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On a personal level I look mostly forward to the fact that the Congress will be in Amsterdam. From my hometown it’s just 40 minutes by train. Amsterdam is amazing for a Congress. The city is so vibrant, and in general September is a very good month to visit. September is full of activities and still some beautiful weather (let’s hope…)
As Head of Assembly 9 I’m so proud to see the activity within our Assembly: the posters, the presentations, the workshops and post-graduate courses: It makes me very happy to see all those colleagues so passionate for their work. And the social events bring all those colleagues together on a more personal level.
Q. What in your opinion will be the hot topics for allied respiratory professionals?
For the Allied Respiratory Professionals (consisting of: the respiratory function technologists, the physiotherapists, the nurses and the psychologists) there is a very interesting and diverse programme. First of course the mini symposium “Exercise training in severely impaired patients” followed by the symposium “Holistic yet personalised self-management of chronic respiratory diseases worldwide” both on Tuesday morning in room 5C. Furthermore I think that every member should visit the oral presentations and poster presentations of their own group. This is the most important place to meet and exchange with direct colleagues. Don’t miss the Assembly meeting and networking event. Here we exchange ideas for future congresses and the way we want to move forward in our Assembly.
And here’s a novelty: Assembly 1 and 9 will have a networking event together. As Assemblies we have quite an overlap in sessions. In many activities we join forces. That’s why this year, for the very first time we’ll have the event together. I’m looking very much forward to this evening!
Q. Tell us your top three picks from the congress programme.
My personal top three is formed by three major topics that keep me thinking: Digital transformation, global health and primary prevention.
I’m looking forward to meeting you all in Amsterdam!
I am looking forward mostly to catching up with the members of our Assembly throughout the conference and at our Assembly meeting and reception on Monday. Specifically giving a warm welcome to our newest group (9.4 psychologists) and their officers will be a highlight of the conference.
Q. What in your opinion will be the hot topics for allied respiratory professionals?
First of course the general ERS Congress theme, “Respiratory health around the globe”. The aim for more global collaboration is also inspiring for allied health professionals. Second, the theme of digital health, with focus on both the opportunities but also the challenges to tailor it to the patient needs, is expected to be highly present during the Congress.
Q. Tell us your top three picks from the congress programme.
Even though a majority of us are tired of talking about COVID-19, many people still struggle with the long-term consequences as they suffer from long COVID. This session is an excellent initiative to highlight this, providing an overview of the knowledge we have gained over the past 5 years.
This session focuses on the personalisation of self-management based on the patient’s personal needs and competencies. Adequate self-management is a crucial part of comprehensive patient management, in which allied health professionals play a key role.
In these sessions we get a glance of the research that our colleagues around the world are performing. The smaller scale of these sessions invites you to ask questions and to network with old and new collaborators.
As an Early Career Member of Assembly 9 (Allied Respiratory Professionals), what I’m most looking forward to at this year’s Congress is the opportunity to connect and collaborate with a diverse, multidisciplinary network of healthcare professionals who share a passion for improving respiratory care. Especially under the theme “Respiratory health around the globe”, I am looking forward to strengthening international collaborations, sharing knowledge across borders and contributing to patient-centred care around the globe. I am also excited to see the presence of allied healthcare professions throughout the congress programme, a reflection of the importance of multidisciplinary care and the role of allied healthcare professionals.
Q. In your opinion, what will be the highlights for ECMs in Assembly 9 during the ERS Congress?
Each year, the ERS Congress offers outstanding opportunities for Early Career Members (ECMs), and 2025 will be no exception. As early career myself, I highly recommend attending the Assembly 9 meeting and our networking event on Tuesday. These are excellent opportunities to connect with other early career professionals, share ideas and build lasting collaborations.
Another key highlight is the Early Career Symposium, which features the Mina Gaga Lecture, delivered by the ECM Awardee. This is always an inspiring and thought-provoking session. The symposium also includes talks on advocacy, gender equity, and practical guidance on how to get more involved in ERS activities.
Beyond ECM-specific sessions, the programme includes a wide range of session that will be valuable to early career members of our assembly. I have picked my top sessions below, but there are many more! Also, as indicated before, the importance of multidisciplinary care and the involvement of allied healthcare professions is included in several sessions during the ERS Congress.
Q. With this in mind, please tell us your top three session or abstract picks from the congress programme and why?
Mini symposium – Exercise training in severely impaired patients:
This session focuses on exercise interventions for patients with chronic respiratory disease who are severely impaired. Speakers will present current and emerging concepts in aerobic training for this population, offering practical insights for clinicians and researchers in rehabilitation and physiotherapy.
Symposium – Holistic yet personalised self-management of chronic respiratory diseases worldwide:
Self-management is becoming a cornerstone of chronic disease care. This session will discuss personalised, holistic approaches and challenges around the globe.
Oral presentations:
I’m especially looking forward to the oral presentation sessions featuring the best abstracts from Assembly 9. These showcase exciting and innovative research across our groups. Some of my top picks include: