“The 2017 ERS International Congress is just a few days away and I am looking forward to seeing many of you in the wonderful city of Milan for one of the biggest annual events in the respiratory calendar.
“Each year the Congress brings the latest scientific knowledge and hot topics to the table and this year is certainly no different.
“From the scientific standpoint, this year’s Congress will feature the usual range of high-standard sessions and symposia that we have all come to expect from this event, touching on the all the major fields and developments in respiratory science – delivered by world-leading experts.
“We are very pleased to welcome the return of Live endoscopy sessions after their successful launch in 2015, and to welcome for the first time dedicated State-of-the-art sessions, which allow delegates to learn more about topics they may be less familiar with, as well as to focus in on particular developments in specific fields of expertise.
“The educational programme on offer is comprehensive and caters to the wide variety of people attending – accommodating different specialties and learning preferences. Delegates have an opportunity to look at and discuss challenging clinical cases, acquire hands-on knowledge through workshops, interact with experts face to face, and gain patient insight in the Patient Forum, plus much more.
“The joint ERS/European Lung Foundation (ELF) campaign ‘Healthy Lungs for Life’ will also take centre-stage once again this year. Focusing on the theme of ‘Breathe Clean Air’ and prioritising smoking cessation, you will find a number of related sessions and educational activities linking to this topic, which also incorporate the patient perspective.
“Other language sessions offer an opportunity for many delegates to attend a selection of sessions delivered in their own language – truly recognising and appreciating the diversity of the audience we have.
“We have also made Congress accessible to everyone, even those who cannot attend in person, by offering live TV and streaming services Live@ERS and Live@ERS Plus – making virtual attendance possible.
“Every effort has been made to make this year’s Congress as inclusive as it can be – catering to the varied range of professionals we have joining us from all over the world – in person or virtually. The programme has something for everyone, whether you are a clinician, a scientist or allied health professional, whether you are in the early stages of your career or a professional with many years’ experience to draw from.
Finally, I would like to say that it is a great pleasure to end my year-long ERS Presidency with such a prestigious and highly anticipated event and I wish you all an excellent Congress.