In April 25–28 2012, the joint meeting combining the XXXIV Congress of the International Society of Hematology (ISH) and the LIII Congress of the Agrupación Mexicana para el Estudio de la Hematología (AMEH) was held in Cancún, México, this being the third time in which a World Congress of Hematology has been held in México.
The total number of attendants was 1204, 1057 of them being academic delegates. Most of the attendants (84%) came from the Interamerican Division of the ISH, but there were also attendants from both the European African Division and the Asian-Pacific Division. All the registrants to the Congress became members of the ISH. By country, the highest number of attendants came from México (68%), followed by attendants from China (5%), USA (4%), Argentina (2%). In all 42 countries were represented.
The lecture of the opening ceremony on ‘Precolumbian Medicine’ was delivered by Professor Juan Ramon de la Fuente (México). The plenary lectures were Professor Sergio Giralt (USA) on ‘Bone Marrow Transplantation around the world’, Professor Robert A. Kyle (USA) on ‘The evolution of treatment of Multiple Myeloma’ and Professor Antonio Lazcano (México) who lectured on ‘Planetary changes and biological evolution: Hemoglobins and other adaptations to an oxygen-rich environment’. Five joint symposia were held with other academic institutions/organizations: ASCO (American Society of Clinical Oncology, CLAHT (Grupo Cooperativo Latinoamericano de Hemostasia y Trombosis), Mayo Clinic, MD Anderson Cancer Center and World Federation of Hemophilia.
Two hundred and thirty-four papers were presented: 32 as oral presentations and 202 as poster presentations. The three secretaries-general of each division of the ISH attended the meeting and participated actively in the business meetings. During the business meetings, the flag of the society was transferred from the Interamerican Division to the Asian-Pacific Division, since the 2014 World Congress of the ISH will be held in China (Figure)
Business meeting of the International Society of Hematology (ISH). From left to right: Professor Saengsuree Jootar, Chair of Council of the ISH, Professor Guillermo J. Ruiz-Arguelles, President of the ISH transferring the flag of the ISH to Professor Tomomitsu Hotta, Secretary-General of the Asian-Pacific Division of the ISH.
Carlos Martinez-Murillo MD
AMEH President (2011-2013)
Guillermo J. Ruiz-Arguelles MD, FACP, FRCP (Glasgow)
ISH President (2010-2012)
