World Apheresis Association (WAA) allied health programme

Abstract

As the representative for Allied Health professionals on the World Apheresis Association Board of Directors, I would like to give you an overview of the activities which the World Apheresis Association have supported over the last 18 years and discuss future plans. The Allied Health representative position was officially recognized and created by the Board at the 8th Congress held in Australia in 2000 to encourage communication and participation of Allied Health professionals from all member societies and to promote continuing education by assisting with the organization of Allied Health programmes at the WAA Congresses. The WAA Board has been very supportive of the Allied Health Programmes held at the Congresses over the last 18 years. The first official Allied Health Programme was jointly organized by Canada and the American Society for Apheresis at the 2nd Congress held in Ottawa, Canada in 1988. They were then held sporadically, organized by each country hosting the meeting. At the 5th Congress in 1994 in Houston, USA the meeting was again a joint effort with the American Society for Apheresis as were the 7th Congress in San Paulo, Brazil in 1998, and the 8th Congress in Perth, Australia in 2000. All of these symposiums have been successful and have lead to the expanded programme, which