DISABILITY AND REHABILITATION, 1998; VOL. 20, NO. 11, 431433

The International Rehabilitation Medicine Association (IRMA) : News and Views

DONNA JONES Executive Director, IRMA

Update mechanism to facilitate medical rehabilitation input to

The International Rehabilitation Medicine Associ- ation (IRMA) was founded in November 1968 by Sidney Licht, MD. It is an association of physicians from all specialities of medicine and surgery interested in pro- moting the art and science of medicine and the improvement of health through an understanding and utilization of rehabilitation medicine. Membership is available to all physicians from any field of medicine and/or surgery who have a special interest in rehabili- tation. Membership fee is US$20/year. Members receive a certificate, the official news letter ‘News and Views’, directory and reduced subscription fees for Disability and Rehabilitation.

The International Federation of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IFPMR) is an organization with the objective to advance all aspects of physical medicine and rehabilitation for the benefit of mankind. Full mem- bership is open to national societies of physical medicine and rehabilitation, controlled and composed of qualified physicians and surgeons. Associate membership is open to medical societies with a secondary interest in physical medicine and/or rehabilitation, or a primary interest in one of its branches.

December 1999 will see the beginning of a new society the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM). This is a result of a merger between IRMA and IFPMR. The mission of ISPRM is to be the pre-eminent scientific and educational international society for practitioners in the fields of physical medicine and rehabilitation ; to improve the knowledge, skills, and attitudes of physicians in the understanding of the patho- dynamics and management of impairments and dis- abilities; to help to improve the quality of life of people with impairments and disabilities; and to provide a

For information on any of the organizations-IRMA, IFPMR, ISPRM, membership, articles in the newsletter, the journal, and/or upcoming events contact: Donna Jones, 2814 Dove Country Drive, Stafford, Texas 77477, USA; Tel: + 1-713-799- 5086; Fax: + 1-713-799-5058; E-mail: djoneslpmr@aoI.com

international health organizations with special emphasis on those dedicated to the rehabilitation field. Mem- bership will be open to national societies, individuals and corporations.

13th World Congress of the International Federation of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IFPMR) to convene 11-14 November 1999

Join more than 2000 colleagues at the 13th World Congress of IFPMR. This meeting convenes 11-14 November 1999, at the Hilton Washington and Towers in Washington, DC, USA.

The IFPMR 13th World Congress will be held in conjunction with the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) 6 1 st Annual Assembly, providing attendees with enhanced edu- cational options and learning opportunities.

The IFPMR 13th World Congress will feature pres- entations on the latest developments in physical medi- cine and rehabilitation. The Congress will include paper and poster presentations highlighting international re- search in physical medicine and rehabilitation. To receive an application to submit a paper or poster presentation please e-mail the Congress secretariat at : info@aapmr. org and include your name and full mailing address including country and postal code. Deadline for abstracts is 1 February 1999.

This historic meeting will be the last IFPMR World Congress and a special closing ceremony will usher in a new organization-the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRMbformed by the merger of the IFPMR and the International Rehabili- tation Medicine Association (IRMA). John L. Melvin, MD (USA) will serve as president of ISPRM with William Peek, MD (The Netherlands) serving as presi- dent-elect.

A variety of social and cultural programmes will be available for IFPMR Congress attendees including special pre- and post-congress tours of the Washington,

0963-8288/98 S12.00 0 1998 Taylor & Francis Ltd

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DC area. A commercial exhibition will also be held in conjunction with the Congress.

For further information or to be placed on the mailing list for future Congress announcements please contact : Secretariat of 13th World Congress of IFPMR, c/o AAPMR, One IBM Plaza, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 6061 1-3604, USA; Tel: + 1-312-464-9700; Fax: + 1- 3 12-464-0227 ; E-mail : infor@aapmr.org, http ://www. aaprm.org

IRMA president visits Brazil

Professor Satoshi Ueda, MD, IRMA president, was invited by the Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Fisica e Reabilitacao to visit Brazil (October 1997) and par- ticipate in many activities of this event. Professor Ueda presented a conference, ‘Stroke Rehabilitation’ at the XV Brazilian Congress of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and XVII Latin American Congress of Medical Association of Rehabilitation (both with 1200 participants). He participated in the opening of the Prevention Campaign of Physical Deficiencies and made a walk through the Ibirapuera Park with Dr Barth Green. He met with representatives of medical re- habilitation associations of Argentina, Uruguay, Para- guay, Chile, Equador, Puerto h c o , Colombia and Panama. He met with the vice president of Rehabilitation International, Dr Isabel Maior, to discuss Latin-Ameri- can participation at the RI Congress to be held in Brazil in the year 2000.

IRMA

Reminder to all

If you are a member of IRMA or a member of IFPMR it is time to renew your dues. Our goal is to have all individual, society and corporate membership up to date and in good standing before December 1999. This will enable your membership to be transferred to the new organization. It will give you the opportunity to be part of this new and exciting organization and enable you to be a part of the international world of rehabilitation. Don’t be left out, renew your membership today.

1st World Congress of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine

In the year 2001, the real beginning of the new millennium, the First World Congress of the new International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine will be held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, July 7-13. Rehabilitation medicine flourishes as a result

of the strong interaction between clinicians and re- searchers. The scientific programme will, therefore, focus on a two-way knowledge transfer. An exchange of information between countries which recently started to develop rehabilitation and those with a longer tradition will also be encouraged. In plenary session and symposia ‘ State of the Art’ lectures will cover the most prominent themes in rehabilitation medicine. Poster sessions will form an important part of the scientific programme. Free paper sessions and workshops will complete the pro- gramme. An exhibition of rehabilitation technology will be held in conjunction with the congress. For more information : Eurocongress, Conference Management, Jan van Goyenkade 11, 1075 HP Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Rehabilitation international publication

‘Community Based Rehabilitation Worldwide : Visions and Resources ’ and an accompanying video compilation of clips from outstanding CBR audiovisuals has been completed and is now available. This booklet and video resource kit is unique, containing vision statements about CBR in the 21st century and presenting detailed descriptions of what are considered the best publications and videos documenting CBR projects around the world. This packet is available for US$50, Rehabilitation International, 25E. 21st St., New York, NY 10010 USA; Tel: + 1-212-420-1500; Fax: + 1-212- 505-0871.

IRMA member at large

At the May 1998 IRMA Board of Governors meeting in Valencia, Spain, the Board voted to appoint, Dra. Linamara Battistella (Brazil) to the Board as a member at large. She will work directly with Luis Guillermo Ibarra, MD, Regional Vice President for Caribbean, Latin, Central and South America, to bring these countries into a more active role in IRMA.

ISPRM task force

The task force of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine is actively and aggressively working to bring the new organization on line by December 1999. The members, Dr John Melvin, Martin Grabois, Jose Jimenez, William Peek, Satoshi Ueda, Shigenobu Ishigami, and Peter Disler met in Valencia, Spain in May 1998. Several issues were resolved and a timeframe for additional action was developed. They will

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News and views

meet again November 1998 to work on membership dues, a working budget, nominating committees and many more issues.

Member news

Mark Lissens, MD, IRMA assistant secretary general, recently attended the European Congress on Clinical Neurophysiology in Ljubljana, Solvenia, where he chaired a satellite symposium and gave an advance course.

Martin Grabois, MD, IRMA past president, attended the 1 lth Regional International Asian and the Pacific Regional Conference, Hong Kong and presented to lectures, ‘Chronic Pain Syndrome : The Cost Effective- ness and Efficacy of Comprehensive Multidisciplinary Pain Program’ and ‘Community Oriented Rehabili- tation: Review of Current Status and Look to the Future’.

Calendar of Events 1998

60th Annual Assembly of the American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. 5-8 November, Seattle, Washington, USA. Contact: AAPMR, One IBM Plaza, Suite 2500, Chicago, IL 6061 1-3604; www.aapmr.org

Annual Session of the American Congress of Rehabili- tation Medicine. 8-10 November, Seattle, Washington, USA. Contact: ACRM, 4700 W. Lake Avenue, Glenview, IL 60025-1485 USA; e-mail : dburgher@amctec.com

Pain Management-Towards 2000. 17-21 November, Eilat, Israel. Contact: Congress Secretariat, Arnon Paz Ltd, 4 Bezalel St. Ramat-Gan, 52521 Israel; Fax: + 972-3-7521577.

Third Interdisciplinary World Congress on Low Back and Pelvic Pain. 19-21 November, Vienna, Austria. Contact : European Conference Organizers, PO Box 4334,3006 AH Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Fax: + 31- 10-4 148059.

7th European Regional Rehabilitation Conference on Rehabilitation International. 29 November-3 December, Jerusalem, Israel. Contact : Conference Secretariat, c/o CARMEL Organi- zers of Conferences and Events, PO Box 1912, Ramat Gan 52532, Israel; Fax: +972-3-5753107.

First ASEAN Rehabilitation Medical Association Con- gress. 1613 December, Chiang Mai Orchid, Thailand. Contact : Professor Sek Aksaranugraha, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine (ARMA Box), Chulalongkorn Hospital, Rama IV Road, Pratumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand. Fax: + 662-256-4501.

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