Page 10 - Aspire April -2023 Vol 8 / Issue 2

VITAL ROLE OF OUR COMMITTEES IN
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A committee structure comprising representatives from across the Asia Pacific region supports the processes and objectives of ASPIRE. Each committee plays a vital role in underpinning ASPIRE’s mission to:
• improve the quality of services and research in reproductive biology and medicine generally and fertility specifically in the Asia-Pacific region;
• provide a forum for sharing experience and information for professionals from a range of specialties involved in reproduction and infertility management across the Asia-Pacific region;
• form a cohesive group to promote reproduction and infertility management in the Asia Pacific region, and to form relations with local and international associations;
• raise awareness and understanding of treatment options for reproduction and infertility among health care professionals and the public;
• assist health care professionals to motivate patients to receive treatment for reproductive disorders and infertility;
• collect and acquire accurate information about reproduction and infertility;
• facilitate the dissemination of accurate information about reproduction and infertility to patients and the public; and
• encourage the basic reproductive rights of all couples and individuals to decide freely and responsibly the number, spacing and timing of their children.
ASPIRE President, Professor Tin-Chiu Liu, said the committees made an enormous contribution to fostering a stronger and closer fraternity for members.
Following are profiles on each of the ASPIRE committees.
Education: Supporting quality patient centred care
The ASPIRE Education Committee comprises representatives from the Philippines, Australia, Japan, China, Korea, the United States, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia.
It is also multi-disciplinary in its commitment to provide a range of education, professional development and certification opportunities for scientists, clinicians, nurses, counsellors and medical technicians working in the field of assisted reproduction.
Professor Virgilio Novero, Chair of the Education Committee, said programs were developed in supportive collaboration with other bodies, including the Accreditation Committee, special interest groups and the pharmaceutical sector.
He said the objective was to build knowledge and skills to enhance quality patient centred care across the Asia Pacific region and beyond.
The Education Committee faced particular communication challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. But with resilience, determination and excellent support from the ASPIRE Secretariat, it responded by formulating a range of on-line programs including webinars and virtual meetings.
Professor Novero said there had been excellent feedback from ASPIRE members about the value of webinars, master classes and certificate courses.
As reported in the last edition of the ASPIRE Newsletter, the Education Committee is working to address challenges presented by the diversity of
languages among members and variations in time zones when organising virtual meetings.
This includes moves to provide real time language translations as demonstrated in the ASPIRE-CPAM Bridging the Gap Master Class Webinar Series on fundamental concepts in ART.
Professor Novero again reminded members that recorded on-line programs are accessible at any time via the education portal on the ASPIRE website.
Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee, Chaired by Professor Budi Wiweko, is responsible for identifying cutting edge topics and organising compelling and interactive scientific sessions that are informative for all meeting participants, therefore improving daily practice in reproductive medicine.
The committee engages speakers from the Asia Pacific region and around the globe.