Dear members of AOFNMB,

Greetings from the new office of AOFNMB in Seoul!
We’re confronted with rapidly changing situation in healthcare sometimes encouraging sometimes discouraging in the sense of nuclear medicine practice. Introduce of PET/CT boomed up the use of cyclotron-produced radiotracers which led the promotion of nuclear medicine in most countries while it led loss of jobs for nuclear medicine physicians in some countries.

Although AOFNMB was founded in 1969 when no other international organizations were existed in the world, it has remained unchanged last more than 40 years. Congresses every four years were not enough to cope with strong challenges coming from outside. Now we need stronger networking and more active communication among colleagues in this region. Fortunately national delegate assemblies in Tehran 2012 and Vancouver 2013 decided to reform the Federation in several aspects.

First of all we installed a fixed office in Seoul, Korea and made a contract with the Trinity Communications for solid association management. We started publishing the official journal, the Asia Oceania Journal of Nucler Medicine and Biology. The first issue was published on May 2013 and the second issue on Nov 2013. The goals of the Journal include enhancing communications among members, harmonizing clinical and basic researches, and encouraging young investigators to publish their data. The Asia Nuclear Medicine Board (ANMB) examination will be started from 2014. The goals of ANMB include standardization of training, promotion of nuclear medicine practice, and leadership development.

Asia and Oceania are a huge area both in land, population and economy. I wish to observe solidarity of all members of AOFNMB to open a bright future of nuclear medicine in this region.

Thank you.