APACPH Executive Council Meeting, 15 September 2016 at Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan

Minutes of Meeting

Venue: 2nd Floor, Meeting Room, Teikyo University
Date: 15 September 2016
Time: 2:00 pm – 5:45 pm

The meeting was called to order at 2:00 p.m. by President, Dr. Myongsei Sohn

Attendance

Present: Executive Board Members

1. Dr. Myongsei Sohn – President
2. Dr. Masamine Jimba – President-Elect and Regional Director, Japan
3. Dr. Bruce Maycock – Secretary-General
4. Dr. Low Wah Yun –  Vice President 1 and APJPH (Editor-in-chief)
5. Dr Indika Karunatilake – Vice President 2 and Regional Director, South Asia
6. Dr. Maznah Dahlui – Secretary and  Regional Director, Malaysia,
7. Dr. Hung Yi-Chiou – Treasurer
8. Dr. Philip Baker – Regional Director, Australia
9. Dr. Prayoon Fongsatitkul – Regional Director, Thailand
10. Dr. Agustin Kusumayati – Regional Director, Indonesia
11. Dr. Betty Chiu Ya Wen – Regional Director, Chinese Taipei
12. Dr. Elahe Nezami – Regional Director, USA
13. Dr. So Yoon Kim – Proxy to ICUH
14. Dr. Young Moon Chae – Proxy to Regional Director, Korea
15. Ms. Nishi Himanshi – Early Career Network Coordinator
16. Dr. Victor Hoe – Webmaster

Staff – Executive Officer

Ms. Camelina Chan

Invited Guest

Dr. Eiji Yano – Invited Guest (48^th APACPH Conference Host)

Dr. Kenzo Takahashi – Invited Guest (48^th APACPH Conference Host)

Observers

Ms. Si Woo Kim – Yonsei University

Mr. Sir Han W – Yonsei University

Dr. Hee Tae Suk – Yonsei University

Dr. Keisuke K – Teikyo University

Dr. Kwanjai Amanatsatsue – Mahidol University

Dr. Chyi Huey Bai – Taipei Medical University

Apologies

Dr. Phitaya Charupoonphol – Immediate Past President

Dr. Byung-Joo Park – Regional Director, Korea

Dr. Liming Li – Regional Director, China

The Executive Council Minutes at Jeju Island, Korea (22^nd April 2016) were accepted (proposed by Dr. Bruce Maycock, seconded by Dr. So Yoon Kim).

1. Welcome Speech by President APACPH

Dr. Myongsei Sohn welcomed the Executive Board members.

2. The President APACPH Opening Remarks

Dr. Myongsei Sohn expresses his gratitude and sincere appreciation for the participation of all the board members who shared their precious time for this. He sincerely thanked Dr. Eiji Yano and his team members at Teikyo University for the effort to hold the 48^th APACPH Conference. He then wished for a meaningful discussion and significant expansion of APACPH activities.

The report is in appendix 1

3. Report from Secretary-General

Dr. Bruce Maycock gave a summary of the activities from the Secretary-General office. He shared the outcomes of promoting APACPH in the UK and available funds directed to developing counties as well as potential membership from several universities to join APACPH.

3.1 APACPH Strengths

1. Journal
2. Conference
3. Accreditation
4. Research
5. Financial Support- Mini grants

Strategy to increase the benefits to APACPH members

1.  Opportunity from APACPH to support Deans from low-income/ middle-income country to attend GA

• To apply to the Secretariat and the application shall be discussed with the host to invite the deans as fully sponsored speakers (therefore, field of expertise need to be stated).

2.  Opportunity Activity for APACPH Institutions besides the yearly conference – APACPH will provide the seed money to initiate research/satellite activity amounting USD10,000.

• Satellite APACPH activity such as workshop or mini conference.
• Cosponsored by APACPH (starting USD10,00 per activity)
• Liaise with Regional Director
• Submit paperwork or proposed activity to the Secretariat.

Recommendations from the floor:

• APACPH members can join the activity within their region without any charges.
• Any activity supported by APACPH need to contribute some (%) to APACPH.
• To come up with template on proposal to conduct satellite APACPH meetings

• Publication on the History of APACPH and the success story.  The history task force committee will be headed by Dr. Masamine Jimba.

Theme “ What APACPH has done?”

Dateline set for the compilation is in February 2017.

The results will be presented in the next ECM meeting in February.

• To develop a country report by any member on important issues in the country

Recommendations from the floor:

• To invited Dr. Colin Binns to be the advisor for the history task force.
• To invite members from General Assembly to join the task force on publication and also coming up with a country report on important issues which will be shared among the members during APACPH meetings.

The proposal and recommendation is passed unanimously and will be announced at GA

The report is in appendix 2.

4. APACPH Secretary Report

Dr. Maznah Dahlui gave a summary of the activities from the secretary office throughout the year 2016

4.1 Regional Director

The Secretariat received an email from Dr. Paula Palmer, Regional Director, America notifying that she was not able to continue her appointment as regional director.  Dr. Maznah Dahlui requested the Executive Board to decide whether to appoint another Regional Director from America or Dr. Elahe Nezami who is the present Regional Director is enough to cover the region. At the moment, we have 5 members (3 active members) from America Region.

Recommendation from the floor:

Dr. Maznah commented that there was one or two members from the previous General Assembly recommended a represented from University of Hawaii, Dr. Yuanan Lu. She proposed that the appointment of Dr. Yuanan Lu  to be the liason officer in order to reactivated APACPH members from China since he has good relationship from the region.

The proposal is passed unanimously and will be announced at GA

Issue arise:

Regional director who are not present for ECM meetings.

Recommendation from the floor:

Dr. Myongsei suggested that Dr. Bruce took the responsibility to liaise with Dr. Liming Li in participating in APACPH meetings and the Secretariat to continue the effort in keeping in touch via email.

4.2 Schedule of APACPH Meeting for 2017

Yonsei University, Incheon, Song-do, Korea

                        6^th & 7^th February – ECM

                        17^th – 20^th August – ECM, GA and 49^th APACPH Conference

4.3 Recruitment of Members

National University of Singapore has re-activated their 2016 membership.

4.3.1 Induction 2016

The following institutions has been approved for induction as new member:

1. Health Promotion Administration (Min. of Health and Welfare) – Taiwan
2. Chinese Medical University (CMU), Taiwan

Recommendation is passed unanimously and will be inducted at GA

4.3.2 Induction 2017

The following institution has been approved for induction as new member:

• Department of Public Health, Taoyuan City, Republic of China (Taiwan)

Recommendation is passed unanimously and will be announced at GA

4.4 Newsletters and APACPH websites

Issue Arise:

The newsletter requires more materials from APACPH members to share their activities.

Recommendations from the floor:

Dr. Victor Hoe proposed that all activities that will be conducted by APACPH member institutions can be shared in the website. The calendar features in the website enables information sharing among the APACPH members.

The report is in appendix 3.

5. Report from Treasurer

Dr. HY. Chiou reported the summary of the finances and requested the secretariat to send gentle reminders to the members to pay up their membership fee. The current balance in Taipei account is USD 189,017.14. He also bring the attention that APACPH treasurer office is still covering for the insufficient membership payment made by some institutions due to exchange rate matters. Hence, he requested that the Secretariat could remind our members regarding the exchange rate matter.

Issue Arise:

APACPH members who has not been paying despites 3 reminders by the Secretariat.

Recommendation by the floors:

Dr. Low Wah Yun suggested that Regional Directors are to approach the respective institution in their region, individually. 

Dr. Maznah suggested that the 4^th and final reminder will be sent out by respective regional directors. The Secretariat will provide the list of institutions with outstanding balance to the regional directors.

Dr. Phillip proposed the invoices sent out to the member institutions be copied to the regional director in the region.

Dr. Maznah also requested Dr. Bruce to liaise with Regional Director, China with regards to membership payment from China.

Issue Arise:

Allocated Fund for APACPH activities

Dr. Indika Karunatilake inquire about the allocated fund of Early Career Network by APACPH. Dr. Maznah commented APACPH activities needs proper proposal and results outcomes to justify for the allocated funds.

Recommendation by the floors:

Dr. Myongsei Sohn highlighted any APACPH activities which require funds has to be enclosed with a clear proposal and reports of the activities to keep its transparency.

Dr. Low Wah Yun suggested that these activities should be self-funding. Every workshops that are being conducted, a small amount are to be given back to the workshop coordinators for their future workshop instead of getting direct funds from APACPH.

Dr. Maznah Dahlui also proposed that future conference host (with profit gain) to contribute 10% back to APACPH.

Budget for 2017 has been passed unanimously and will be presented at GA

The report is in appendix 4.

6. Update on Regional Office Reports

The report is in appendix 5.

7. Accreditation

7.1 2^nd Accreditation Exercise

Mahidol University has completed the APACPH accreditation process. The Accreditation committee has recommended Mahidol University to be accreditated during the General Assembly.

Recommendation has been passed unanimously and Mahidol University will be received certification at GA

7.2 3^rd Accreditation Exercise

University of Malaya also has submitted letter of interest for APACPH accreditation and the site-visit will be conducted on the 13^th & 14^th December 2016.

Reviewers : Dr. So Yoon Kim, Dr. Agustin Kusumayati & 1 local assessor

Observer: Dr. Bruce Maycock

7.3 Potential APACPH Accreditation in USA

Dr. Elahe shared that all entire accreditation for school of public health in USA is going through a change. They are looking for new criteria that will be used for accreditation process and Dr. Elahe is happy to forward information about APACPH accreditation.

8. Early Career Network

The report is in appendix 6.

9. Revision of APACPH Constitution

Mr. Scott Han presented the revision of APACPH constitutions to the members of General Assembly.

Dr. Myongsei Sohn that the by-laws has been revised 8-9 times since 2013. The by-laws will be revised to increase transparency of the organization.

The term of ‘by-laws’ has been changed to ‘constitution’ and has been improvised to make it easier for members to understand it.

Dr. Myongsei Sohn highlighted that the proposed changes has been discussed since the last general assembly in Bandung. The revised constitutions will be posted on the website for member to provide their feedback before January 2017 and the results will be discussed in the ECM in February 2017.

Dr. Low and Dr. Bruce commanded the huge efforts in the revision of APACPH constitutions, however Dr. Low shared her concerned on the proposed purpose, if it is in line with APACPH. 

Dr. Masamine Jimba proposed the purposed should be simplified and the revision should be finalized as soon as possible and be announced in the next General Assembly.

The report is in appendix 11.

10. Collaboration Initiatives Reports

The report is in appendix 7.

11. ICUH

The report is in appendix 8.

12. APJPH

The impact factor for 2015 is 1.722.

The report is in appendix 9.

13. 48^th APACPH Conference 2016

Dr. Eiji Yano shared nearly 1,000 participants has registered to attend the 48^th APACPH Conference.  

He also shared the Tokyo Declaration for the conference and seek feedbacks from the members of General Assembly.

The report is in appendix 10.

15. 49^th APACPH Conference 2017

Yonsei University has shown their interest to host the 49^th APACPH conference 2017.

The Conference will be held at Song-Do, Korea on the 17^th -20^th August, 2017

Meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.