Farewell Message
Dear colleagues,
On behalf of all the members of the Organizing Committee, I would like to thank you for honoring the 23rd IAPD Congress with your scientific work and your active presence.
This Congress, within the context of its main theme, Interdisciplinary Approach to Paediatric Dentistry, presented the need that all health professions should work together towards the well-being of the child, the adolescent and the patient with special needs.
This year the Scientific Program included one Pre-Congress Symposium, two Clinical Continuing Education Hands-on Courses and one Postgraduate Student Workshop.
All the Pre-Congress Sessions had a success beyond our expectation due to the excellent coordinators, speakers and tutors.
The main Scientific Program consisted of 6 Symposia, 1 Debate and 15 Invited Lectures. More than 70 speakers, distinguished in their area, covered almost every aspect of the oral health care of the child and encouraged the application of the scientific knowledge to the every-day clinical practice.
An important component of the Scientific Program was the oral and poster presentation sections. This year 766 posters were submitted and from those 166 had applied for the BSBF, Morita and Jens Andreasen Awards.
With the help of the experienced coordinators and chair persons but also with your contribution, the Symposia, the Invited Lectures, including the Oral and Poster Sessions became really interactive, challenging and rewarding. Many participants were impressed with the fact that the Auditoria and Lecture Rooms were filled to capacity.
The Social Program was also really successful with 500 participants in the Gala Dinner and more than 650 in the Beach Party. All of you that participated in those events, I think you had a really good time and a good taste of Greek food, music and dancing.
Once more, we would like to thank our colleagues from all the Paediatric Dental Academies and Societies that supported us and in particular the Australasian Academy of Paediatric Dentistry and the Australian & New Zealand Society of Paediatric Dentistry who sponsored 3 main Lectures and the IAPD Pre-Congress Clinical Day course, respectively as well as the American Academy of Paediatric Dentistry, a great supporter of our promotion efforts..
Moreover, despite the difficult economic situation in Greece and worldwide, the commercial companies were convinced by our efforts to contribute adequately to the sponsoring of the Congress.
This Congress had from the beginning the recognition and generous support of the Dental School of the University of Athens, the Hellenic Ministry of Health and Solidarity, the Hellenic Dental Association and the Athens Dental Society.
Last but not least, all the IAPD Board Members have helped in many aspects of the realization of the Congress.
Above all the active presence of all of you representing 80 countries and your generous comments for our efforts were the greatest reward of more than 4 years of hard work for the realization of another very successful IAPD Congress.
Finishing this message, I would like to wish to the Past President of the IAPD, Professor Mark Hector a great success with his new position as Dean of Dundee Dental School to our past Secretary General, Professor Gerry Wright good health and to enjoy his free time because he deserves that after so many years of contribution to the development of the IAPD and also to wish the Past President Anna Fuks successful continuation of her efforts to “spread the word” of children’s oral health worldwide. Congratulations to the new Board of IAPD and to our new President, Eduardo Alcaino, our greatest thanks for his contribution to the success of the 23rd IAPD Congress and a very creative and successful presidency of IAPD.
With the warmest greetings and regards
Prof. Lisa Papagiannoulis
Chair Local Organizing Committee
