Welcome Address
Visith Sitprija
MD, Ph.D., FACP, FRCP, FRACP
AMSEM 2020 Chairman
Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University
Director, Queen Saovabha Memorial Institute
The Thai Red Cross Society
I wish to extend a warm welcome to the 6th International Symposium of AMSEM which takes a journey to Bangkok. The theme “Diverse and Deadly” is appropriate. As a nephrologist with interest in natural toxins, I am inspired by diversity. Biodiversity is natural. It reflects variations in genetics and ecology which include climate, environment and everything on earth. It is indeed a fascinating adventure in biology for everyone, and this is also true for natural toxins.
I am pleased that AMSEM was organized in recognition of marine toxin and snake venom poisoning, narrowing down the scale of global diversity to the SE Asian region. Emphasis is to gain information for a better understanding of toxins and better management in our region. This is an important goal. Interaction and friendship leading for collaboration are the keys to the success of any meeting. The target is also true for AMSEM. The advantage of the meeting is that we are a small group with a good friendship. I hope the meeting is fruitful and meets the goal, and importantly you enjoy the meeting.
Ahmad Khaldun Ismail
MBBCh, BAO, BMSci, DrEmMed
President of MST & Founder Director of AMSEM
Consultant Emergency Physician & Senior Lecturer,
Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital Chanselor Tuanku Muhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Welcome to the 6th International Symposium on ASEAN (Advanced) Marine animals envenoming/poisoning and Snakebite Envenoming Management (AMSEM) @ Bangkok, Thailand! I am proud to announce that this is the second AMSEM to be hosted in another ASEAN country after Malaysia and Indonesia. This signals the significant growth and importance of AMSEM initiative. Envenoming and poisoning from Marine animals and snakes are still not well understood by many healthcare professionals in this region. Inappropriate clinical management is still practised by many doctors and clinical management of animal bites and stings were based on anecdotal or dubious claims. These have significantly influenced the clinical management resulting in unfavourable or poor outcome and at a higher treatment cost or price. It is of the utmost importance to stop and reverse this vicious cycle. And the best way is through continuous education and dissemination of knowledge based on current scientific evidence.
Department of Emergency Medicine, Hospital Chanselor Tuanku Muhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Welcome to the 6th International Symposium on ASEAN (Advanced) Marine animals envenoming/poisoning and Snakebite Envenoming Management (AMSEM) @ Bangkok, Thailand! I am proud to announce that this is the second AMSEM to be hosted in another ASEAN country after Malaysia and Indonesia. This signals the significant growth and importance of AMSEM initiative. Envenoming and poisoning from Marine animals and snakes are still not well understood by many healthcare professionals in this region. Inappropriate clinical management is still practised by many doctors and clinical management of animal bites and stings were based on anecdotal or dubious claims. These have significantly influenced the clinical management resulting in unfavourable or poor outcome and at a higher treatment cost or price. It is of the utmost importance to stop and reverse this vicious cycle. And the best way is through continuous education and dissemination of knowledge based on current scientific evidence.
AMSEM was born following this increasing demand and pressing need for a more comprehensive session and platform to discuss and debate on the wide variety of issues pertaining to envenoming and poisoning from marine animals and snakes. AMSEM was first organised in 2012 by Remote Envenomation Consultancy Services (RECS) at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur as an international workshop. This vibrant and exciting international workshop, forum and symposium has since gained a respectable level of confidence and achieved significant transformation in Malaysia and other ASEAN countries.
There is no doubt in my mind that the 6th AMSEM 2020 @ Bangkok will be a success and further enhance the appreciation of the science of toxinology, the beauty and diversity of our wildlife, and the importance of conservation efforts. I hope all delegates of the 6th AMSEM 2020 will find this meeting enjoyable, rewarding and inspiring. Do take this opportunity to obtain as much information from our respectable Faculty and Advisory members and share your own experiences and knowledge.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank MST and AMSEM 2020 Secretariat for their commitment and hard work to ensure the success of this symposium. My deepest appreciation to all faculty members, advisory members, collaborators, supporters and sponsors for the generous contributions. This meeting will not materialize without their support.
Thank you and enjoy all the wonderful things Bangkok has to offer!
