| In 1977 the First Mediterranean Conference on Medical and Biological Engineering took place in Sorrento, sponsored by I.F.M.B.E. and organized by A.I.I.M.B. in cooperation with the Mediterranean Societies of I.F.M.B.E.: France, Israel and Yugoslavia.
From this date on, MEDICON has been held every three years: 1980 in Marseille (France), 1983 in Portoruz (Yugoslavia), 1986 in Sevilla (Spain), 1989 in Patras (Greece); while the I.F.M.B.E. World Congress was held in Jerusalem in 1979.
Having completed the full circle, the Conference now returns to Italy, to the island of Capri.
Over these years, the Conference has always been a great success, with a large number of participants each time. This year, MEDICON '92 is happy to welcome the Cyprus Association of Medicai Physics and Bio-medical Engineering within the Mediterranean Societies of I.F.M.B.E..
Unfortunately, our meeting is sadly affected by a number of international conflicts and, in particular, in the Balkan area. While we respect the different ideologies and expectations of these countries, we are happy that, under the scientific flag of I.F.M.B.E. and MEDICON '92, our friends from Slovenia, Croatia, and Yugoslavia are here in Capri to participate in MEDICON '92. At the moment, there is only the longing for peace and the sincere wish that, as Science has no political frontiers, the right peaceful solution, reflecting the expectations of these countries and their people,will be found.
1992 is particularly important because it is the 25th anniversary of the foundation of A.I.I.M.B.; for this reason, we are especially honoured to have received the High Patronage of the President of the Republic of Italy.
In these last years considerable improvements have been made in Italy in the bio-medical engineering area thanks to the hard work and dedication of many colleagues. Sadly, some of them are no longer with us today. At this moment, our thoughts are with them, with the certainty that their memory will be continually present during MEDICON "92. We remember them alI with great affection and in particular our most recent losses: Giuseppe Francini, the president and founder of A.I.I.M.B., Marisa Maranzana, Rosanna Degani, and Paolo Mancini.
MEDICON '92 is deeply honoured to host the meeting of the most important bodies of I.F.M.B.E.: the Administrative Council, the National Secretaries Committee and the European Working Group. It is also a pleasure to host the meeting of the Board of Members of the European Society for Engineering and Medicine (E.S.E.M.).
I am happy to have this occasion to thank the International Scientific Committee for ali their hard work last January , in Naples, in selecting the papers to be presented at the Conference.
On behalf of the Organizing Committee, I should also like to express our gratitude to the Italian Association for Biomedical Physics (AIFB), the Italian Group for Vascular Ultrasound (GIUV), the Italian Society for Neuroradiology and the Working Group on Cellular Engineering of I.F.M.B.E., which are contributing to the Conference with four special sessions.
This introduction cannot end without a warm thanks to my collaborators: Raffaele Castaldo, Mario Cesarelli, Alessandro Pepino, Bambi Castro and Vittoria Paolucci, whose efforts have made possible the organization of MEDICON '92.
Particular thanks must go to Franco Denoth, past president of A.I.I.M.B., for his roJe as co-Editor of the Proceedings. Through his skilful coordination, it has also been possible to include in these volumes many papers which had been submitted in formats often very different from that specified in the Authors' instructions. In addition, I should Jike to thank Anna Passerotti and Ermanno Scotti without whose assiduous efforts it would have been impossible to produce these Proceedings before the beginning of the Conference.
My gratitude must also be shown to Anna Maria Longo of ITALSIEL for her many valuabJe suggestions throughout the organization of the Conference, and to Enrico Affri, also of ITALSIEL, for the high quality of his graphic work.
I should Jike to express my sincere appreciation and best wishes to the international group of young voJunteers who, for the first time, will undertake this important experience of organizing an international event. A Conference is also an educational moment.
Finally, a heartfelt thank-you to alI the participants with the wish for every success in their work at the Conference, and hoping that we shall all meet again at MEDICON '95 in Israel, united by an even deeper friendship. |
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