Special Articles

6.　Present and future of perinatal and neonatal medicine

Akio Kubota
The Congress President
of the 46th Annual Congress of Japan Society of Perinatal & Neonatal Medicine
Board Member of the Japan Society of Perinatal & Neonatal Medicine
Department of Pediatric Surgery, Osaka Medical Center and Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health

Abstract

　The purpose of perinatal and neonatal medicine is to help mothers and children to guide their new lives toward a healthy and happy future［the presidential address of JSPNM］. In, 1965, the first annual congress of the Japan Society of Neonatal Medicine was held, in 1983, the first annual meeting of the Japan Society of Perinatal Medicine was held, and then, in 2004, both societies were combined to form the Japan Society of Perinatal and Neonatal Medicine. Before 1980, the congress presidents were chosen from obstetricians and pediatricians by turns, but after 1980, non-obstetric, non-pediatric members, mostly pediatric surgeons, have been serving it once every 5 years. The JSPNM consists of approximately 6,100 members ; obstetricians and pediatricians account for approximately 46％ each, and pediatric surgeons 4.6％. JSPNM has four major tasks : the first is to organize two scientific meetings, one general congress in summer and one perinatal symposium in winter ; the second is to approve two kinds of medical specialists, one for the mother & fetus, the other for the neonate ; the third is to hold a short course in neonatal resuscitation and issue certification ; and the fourth is social contribution. The main themes of the 46th annual congress of JSPNM include : 1. To determine what an interdisciplinary congress should be ; 2. how to contribute to the society, 3. how to become an international meeting ; and 4. ethical considerations.

Keywords：Neonatal Medicine, Perinatal medicine