PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE


19th June 2007

Dear ISSHP Member

First I must congratulate and thank our immediate past predident Professor John Davison for his long and outstanding service to the society, as Secretary/Treasurer and then as President. His presidency was concluded by the marvellous meeting in Lisbon, in July 2006. The venue was perfect, the organisation superb and the scientific programma as good as any in recent years. The Society has had some difficult times but thanks to John's wise management, the support of his officers and members and the wider interest in the activities of the Society his period of office will be remembered as one of solid progress and consolidation. His will be a hard act to follow as President.

At the same time it would be only appropriate to express the Society's thanks to the joint Presidents of the Lisbon meeting, Manuel Bicho and Belmiro Patricio, who together with their many assistans, made our 15th Inbternational Congress in Lisbon such a succes. The planning of the 16th meeting is moving forward fast. It will be in Washington DC and is organised jointly by Dr. Jason G. Umans ans Dr. Menachem Miodovnik with Professor Baha Sibai (the US International Commitee Representative) also involved. It promises to be a fantastic meeting, so please note the dates as you read this. They are September 21 to September 24, 2008. More details are on www.isshp2008.org.

The international meeting in 2010 will take place in Melbourne, a welcome return to the southern hemisphere.
The UK/Dutch branch of the ISSHP were recently invited to Reykjavic, Iceland by Professor Reynir Geirsson, for their biennial meeting. This enlarged the number of possible participants to include more of Europe and, for the first time, representatives and speakers from Latvia. It was a lively meeting with a memorable evening dinner at which each of the national groups sang vigourously in turn. The president of the meeting proved to be a great accompanist on the piano. All who came enjoyed the talks and debates and also discovered that Icelandic hospitality is legendary for a good reason.

You journal, Hypertension in Pregnancy, is moving forward guided by joint editors Fiona Lyall and Peter von Dadelszen, who manage the interests of the eastern ans western hemispheres respectively. Electronic submission is being introduced, which will be easier for authors ans should speed up the process of review and publication. The new system should be in place by September or October this year. There are now four issues each year. The page size is to be increased to accomodate larger tables more readily. This is our own house journal and a worthy place for your research articles or reviews. The latter papers could be usefully discussed in advance with the editors so that the best can be made of them. To avoid the uncertainties of prevous years, the Society has mandated the creation of both a Journal Management Committee and an Editorial Board to ensure stability and continuity in the Editorial Office.

The Society is no more and no less than its members. Please continue your active support, encourage your colleagues to join, attend our meetings, both local and international and submit your writing to our journal. The purpose of the Society is to advance the study and understanding of hypertension in pregnancy. It is up to us to maintain progress, to bring the fruits of new knowledge to the bedside and to actively represent the interests of those who suffer the problems, often in silence. Only by working together can progress be made in the long term.

With best wishes




Chris Redman

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