The 2018 Beijing-Seoul-Tokyo Obstetrics and Gynecology Summit Forum

Abstract

Beijing welcomed the spring in April with the grand opening ceremony of the 2018 Beijing-Seoul-Tokyo Obstetrics and Gynecology Summit Forum. China, Korea, and Japan have shared close friendly ties as neighbors since antiquity. Development through communication and cooperation is not only a gift from history but also an aspirational goal in the current era. This forum provided a platform for close fruitful exchanges with our neighbors to improve health care and promote medical technology in our respective countries. The Beijing-Seoul-Tokyo Obstetrics and Gynecology Summit Forum was conducted in a grand manner on March 31, 2018 at Beijing under the auspices of the Beijing Medical Association Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch (Fig. 1) after nearly 6 months of concerted efforts from all organizers. All 3 participants — Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo actively participated in this forum with outstanding speeches and comments from experts from these 3 countries. Presenters included several obstetricians and gynecologists from Beijing led by Prof. Jianliu Wang, Chairman of the Beijing Medical Association Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch, as well as 7 physicians from Seoul led by Prof. Seung-Cheol Kim, Chairman of the Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and 5 physicians from Tokyo led by Prof. Aikou Okamoto, Chairperson of the International Relations Committee of the Japan Society of Gynecologic Oncology. Prof. Seung-Cheol Kim from Seoul and Prof. Aikou Okamoto from Tokyo addressed the forum at the main venue. They congratulated the organizers on the successful hosting of the conference and expressed their wish to achieve close cooperation between participants. This address was followed by instructive speeches delivered by Prof. Jianliu Wang, Prof. Seung-Cheol Kim, and Prof. Aikou Okamoto, respectively, regarding fertility-sparing treatment of endometrial cancer, the role of modulated electro-hyperthermia in gynecologic cancer management and updates in thermal therapy for tumor progression of ovarian clear cell carcinoma. The afternoon session on March 31, 2018, hosted by Prof. Jianliu Wang included a multidisciplinary discussion among experts from the 3 countries. Obstetricians and gynecologists from Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo shared a common platform and presented speeches of extremely high quality. Dr. Qimin Zhan, Vice President of Peking University (PKU), Director of the Health Science Center of PKU and academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering addressed the summit forum. His excellent opening speech titled ‘Race to Cancer Precision Medicine’ dealt with a thorough analysis of precision medicine for cancer treatment, which contributed significantly to broadening the horizon of all participants. Subsequently, the symposium was divided into 4 subspecialties, including gynecological oncology, urogynecology, obstetrics, and reproductive endocrinology. Three experts from the 3 participating countries were invited to deliver lectures pertaining to each subspecialty. The gynecological oncology session was co-hosted by Prof. Hongyan Guo from PKU Third Hospital, Prof. Jae-Weon Kim from Korea, and Prof. Yoichi Kobayashi from Tokyo. Experts who made presentations at this session included Prof. Yuanguang Meng from the Military General Hospital at Beijing who discussed ‘Applications and Prospects of Gynecological Robotic Surgery in China’, Prof. Jae-Weon Kim who discussed ‘Trends of Personalized Therapy in Gynecological Oncology’, and Prof. Yoichi Kobayashi who discussed ‘Melatonin and Endometrial Cancer’. The urogynecology session was co-hosted by Prof. Xiuli Sun from PKU People's Hospital, Prof. Dong Hoon Suh from Korea, and Prof. Masao Ichikawa from Tokyo. Experts who made presentations included Prof. Yongxian Lu from the Military Hospital (307 Hospital) at Beijing who discussed ‘Technique and Effectiveness of Transvaginal High Uterosacral Ligament Suspension’, Prof. Dong Hoon Suh who discussed ‘Current Debates in the Management of Pelvic Organ Prolapse’, and Prof. Masao Ichikawa who discussed ‘Risk Hedging Laparoscopic Sacrocolpopexy by Using a Unidirectional Barbed Suture’. The obstetrics session was co-hosted by Prof. Xiaohong Zhang from the PKU People's Hospital, Prof. Suk-Joo Choi from Korea, and Prof. Yohuri Maruyama from Tokyo. Experts who made presentations included Prof. Huixia Yang from the PKU First Hospital who discussed ‘Strategies for Placenta Previa Combined with Morbidity Adherent Placenta’, Prof. Suk-Joo Choi who discussed ‘Progesterone Therapy for the Prevention of Preterm Delivery: A Vaginal versus Intramuscular Approach’ and Prof. Yohuri Maruyama who discussed ‘Education and Training System of Obstetrics at Juntendo University’. The reproductive endocrinology session was co-hosted by Prof. Qun Lu from the PKU People's Hospital, Prof. Bo Hyon Yun from Korea, and Prof. Miyuki Harada from Tokyo. Experts who made presentations included Prof. Qinjie Tian from the Peking Union Medical College Hospital who discussed ‘Clinical Study and Basic Research of Disorders of Sex Development in China’, Prof. Bo Hyon Yun who discussed ‘Update in Clinical Guideline for Recurrent Pregnancy Loss’, and Prof. Miyuki Harada who discussed ‘Aging and Reproductive Health−Perspectives for Ovarian Anti-Aging’. The free and extensive discussions and exchange of opinions and comments following each speech created a warm and friendly atmosphere at the forum. At the conclusion of the program, Prof. Jianliu Wang, Prof. Seung-Cheol Kim, and Prof. Aikou Okamoto participated in an elaborate discussion for long-term planning (Fig. 2). It was decided that Beijing, Seoul, and Tokyo would make joint efforts to promote active academic communication and cooperation between these 3 neighbors. Additionally, it was proposed that the 2019 Beijing-Seoul-Tokyo Summit Forum will be held at Tokyo in February 2019. The successful conclusion of the 2018 Beijing-Seoul-Tokyo Summit Forum signifies efforts put forth by the Beijing Medical Association toward successful internationalization of medical/health care and marks a historical launch of better coordination between the international medical fraternity. Moreover, the Beijing Medical Association Obstetrics and Gynecology Branch is increasingly active on the Asian stage, and contributes to a high level of academic confidence. Their efforts are certain to provide a strong foundation for effective international academic communication.