Greetings

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

On behalf of the Organizing Committee, it is a great honour and privilege to invite you to participate in the 5th World Congress of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in Istanbul on June 13-17, 2009.

As of January more than 1000  abstracts have been submitted to the system and the abstract submission deadline is extended  due to popular demand. It seems that the 5th World Congress of the ISPRM will be one of  the highest ranking  with regard to attendance rate. We are also very happy to have noticed that  many countries  which have not participated in the previous ISPRM Congresses  will be attending the 5th Congress in Istanbul for the first time.

We joined the efforts and expertise of top clinicians, scientists and health professionals  from around the world to create a strong scientific program that will have provided an excellent educational forum for physiatrists with a wonderful driving force to promote Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. There will be nearly two hundred invited speakers/presenters  in 60 regular scientific sessions, 10 educational courses, 15 workshops, and 10 best practice sessions in 7 meeting halls. With the addition of numerious oral presantations and  interesting posters,  the congress will offer a very good opportunity to exchange experiences between colleagues and to discuss the latest developments and controversies in Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine.

Pharmaceutical Industry and other companies show a satisfactory interest to our Congress  and will be presenting  their products and researches in the exhibition area as well as in special satellite symposia.

Besides the strong  scientific program, a busy and exciting social program has been developed to give the participants and the accompanying persons  an opportunity to enjoy the unique and varied attractions available in the magical city of Istanbul along with traditional hospitality which will envelope you throughout your stay.

We hope that you will always remember the Congress with good memories and will return home after the congress with renewed enthusiasm for your profession. 

We again invite you to participate in this world-class scientific event and we are looking forward to welcoming you in Istanbul in the most pleasant season .

Let’s meet at the timeless city, Istanbul, the Queen of the cities, where a warm welcome awaits you.

Best regards,

Dear Colleagues,

The 5th World Congress of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine will be held in Istanbul, Turkey, on June 13rd-17th 2009, simultaneously with the 22nd Turkish National PMR Congress.

The Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, will happily host our colleagues from all around the world together with our Turkish colleagues from all around Turkey.

Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has been established in 1958, assuming the pioneer role in its branch. Today, with more than 1500 members and numerous regional branches, it is the leading figure in Turkey, regarding both PMR science and professional rights of physiatrists.

Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation has organised twenty one national PMR congresses biennially. It has supported the numerous scientific events organised by its branches, proceeded medical education through courses, symposia and workshops and colloborated with other medical specialties to promote the profession.

Its first international participation has been the Mediterranean Rehabilitation Congress organised by I.S.R.D on  June 8-14, 1959, Athens. The number of participants, being  only ten at that time, has shown substantial increase in the following years .

Now, the Turkish Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation takes pride in supporting a world-wide known event of the ISPRM. As the president of the Turkish Society of PMR, it is my great pleasure to invite you to this exciting scientific fest.

The preparations for the scientific and social organizations for the 5th World Congress of the ISPRM are close to completion, which we hope will be of high quality and content.  

The priority of the Organizing Committee is to provide the highest quality of scientific information to the participants through a wide selection of topics and speakers.

Other than the scientific activities, participants will enjoy an extensive social and cultural program, which will enable them to have a chance to experience the essence of Turkish culture. In that respect, The Organizing Committee of the 5th World Congress of the ISPRM has made all the arrangements to ensure that your experience will be most memorable.

The participants and the co-participants will have a wonderful opportunity in Istanbul, which is not only a historic but also a magnificent city, incredibly fascinating and vividly alive. Beneath the unique skyline of her domes and minarets, there is the continual hustle and bustle of the crowd, the rumbling of vehicles along the ancient cobbled streets, the incessant coming and going, and the cries of street sellers mingling with the sounds of shipping in the busy port.

Further to the satisfying scientific program, the participants will have the privilege of choosing among the many alternatives of museums, ancient churches, palaces, great mosques, bazaars, the Bosphorus and the Golden Horn. However long your stay is, whether just a few days or longer, your time will be spent wonderfully in this unforgettable city.

We look forward to meeting you in Istanbul in June 2009.

Yours sincerely,