The Educational Mission and Future Potential ...

01/01/2009

The ISH (International Society of Hematology) is a global network of hematologists from almost every country in the world. It is structured as three divisions, the IAD (Inter-American Division), EAD (European and African Division) and APD (Asia- Pacific Division). A primary mission of the ISH is the dissemination of the latest advances in clinical and laboratory practice and research to hematologists worldwide. Towards this goal, each division of the ISH holds a World Congress every six years and a regional Congress every two to four years. Recent successful World Congresses of the ISH were held in Istanbul, Turkey, in 2005, Punta del Este, Uruguay, in 2007 and in Bangkok, Thailand, in 2008.

A popular feature of the ISH Congresses has been the Education Program in which invited experts to review a broad range of hematology topics in depth. Articles from ISH Education Programs have been distributed as Education Books or journal supplements and on the internet. The Education Programs of ISHAPD Congresses have been freely available on the internet since 1996 (www.ishapd.org).

A problem faced by the ISH has been a lack of effective communications with members in less-developed countries. Information technology can bridge this gap to some extent. In particular, the internet is an effective tool for communication and delivery of educational and scientific materials to ISH members. Other ways in which ISH members may benefit from internet technologies, such as an online journal, need to be explored. In future, eventual worldwide internet connectivity should significantly
advance the ISH mission.

One of the aims of the ISH is the international standardization of hematology laboratory methods to achieve reliable and reproducible results. In 1964, the ICSH (International Council for Standardization in Hematology) was founded by the ISH for this purpose. Since its creation, the ICSH has published over 100 monographs on standardization, and is recognised by the World Health Organisation as a Non-Governmental Organisation. The ICSH became dormant after 2000 due to the retirement of its senior members, but was reconstituted in 2007 jointly by the ISH and the ISLH (International Society for Laboratory Hematology).

The ISH World Congresses continue to serve as a platform for communication of the latest ICSH recommendations.

A recent innovation at the ISH World Congress in Uruguay 2007 was the introduction of a Young Investigator Award. It is hoped that the Award will stimulate young researchers to present their findings at future meetings of the ISH.

The ISH has supported hematology education, practice and research by conducting regional and World Congresses since  1946. These meetings provide a forum for hematologists worldwide to engage in discussions of the latest advances, and have the potential to unify an international network of hematologists with common interests in clinical, scientific and research activities.

Dr. Szu-Hee Lee
chairman, Science and Education Committee, APD