Dear Delegates of the 2008 Bangkok EAMSC,

Well, the 2008 East Asian Medical Students’ Association Conference has now drawn to an end and what an amazing success was. Whether through cultural activities, academic offerings and presentations or social nights and banquet dinners, this year’s EAMSC in beautiful Bangkok lived beyond all our wildest expectations.

This conference truly embraced and embodied the very ethos of this great student association. Our organisation’s philosophy is Knowledge, Action, Friendship; three words that serve perfectly to summarize our experiences in Thailand.

With its topic “Alcohol, medical and societal aspects”, the conference widened our knowledge of the problems and solutions surrounding these issues. We had the great fortune to hear from eminent speakers of various medical specialities and from many researchers currently working in this field. We also shared and presented our own ideas through the paper and poster presentations, explored our feelings, emotions and opinions through discussion and finally we as students, endeavoured to improve the situation in Thailand through our group posters and research.

To the organising committee of this, the 2008 EAMSC I congratulate you all on a mammoth effort. You have certainly done yourselves proud hosting the 150-plus delegates from across the Asia-Pacific. To the Group Moderators I say a special thank you. You have all worked tirelessly this week and look forward to a much deserved rest in coming days.

To all of you, the delegates. I hope that you reflect back upon what were a remarkable few days of great friendship, immense learning, cultural enlightenment and a lot of fun! We came from the corners of the globe as strangers to each other and this country, connected by a passion to learn and a devotion to medicine. Yet as we ended this conference in Bangkok, we returned home as colleagues with a common mission and as close friends, having forged friendships that will stand the test of time and be a lasting reminder of experiences there.

AMSA also hopes that over the coming days, you reflect back upon the knowledge you gained in Bangkok. Knowledge not only about alcohol and its many negative effects, but about medicine more generally, your Asia-Pacific neighbours and above-all the new things you learnt about yourself.

It is now up to you what you do with this information, but I urge you to make the most of it. Using it to better yourselves, improve your respective societies and as a reminder of the difference we all can make as future doctors.

Finally, delegates. Thank you. I speak on behalf of the AMSA International Executive and the AMSA Chapters when I say thank you for attending this conference and applying yourselves 100% to every aspect of its program. It was a pleasure to experience this year’s EAMSC with you all.

So be sure to watch this website for information on the 2008-2009 Executive Committee elections and I look forward to seeing you all in Japan this summer at the 2008 AMSC.

Alessandro Demaio

Overall Chairperson

AMSA International