ABOUT GAT

Message From President

Somchai Leelakusolvong, M.D.
GAT President 2023 - 2024

Dear esteemed professors and respected members of the Gastroenterological Association of Thailand,

What are the main policies for the next two years?

The association has three main roles: training gastroenterology fellows, providing academic knowledge both to members and the general public, and serving as a reputable reference institution. In the coming two years, I have been thinking about what new initiatives we can introduce. If we look at the current world, it's clear that social media has greatly transformed how we live. Information and communication can be transmitted quickly and widely. Therefore, I wish to use social media to bring us closer together and to help our association go international.

Bringing us closer refers to both the association's relationship with its members and with the general public. As for going international, I aim for the association to play a bigger role globally, with the goal of becoming the most recognized gastrointestinal society in Southeast Asia.

What will help make this vision a reality are our missions

The first mission is to increase collaboration among gastroenterologists in Southeast Asia, especially in academic knowledge and research.

The second mission is to become a reference institution. A clear example would be the development of guidelines or consensus documents. As a professional medical association, we should produce reference materials. We already have some guidelines, but there are many areas where more can be done, and some guidelines need updating with new information. Initially, the goal will be national, but international collaboration on guidelines would be even better, and ideally, our association should take the lead.

The third mission is to increase communication between the members and the association through social media. I believe that what members most desire is updated professional knowledge, such as new medical guidelines and best practices, which should be made more easily accessible.

How will the association and its members communicate more effectively?

We must admit that communication between members and the association has been limited, mostly through Khun Porntip, the association’s secretary. Therefore, I wish to create a social media platform where we can communicate more easily. For instance, we could establish a social media platform where interested medical experts summarize new information such as guidelines or landmark papers in a concise and easy-to-understand format, like images or a one-page PowerPoint slide, with links to the full papers. Another aspect could be using social media to facilitate patient referrals to specialized centers more efficiently. We will need people to help manage this platform to ensure consistent content, and we are currently in the process of assembling a team.

How will the association play a bigger role with the general public?

Personally, I want to promote both CSR activities and provide accurate information to the public. As a professional association, we can support activities such as colon cancer screening and educational campaigns. I would like to organize a public awareness week, but we will need to consider the format and readiness. One thing we can definitely focus on is the use of social media. Nowadays, there is a lot of information on social media, some of which is correct and some is not. As a professional association, we have a crucial role in providing accurate information to the public.

What do you think about future collaboration between different gastroenterology-related associations?

By "related associations," I mean the Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Society, the Liver Society of Thailand, and the Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society. I think the current relationship between these associations is excellent, as most professors know each other well, and some even hold roles in multiple associations. However, in the future, as the number of members in each association increases, they will become more independent, which is beneficial for strengthening and specializing in their respective areas. Each association will grow in its own direction, but there will still be collaboration. In the end, I believe that each association remains interconnected, especially in areas such as fellowship training. I hope that all the associations, including the Gastroenterological Association, will grow together.

This year, Thailand will host the APDW conference. What makes this event special?

APDW (Asian Pacific Digestive Week) is a major international conference for the Asia-Pacific region. This year, it will be held from December 6-9 at the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center. It will be the first onsite conference since the COVID situation, with the theme "Optimizing strategies for maximizing outcomes." The content will cover hepatology, motility, endoscopy, and general gastrointestinal (GI) topics, divided into four concurrent sessions. The formats include state-of-the-art lectures, multidisciplinary symposia, guideline summaries, and year-in-review presentations. There will also be hands-on workshops and live demonstrations of endoscopic procedures. We have invited internationally renowned speakers from Europe, America, and particularly from the Asia-Pacific region. Of course, Thai speakers will also be involved to showcase their capabilities on an international stage. In addition to APDW, our association may collaborate more on scientific conferences with international associations, such as joint symposia at events like APAGE, AGA, or collaborations with Hong Kong and ASEAN countries like Malaysia and Singapore.

Lastly, do you have any messages for the members of the association?

Throughout my time working at the central level of the association, I have been part of a wonderful community. The committee members from various institutions have always been dedicated and focused on the greater good of society and the country. One of the strengths of our association is its unity. I would like to see this unity continue to be a driving force that benefits the public and the country through knowledge, research, and societal leadership.

I would like to thank the committee and all members again, and I hope that our association will continue to thrive and grow, serving as a model both nationally and internationally.

 

I would like to wish everyone a Happy New Year. May the power of the Triple Gem and all sacred beings bless you and your family with happiness and prosperity throughout your life.

Somchai Leelakusolvong, M.D.
GAT President 2023 - 2024