Message from the President of International Association for Dental Research (South-East Asian Division)

Dear Division Members and Colleagues,

On behalf of the IADR SEA Division Council 2001-03, I extend a warm invitation to all IADR members as well as all colleagues interested in dental research to the 18th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Division in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

The Annual Scientific Meeting of the SEA Division, as the premier dental research meeting in the region, continues to offer the best opportunities for dental researchers to share research findings, exchange ideas and forge future collaborations.

It is very exciting that the IADR Vietnam Section, being one of the youngest country sections in the Southeast Asian Division, will host the SEA Division Annual Scientific Meeting for the first time. The rapid growth in IADR membership in Vietnam in recent years has been a strong signal of the keen interest and commitment to oral health research and development in the country.

The Local Organising Committee is to be congratulated for their efforts. As a sign of the maturing research capacity and expertise, the LOC has been able to develop a highly stimulating programme of international plenary speakers, symposia and workshops of relevance to the challenges of oral health promotion and research in the region. The meeting's theme of "Think Globally, Act Locally" alludes to the need to learn from the best international practices and latest dental research concepts and to adapt these effectively to the local context in the region.

I look forward to welcoming you all in Vietnam this September!

Keson Tan
President
Southeast Asian Division
International Association for Dental Research

Message from the President of South-East Asia Association for Dental Education

Dear Members and Colleagues,

On behalf of the SEAADE Council, I would like to extend to you a very warm welcome to the 14th South East Asia Association for Dental Education Meeting in fascinating Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam!

The previous 3 SEAADE Meetings have covered such topics as "Dental Education for the New Millenium" in Taiwan, 2000, "Quality Assurance in Dental Education" in Malaysia, 2001 and "Collaboration in Dental Education and Research" in Hong Kong, 2002. This year it is time to bring our technical expertise to our own rural and urban areas: let's "THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY!"

We are living in a very exciting time where technology is increasing in the world at a frantic pace, including new knowledge and technology in dentistry. I am sure this will continue to advance more rapidly in this century of genetic engineering and molecular research. Even today most forms of education including dental education concentrate on thinking for "knowing". Although knowledge is still very important - it is not enough. We also need "thinking for doing". But that is not all, we need to think big and at the same time to know what to do and how to do it.

As knowledge and technology in the field of dentistry develops, the oral health needs of the poor in this part of the world remains stagnant and an ever-widening gulf continues to grow. Dental educators should continue to strive toward the world's standards of excellence but keep in mind the constraints and limitations of the countries in our region including financial and personnel resources. We must not ignore the plight of the needs of the less fortunate by thinking globally yet not being able to act locally.

After approaching one Thai farmer and encouraging him to care for his teeth, he replied, "Whether I have teeth or not it does not matter to me since I have nothing to eat!"

So how can we bring these two worlds together? We can do so by applying our world-standard expertise, knowledge and technology to serve the needs of our local people. By keeping in balance the technology for the wonderful aesthetic look for the few and not ignoring the oral health needs of the majority of people. It can be too easy to just serve the desires of the "have's" while neglecting those of the "have not's" who also have a right to enjoy the progress and advancement in dentistry by being our fellow citizens of society.

As dental educators and leaders we must not just sit in the ivory tower while the greater part of society still suffers from oral and systemic disease, including those unfortunately infected with HIV, the mentally and physically disadvantaged and the oral health needs of children and elderly.

Why has Ho Chi Minh City been chosen for 18th IADR-SEA and 14th SEAADE Annual Meetings?

Vietnam is an emerging and fast growing country recovering from many years of past war. It is also developing in dental education and research standards. We come not only to show solidarity and encouragement to Vietnam but also to learn and share our knowledge from one another. So it is with gratitude and thanks to the Local Organizing Committee that we can come and share our expertise here in Ho Chi Minh City for the first time in SEAADE's history to THINK GOBALLY and ACT LOCALLY in Dental Education and Research. The aim of this Meeting is to turn our knowledge and technology in the field of dentistry to serve the people locally so that they can benefit from the progress of our expertise.

I hope something pragmatic can come out from this Meeting. That we can learn about progress and advancements from research and education from one another and from those developed countries but at the same time find practical and real solutions for the needs of the people. The solution rests not only on the shoulders of national and local Governments but also the dental profession.

I wish all participants a fruitful and stimulating meeting in this special Ho Chi Minh City!

Krassanai Wangrangsimakul
President
South-East Asia Association for Dental Education

Message from the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee

Dear colleagues,

As a young Section, we feel very honoured to host the 14th Annual Meeting of the South-East Asia Association for Dental Education and the 18th Annual Meeting of the South-East Asian Division of the International Association for Dental Research, in HoChiMinhcity, on September 25th to 27th, 2003.

You will enjoy visiting Vietnam, a country which has retained its culture and traditions over a long history full of heroic struggles. With an incredibly varied topography packed into a small surface area, there are a lot of reasons why Vietnam has been chosen by many as the "destination for the new millenium".

HoChiMinhcity, a buzzling city of 7 millions inhabitants is full of contrast and youthful exuberance - everywhere you look, there is colour and movement. However, attending the Meeting in the world famous Caravelle hotel, a 5-star hotel located at the heart of the old down town, equipped with all modern and luxurious amenities as well as a tradition of hospitality reminiscent of a bygone era, you will be charmed by the romantic past of our city, once called "Pearl of the Orient".

With the kind assistance of our Division officers, our Local Organizing Committee is putting together an innovative scientific program that allows the introduction of new progressive concepts and technologies and interactive exchange of experiences with a view to further enhance the progress of dentistry in our Region. In addition, a splendid social program is being planned to offer to all visitors an insight into Vietnam's culture and tradition.

We welcome dental educators, researchers and practitioners from everywhere in the world. We look forward to seeing you all in HoChiMinhcity, in September 2003 !

Prof. Hoang Tu Hung
Chairman,
Local Organizing Committtee