Suggestions by the AC members for IFMBE priorities

(reprinted from March and May 1998 issues)

AC member	Issues
Prof. Joe C. Barbenel	The most important issue for the IFMBE is the basic one of defining our function and purpose. The function of the IFMBE has never been defined explicitly but it has regularly evolved to address the issues of relevance to its member organisations and the important and expanding area of medical and biological engineering. I believe that there are signs that we are losing contact with the interests of our member organisations e.g. lack of responses to the consultation document on IUPESM and the omission of important members organisations involved with the European Working Group. Discussion of the function of the IFMBE must have input from the constituent members.
Prof. Walter H. Chang	Biomedical engineering is one of the fast developing fields that has crossed national boundaries. Although the research activities of MBE in Asian-Pacific area starts later, it should have a large potential to develop due to the enviable economic growth in recent decades. One of the challenges faced by the AC is to fully integrate the membership activities by promoting the cross-fertilisation of MBE problems and solutions across disciplines and geographic boundaries. To this end, I will direct my energies as an AC member towards paying more attention to the co-operation of MBE in Asian-Pacific area and uniting the investigators in each country.
Prof. Helmut Hutten	It is my impression that the IFMBE has to undertake strong efforts in order to justify the request to represent the whole field of medical and biological engineering worldwide. The most urgent activities shall be focused on: providing strong support to the invasion of BME into new fields of life science technologies; counteracting the ongoing process that essential sub-disciplines of BME separate from the IFMBE; stimulating and promoting the foundation of national BME societies, e.g. in countries in transition and developing countries; enhancing the establishment of international co-operation, partnership and scientific networks in BME; acquiring the qualification and reputation for representing BME in international organisations and in the scientific community.
Prof. Antonio F. C.Infantosi	To improve the co-operation and communication among national societies and trans-national medical and biological engineering organisations. Thus, promoting the development of the field regional and globally, in both advanced and third world countries. Specific actions that the IFMBE Administrative Council can take towards this goal are: Supporting the organisation of regional conferences, mainly in third world regions, such as in Latin America and Africa Supporting the organisation of specialised conferences, workshops and symposia Edit special issues of the MBEC for publishing full papers selected from regional conferences, particularly those from third world regions, such as in Latin America and Africa. Owing to the limited financial resources of IFMBE, these editions could be partially financed by the organisers of the conference or by publishing advertisements Distribution of the digest of World Congress to libraries. This could be done directly by the organisers; Improving the worldwide website to include not just technological and scientific information but also services.
Prof. Dov Jaron	I see the following challenges facing IFMBE: The Federation should: Strive to represent a larger segment of Biomedical Engineers across the world;· Improve its services to members of its constituent societies; Act as a catalyst for improved interaction between individuals working in the field; Advance collaboration between national and trans-national professional societies; industry and government organisations engaged in healthcare delivery and in biomedical research and its applications; Function as a strong advocate for the profession in the international arena; Strengthen its financial resources. One of the most important of these challenges is to have the Federation represent a larger segment of biomedical engineers in every country. Presently, there are numerous member countries represented by only a small fraction of their professionals through a single organisation. The IFMBE should include all or most of the professional organisations that are related to biomedical engineering. One good model that can be emulated is that of the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), which is the US national representative to IFMBE. AIMBE functions as an umbrella organisation for a large number of professional societies in the United States. As such, it represents a very large number of biomedical engineers from various organisations, specialities and disciplines. The IFMBE Administrative Council should work with representatives from individual countries to help formulate a model, appropriate for each country, that can be used as a mechanism to bring other biomedical engineering related organisations under a national umbrella for each country. This would also help in accomplishing many of the other goals of the Federation.
Prof. Fumihiko Kajiya	Looking back the history of biomedical engineering (BME), electronics was the main interest among biomedical engineers around the time of foundation of the IFMBE. During the last four decades, remarkable progress was made, particularly in imaging technology, optoelectronics, microelectronics, materials, molecular biology and information science. With great contributions to these fields, the spectrum of BME has been widened. In this circumstance, it is the IFMBE's task to show the concept of BME by unifying these subdivided fields into a clear definition and to let the members recognise the responsibility of the IFMBE in the global promotion of BME. I think the concept of BME covers not only 'health and welfare' but also 'coexistence with nature'. Here, the IFMBE has to take the initiative in establishing a database for BME. For example, we should recognise the value of the Internet and our homepage should not only be a billboard for future events but also a platform for up-to-date research results, as well as a communication room among BME researchers. Physiome (physio [life, nature, function] + ome [as a whole entity]) should be included in the IFMBE strategy. So far, gene or molecular biology has been too much emphasised. The biological function has a hierarchical structure. Every element in every hierarchy is in parallel or hierarchical communication with another element. We cannot understand cell, organ, or systemic functions without considering such a hierarchical structure. The stance of Physiome will be indispensable for the IFMBE to take the leadership into the biomedical engineering field.
Prof. Jean-Pierre Morucci	To obtain international recognition of our discipline in becoming, under the IUPESM flag, a full member of the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU). Synergies have been already been identified between ICSU and IUPESM to promote mutually the vital role of science and technology in Health Care for the Millennium, especially for the sick and disabled in Developing and Emerging Nations as well as shaping Health Policies in Developed Countries.Thanks to the initiative and impulse of Professor Keith Boddy, President of IUPESM, fruitful contacts have been taken with Dr J.F. Stuyck-Taillandier, Executive Director of ICSU, who has admitted that IUPESM was unique in the application of science and technology to healthcare with direct patient involvement. This was seen as an excellent basis for improving public and political awareness of the direct usefulness of science to mankind. We now have to produce a full dossier for formal submission and we need the help of those who can help us in the defence of this candidature, thanks to their knowledge in the ICSU governing bodies.
Prof. Joachim Nagel	The most important issue for the IFMBE at this time is to augment public awareness about the importance of biomedical engineering for the development of healthcare as well as for cost reduction of healthcare delivery and to promote biomedical engineering as an independent discipline within the medical sciences. To achieve these goals, the Administrative Council should boost the necessary publicity, co-sponsor medical conferences, and encourage stronger emphasis on life sciences within academic BME programs.
Dr. Mladen Poluta	While I find it difficult to isolate one issue as being the most important, I do feel it essential that the IFMBE assess and re-define its role as an international organisation on the threshold of a new century, given the dynamics of significant political and economic changes and the challenges faced by industry, academic institutions, professional organisations and healthcare delivery systems.The Administrative Council is already taking action on this issue, e.g. a Strategic Plan was drafted at the time of the World Congress in Nice.
Dr. Heikki Teriö	An important task is to create a model to co-ordinate the different meetings and conferences. For example, the Federation Secretariat can put up a list or a calendar in co-operation with other organisations where as many conferences and meetings as possible will be noted down. It can be available on the Federation website or sent by fax or mail to people who are going to organise meetings.We must also try to increase support to our member societies in the Baltic States, in Eastern Europe and in developing countries. The secretariat can promote this by identifying companies, organisations and even persons who can in some way support education and the development of biomedical and clinical engineering in these countries and then of course act as an intermediary in contacts.