APAO Beijing 2010 Daily_Thursday-DL_0428 EWDaily_01-21 ASCRS NEWS_11x15-dl.qxd 9/15/10 5:21 AM Page 1
5th Anniversary Edition The News Magazine of APACRS and COS
Thursday, September 16, 2010
APAO Congress celebrates 25 years starting today by Matt Young EyeWorld Contributing Editor
The 25th Annual APAO Congress officially kicks off today with an assortment of activities to educate and delight. phthalmologists can look forward to a bevy of subspecialty day sessions today involving cataract and refractive surgery, glaucoma topics, and vitreo-retinal surgery, as well as APAO scientific sessions. The day winds down with the Presidential Dinner today at 6:30 pm, which concludes at 9:30 pm. Excluding today, the rest of the APAO congress also is jam packed with breakfast symposia, beginning at 8:00 am each day and concluding at 8:45 am, as well as scientific ses-
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sions and live surgery throughout the day. Lunch symposia take place from 1 pm to 2 pm each day, including today. Be sure not to miss either the Opening Ceremony from 4:30 pm to 6 pm on Friday, September 17, or the Gala Dinner from 6:30 pm to 9:30 pm on Saturday, September 18. Stop in to peruse the Congress exhibition from Thursday through Sunday, 9 am to 5:30 pm, in Ballroom A, B, and C as well as Plenary Hall A and B. The 25th APAO Congress is a joint meeting of the APAO and AAO, and also is held in conjunction with the 15th Congress of the Chinese Ophthalmological Society. The APAO, meanwhile, marks its
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Congress President welcomes delegates by Chiles Aedam R. Samaniego EyeWorld Asia-Pacific Senior Staff Writer
ith over 3,000 years of history, Beijing is China's cultural and economic hub. It is for this reason, said Li Xiaoxin, M.D., current President of the Chinese Ophthalmological Society (COS), that the capital was chosen as the site of the 25th APAO/AAO Congress and the 15th Congress of the COS. “Here, we have massive scholastic, historic, cultural scenery, as well as warm and hospitable hosts,” she said in a welcome message delivered in Mandarin to participants of the two meetings. Mainland China is hosting the international ophthalmologic meeting for the first time. Dr. Li also
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serves as Congress President. Meanwhile, with over 6,000 delegates, including 1,000 visitors from other countries, Dr. Li called the 15th Congress of the COS the “first and biggest meeting” to be held in China. She expressed “extreme joy” at welcoming “friends from afar.” “I believe at this distinguished meeting, there will be great opportunities to meet old friends and to make more new friends,” she said. Ophthalmologists from all over the world, she said, are here to share their skills and experiences, increase friendship, expand cooperation and promote the advancement of ophthalmology. “Ultimately,” she said, “the ben-
eficiaries are our patients.” Dr. Li thanked all the invited speakers, the members of the organizing committee and volunteers, and all the delegates for their “strong support” to make the meeting a success. She also expressed deep appreciation for the attention and support from the ophthalmic industry, saying their efforts will “inevitably promote greater ophthalmic development in China.” Inviting all the delegates to “enjoy this cordial, friendly meeting,” she expressed hope that this meeting, held during the “2010 Golden Autumn in Beijing,” would bring them many wonderful memories.