The International Voice

S1-1 Prof. Leilani B. Mercado-Asis, M.D., Ph.D.

Personal Information

Nationality: Filipino

Position: Professor

Department: Internal Medicine

Organization: University of Santo Tomas Hospital

Email: lanibmasis@gmail.com

Educational background & professional experience (in sequence of the latest year)

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND 2013-2016 Completed graduate Certification on Distance Education/ University of the Philippines 2009-2012 Masteral in Public Health Major in Biostatistics University of the Philippines PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Present Department of Medicine, Hospital of the Infant Jesus Chairman

October 2012-

October 2013 Department of Medical Education and Research UST Hospital Research Coordinator

June 2010-

May 2012 Department of Medicine UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery Chairman

July 2001-

July 2010 Section of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Department of Medicine UST Hospital Chief

Oct 2002 -

Sept 2003 Philippine Orthopedic Hospital Medical Specialist I

Research Interests

1. PITUITARY 2. ADRENAL 3. DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE2

Publications (5 important publications – latest sequence)

1. Acromegaly with cardiomyopathy,cardiac thrombus and hemorrhagic cerebral infract: A case report of therapeutic dilemma with review of literature. Int J Endocrinol 13(2). (April 2015) 2. Successful Reduction in the size of cystic thyroid nodules with 131iodine therapy Journal of

Endocrinology and Metabolism;4:3:12-18 (2014) 3. Removal of dominant adrenal lateralized by glucagon-stimulated adrenal venous sampling alleviates hypertension in bilateral pheochromocytoma. Journal of Life Sciences, ISSN 1934-7391, USA 7:6. (June 2013) 4. Pheochromocytoma: Unmasking the Chameleon.in: Koch CA, Chrousos GP (eds.). Contemporary

Endocrinology. Endocrine Hypertension. Springer, New York 2013, pp123-148. (2013) 5. Postprandial peaking and plateauting of trglyceride and VLDL were observed in patients with cardiovascular disease maintained on low fat diet and statin treatment. International Journal of

Endocrinology and Metabolism, 10(4):75-81. (2012)

S1-1 The NIH-UST- ASIAN Collaboration

LEILANI B. MERCADO-ASIS

Internal Medicine, University of Santo Tomas Hospital, Manila, Philippines

In 2008, the University of Santo Tomas Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism and the National Institutes of Health USA entered into a teaching collaboration, so-called UST-NIH Fellowship Training Program under the tutelage of Dr, Karel Pacak. To date, over 20 fellows have rotated to the NIH for 6 months after a 2-year training at UST Hospital. Dr. Pacak developed a program where the Philippine trainees are able to engage in patient care, diagnosis and management, Likewise, research endeavor and opportunities flourished yielding excellent protocol development and journal and book chapter publications.

The NIH scientific collaboration also opened the door to the establishment of Asian Alliance for the Study of Neuroendocrine Tumors (AASNT). This is an organization composed of endocrinologists in the ASEAN countries interested in the aforementioned diseases. Several AASNT symposia have been carried out; such as in the Philippines, Vietnam and Malaysia.

Foremost and noblest of the collaboration is the established referral system between NIH, Philippines (UST), and the ASEAN countries on patient diagnosis and management.

S1-2 Major General Yupin Benjasuratwong, M.D.

Personal Information

Nationality: Thai

Position Consultant and Lecturer at Division of Endocrinology

Department: Department of Medicine

Organization: Phramongkutklao College of Medicine

Email: benjasuratwong@yahoo.com

Educational background & professional experience (in sequence of the latest year)

1994 The Endocrine Society of Thailand /The Royal College of Physicians of Thailand Diploma of the Thai Subspecialty Board of Endocrinology and Metabolism 1990 Thyroid Study Unit, University of Chicago, USA Certificate in Research Fellowship 1982 Faculty of Mdicine , Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University/ The Royal College of Physicians of Thailand Thai Board of Internal Medicine

Research Interests

1. Diabetes 2. Thyroid 3. Pituitary

Publications (5 important publications – latest sequence)

1. Petch Rawdaree, Chaicharn Deerochanawong, Thavatchai Peerapatdit, Nuntakorn Thongtang,Sompongse

Suwanwalaikorn, Ampai Khemkha, Yupin Benjasuratwong, Apussanee Boonyavarakul, et al. Efficacy and safety of generic and original pioglitazone in type 2 diabetes mellitus : A multicenter, a doubleblinded, randomized-controlled study. J Med Assoc Thai 2010; 93 (11):1249-55. 2. Rawdaree P, Ngarmukos C, Deerochanawong C, Suwanwalaikorn S, Chetthakul T, Krittiyawong S,

Benjasuratwong Y, Bunnag P , Kosachunhanun N, Plengvidhya N, Reelawattana R, Prathipanawatr

T, Likitmaskul S, Mongkolsomlit S. Thailand Diabetes Registry (TDR) Project: Clinical Status and

Long Term Vascular Complications in Diabetic Patients. J Med Assoc Thai 2006;89(Suppl 1): S1-9. 3. Kosachunhanun N, Benjasuratwong Y, Mongkolsomlit S, Rawdaree P, Plengvidhya N, Reelawattana

R, Bunnag P, Prathipanawatr T, Krittiyawong S, Suwanwalaikorn S, Deerochanawong C, Chetthakul

T,Ngarmukos C,Komoltri C. Thailand Diabetes Registry (TDR) Project: Glycemic Control in Thai Type 2 Diabetes.and Its Relation to Hypoglycemic Agent Usage. J Med Assoc Thai 2006;89(Suppl 1): S66-71. 4. Ruengkanchanasetr P, Bangchuad T,Sithinamsuvan P, Benjasuratwong Y, Chuankrerkkul W,

Ubolvatra S, and Supaporn T. Hypothalamic neurocysticercosis presents with polyuria: a first report of an unusual manifestation. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2005. 5. Puavili G, Kheesukapan P, Chanprasertyotin S, Chandraprasert S, Suwanvilaikorn S, Nitiyanant

W, Deerochanawong C, Benjasuratwong Y, Munskul N, Pongchaiyaikul C, Kespechara K,

Montreewasuwat N. Random capillary plasma glucose measurement in the screenig of diabetes mellitus in high risk subjects in Thailand. Diabetes Res. Clin Prac 2001;51:125-131.

S1-2 The Present and Future of Endocrinology in Thailand

YUPIN BENJASURATWONG

First Vice President, The Endocrine Society of Thailand Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Medicine , Phramongkutklao College of Medicine, Bangkok , Thailand.

The Endocrine Society of Thailand (EST) was established in 1981 in connection with the organization of the ASEAN Federation of Endocrine Societies (AFES). Currently, there are 632 members including 556 physicians, 22 scientists, 15pharmacists, 18 nurses and 10 dietitians.

The formal fellowship training in Endocrinology and Metabolism was started in 1993 with 6 training centers for 11 trainee positions per year. It has grown now to 9 training centers with 19 positions per year. Currently, there are 254 physicians with Diploma of the Thai Subspecialty Board of Endocrinology and Metabolism. However, most of the certified endocrinologists practice in Bangkok.

Each training center has to fulfill prerequisite requirements including the numbers of certified staffs, numbers of patients with endocrine diseases (out-patient and in-patient), capability for hormone assays as well as dynamic endocrine function tests, imaging study, and fine needle aspiration (FNA) of thyroid. Reaccreditation of training centers is performed every 5 years. A core curriculum, training activities and examination process have been approved by the Royal College Physicians of Thailand (RCPT) and medical council.

The EST provide regular educational activities for members, trainees and other healthcare providers such as interhospital endocrine conference, basic endocrinological science and clinical practice courses. The most important event is the EST annual meeting where most of our members gather together, exchange and update information on endocrine disease and EST activities. Also, joint meeting with other medical specialties are encouraged to foster more interdisciplinary collaboration.

The EST has close relationship with the Diabetes Association of Thailand (DAT) The two organizations have worked together to update the country’s diabetes guideline every 3 years. Joint cooperation on Type 1 diabetes registry project is in the planning process.

One of the missions of EST is to help promote research related to endocrinology in Thailand. Each year the EST gives away two research grants as well as travel grants for young endocrinologists to present their research at international meetings. To honor and encourage research of high quality, the Endocrine Society Awards for Distinguished Research in Endocrinology and in Diabetes have been established since 2002.

The EST is a founding member of AFES and AFES as a group also is a member of the International Society of Endocrinology (ISE). It is the intention of EST to increase collaboration with other endocrine societies around the globe.

S1-3 Assoc Prof. Joseph Lopez

Personal Information

Nationality: Malaysia

Position: Last position: Head of Department; presently retired

Department: Department of Biomedical Sciences

Organization: MAHSA University

Email: jblopez2611@gmail.com

Educational background & professional experience (in sequence of the latest year)

Jan 2006-Nov 2014 Dept of Biomedical Sciences, MAHSA University, Kuala Lumpur Head of Department 1973-2005 Institute for Medical Research Research Officer

Research Interests

1. Environmental impact of clinical laboratories 2. Tumour marker utility 3. Laboratory quality

Publications (5 important publications – latest sequence)

1. Lopez JB, Hoyaranda E and Priatman The First Green Diagnostic Centre and Laboratory Building in

Indonesia. eJIFCC. 2016; 27:84-87 2. Lopez JB and Badrick T. Proposals for the mitigation of the environmental impact of clinical laboratories. Clin Chem Lab Med 2012; 50(9):1559–1564. 3. Lopez JB. Recent developments in the first detection of hepatocellular carcinoma (Review). Clin

Biochem Rev 2005; 26: 65-79. 4. Lopez JB and Chin LP. Plasma homocysteine reference values of adult Malaysians from three ethnic groups. Clin Chim Acta 2004, 340: 235-238 5. Lai CL Leslie Charles (Chairman of committee and in alphabetical order), Cheong SK, Goh

KL, Hapizah Nawawi, Leong CF, Lim KH Albert, Loh CS, Lopez JB, Subramaniam R and

Sivanesratnam V. Clinical Practice Guidelines on Serum Tumour Markers. Malays J Pathol 2003; 25: 83-105

S1-3 Successful Organization of an International Medical Conference

JOSEPH LOPEZ

APFCB Immediate Past President and Chair, APFCB Congresses and Conferences Committee

Medical conferences are an important means by which health professionals keep abreast with the latest developments in their fields. The number of annual health conferences worldwide runs into the 1000s. The competition for participants and sponsors is therefore intense. Most international health conferences belong to international medical bodies, which then delegate the organization to their members. The organization begins with the formation of Congress Organizing Committee (COC), which oversees all aspects of the meeting. It may then appoint the scientific organizing committee (SOC), sub-committees for specific activities, a PCO and an external auditor. The core of the scientific programme usually consists of a keynote address, plenary lectures and scientific symposia. Industrysponsored workshops and satellite meetings should be conducted only with SOC approval. There should be an agreement with the PCO clearly defining its role and the financial arrangements involved. The conference should be actively promoted and its website developed early. Revenue streams should be identified and financial expenditure closely monitored. Sponsorship support from industry and especially from the trade exhibition is the biggest source of revenue. The social programme may include the opening and closing events, the conference dinner, an accompanying persons programme and tours. Contingency planning should be factored into the preparations. The audited accounts of the conference should be ready by 6 months after the congress.