At the 58th European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) Annual Meeting, also known as EASL 2023 Congress, Professor Shuichiro Shiina, the President of the Asian Pacific Association for the Study of the Liver (APASL) and a professor of gastroenterology at Juntendo University in Japan, was invited to attend the conference. He engaged in a stimulating roundtable discussion with hepatologists from various countries on the topic of “Hepatology and Hepatologists of the Future: Opportunities and Challenges.” Hepatology Digest had the privilege of inviting Doctor Shuichiro Shiina to share his insights and experiences from his visit to EASL, as well as his expectations for the 2024 APASL Annual Meeting.
Doctorr Shuichiro Shiina noted that his visit to the EASL 2023 Congress in Vienna, Austria, left a deep impression on him. He observed that EASL is currently placing significant emphasis on public health issues and collaboration with other liver disease societies. There are four major liver disease societies worldwide, namely EASL, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), APASL, and the Latin American Association for the Study of the Liver (ALEH). “This year’s EASL Congress covered various issues in the field of hepatology, and the major liver disease societies are collaborating in multiple areas and directions,” he remarked.
Next year, in 2024, the 33rd APASL Annual Meeting, themed “APASL 2024 Kyoto – The Center of Hepatology,” will be held in Kyoto, Japan, from March 27th to 31st. Professor Shuichiro Shiina extends a warm invitation to everyone to come to Kyoto for academic exchange and sightseeing. He mentioned that it will be the season when cherry blossoms are in full bloom throughout Kyoto, creating a spectacular backdrop for the event.
He expressed, “After the COVID-19 pandemic, we haven’t held any physical conferences for nearly four years.” Clinical practitioners, researchers, and professionals in the field of hepatology are eager for the opportunity to participate in face-to-face academic exchanges. From the enthusiastic discussions at the EASL Congress, it is clear that everyone is deeply passionate about advancing their knowledge. He hopes that this enthusiasm will continue, and when the cherry blossoms bloom next spring, they will come together for the wonderful APASL 2024 Annual Meeting.
