From Central Office
From the President
I am pleased to provide this brief note in Transfusion today as my first written contribution as President of ISBT for the next two years. First, and on behalf of the entire society, I wish to express my thankful gratitude to Past President Michael Busch, Executive Director Jenny White and all the ISBT Central central Office office team, the ISBT Executives and Board, as well the working party’s chairs / members and the Young Professionals council for all their successful leadership, their hard work and their dedication.
As COVID-19 pandemic lessens, we have happily moved back to in person congresses. In Gothenburg and Cape Town last year, and very recently in Barcelona, we have witnessed how vibrant and dynamic our society is, at the forefront of advancing transfusion medicine internationally. It is a privilege to lead such an incredible mix of talented professionals, all united by a shared goal of improving patient care. The scientific and medical content of these congresses was outstanding, owing to the unrelenting efforts of ISBT Scientific Secretary, Jason Acker and the local organizing committees as well as to excellent speakers and presenters.
Our Society plays a pivotal role in advancing basic and translational science in transfusion medicine - from the donor to the recipient -, - educating, consolidating and disseminating essential knowledge. Addressing critical issues such as donor health, blood product quality and safety, the appropriateness of transfusions, and patient care on a global scale is essential for ensuring optimal donation and transfusion practices both today and in the future. ISBT champions education, knowledge dissemination, and international outreach.
Transforming knowledge into practice is a major strategic goal of our society. ISBT is successfully engaged in fulfilling this goal, through the activities of the working parties, the congresses, the publications of the society, the webinars and several other educational initiatives. Nevertheless, important gaps between actionable knowledge and effective implementation can be found across transfusion practices and jurisdictions globally. ISBT may provide further support to knowledge implementation. Such a support could include education and training to empower ISBT members to effectively improve practices.
To further assist its members, the society may consider producing a library of implementation means as well as focused recommendations that translate knowledge into practical steps for implementation. Adjusting such an offer to the diversity of medical environments, organizations and economic means internationally will be of paramount importance. In Barcelona, a plenary session with top-notch speakers and a dedicated workshop allowed for expert insights as well as lively and fruitful first discussions as to how best ISBT can help its members implement knowledge in their environment. Further reflections on this matter this fall! The exchange of ideas, the diversity of our backgrounds, settings and ideas, the mutual support, the thrill of discovery, the improvement of practices are powerful driving forces for all of us at ISBT.
Thank you for your commitment.
Pierre Tiberghien
