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The Crown Prince of Thailand (seated) presides over the opening day ceremony for the 13th Asia-Pacific Military Medicine Conference (APMMC) in Bangkok, Thailand.
Photo by Lt. Col. Bunlue Kamalatilaka, Royal Thai Army |
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A strong national defense depends upon a strong army. Strong soldiers are essential to a strong army, and they can be strong only when they are vigorous and healthy.
His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn
opening the 13th Asia-Pacific Military Medicine Conference
Thought provoking presentations, stimulating dialogue, and realistic solutions characterized the 13th Asia-Pacific Military Medicine Conference (APMMC). More than 400 delegates from 21 countries attended the May 2003 conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Attendees represented Australia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Japan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Russia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, United States, Vanuatu, and Vietnam.
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The annual APMMC gatherings provide a forum for military medical professionals in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region to build strong relationships and discuss medically significant topics. The APMMC also serves as a sounding board for drafting national health policies. By learning about each country’s health policies and working together to maintain fit and effective fighting forces, attendees strengthen regional interoperability throughout the spectrum of cooperative military operations.
The theme of this year’s conference was “Good Health-Great Soldiers.” Conference co-hosts were Lt. Gen. Choochat Kumbhu Na Ayudhya, Surgeon General of the Royal Thai Army (RTA), and Maj. Gen. Joseph G. Webb Jr., U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) Surgeon and Commander, Pacific Regional Medical Command and Tripler Army Medical Center (TAMC) in Honolulu, Hawaii.
In opening remarks to the 13th APMMC, His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn of Thailand said, “A strong national defense depends upon a strong army. Strong soldiers are essential to a strong army, and they can be strong only when they are vigorous and healthy.”
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His Royal Highness Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn opens the 13th APMMC.
Photo by Lt. Col. Bunlue Kamalatilaka, Royal Thai Army |
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In his remarks to APMCC attendees, Lt. Gen. James B. Peake, Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command/ Surgeon General said, “The issue of disease surveillance is becoming more important as we put our soldiers in hazardous environments.” Sharing his years of experience, Lt. Gen. Peake observed, “Understanding disease and the medical threat . . . . and having the ability to communicate the health risk is the link between the commander and the surgeon that leads to Good Health-Great Soldiers.”
Presentations supporting the “Good Health-Great Soldiers” theme addressed concerns ranging from “SARS [severe acute respiratory syndrome]: A World Health Organization Update” to “Policy Issues for Civil-Military Collaboration in Fighting AIDS [auto immune deficiency syndrome].” They were presented in lecture form, with small group sessions and poster board presentations.
During the conference, medical professionals shared knowledge and experience to further the science of medicine, particularly deployment medicine. Maj. Gen. Craig B. Whelden, Deputy Commanding General, USARPAC, told attendees, “You are not only serving your fellow man. You are serving your country.”
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Senior delegates from 21 countries attended the 13th APMMC. Shown here (left to right and front to Rear) Col. Surya Kumar (Singapore), Brig. David le Page (New Zealand), Maj. Ivan Kholikov (Russia), Maj. Gen. Bui Dai (Vietnam), Sr. Col. Tran The Tang (Vietnam), Lt. Gen. Pravit Tanprasert (Thailand), Lt. Gen. Choochat Kambhu Na Ayudhya (Thailand), Maj. Gen. Joseph G. Webb, Jr., (U.S.), Lt. Gen. James B. Peake, (U.S.), Air Commodore Tony Austin (Australia), Lt. Col. Majid Bhuiyan Md Abdul (Bangladesh), Brig. Gen. Saly Kong (Cambodia), Lt. Gen. Bijoy Shahi (India), and Air First Marshall Achmad Hidayat (Indonesia).
Photo by Paul A. Frank |
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Then Lt. Col. Faith Ann Frank, USAR, was assigned to the Pacific Regional Medical Command, Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, at the time this was written. |
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