Congress of Cardiac Rehabilitation under the chairmanship of Dr.Dede Kusmana. Dr.Richard Ng from Singapore gave the 5th Sukaman memorial lecture under the title ?21th Century Cardiovascular Challenges?
The 12th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Manila in 1998, under the chairmanship of the Dr. Antonio S.Sibulo Jr. and Dr.Boede Damojo of Indonesia was the 6th Sukaman memorial lecturer on the topic ?Visit to Geriatric Cardiology?
The 13th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Singapore in 2000, under the chairmanship of Dr.Richard Ng and Dr.Boonchob Pongspanich from Thailand gave the 7th Sukaman memorial lecture on the topic ?Congenital Heart Disease in Thailand, Implications for Future Health Burden of ASEAN Populations?
The 14th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in 2002, under the chairmanship of the Dr.David Quek. The 8th Sukaman memorial lecture was given by Dr H.B. Calleja from the Philippines on the topic ?Einthoven and Cardiovascular Medicine?.
The 15th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Pattaya, Thailand, under the chairmanship of Dr.Supachai Chaithiraphan in 2004. The topic of The 9th Sukaman memorial lecture was ?30 Years of the ASEAN Federation of Cardiology, What is the Big Picture?? given by Dr Joseph Eravelly from Malaysia.
The 16th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Bali, Indonesia under the chairmanship of Dr. Idris Idham between April 18-21, 2007. The theme of the congress was ?Challenges and Opportunities in Prevention and Management of Heart Disease in ASEAN?. There was an inauguration of fellows of ASEAN College of Cardiology and more than 50 founding fellows were installed. The 10th Sukaman memorial lecture was given by Dr. Prinya Sakiyalak from Thailand on the topic ?Cardiology Training in ASEAN?
The 17th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology was held in Hanoi, Vietnam between October 18-21, 2008 under the chairmanship of Dr. Pham Gia Khai and the 11th Sukaman memorial lecture was given by Dr. Wu Dar-Ching from Singapore on the topic ?Impact of ASEAN Common Market on the Practice of Cardiology in ASEAN countries?
The 18th ASEAN Congress of Cardiology will be held in Cebu, Philippines, between December 1-3, 2010 under the chairmanship of Dr. Eleanora. Lopez.
ASEAN Federation of Cardiology has made good progress over the past three decades. The numbers of members as well as modern cardiac centers have increased remarkably in ASEAN region. There has been a permanent Secretariat office in Bangkok, Thailand for a six year period. We are welcoming new member from Laos and Myanmar with hope to move forward together for the benefit of our people especially in ASEAN.
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