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It is a great honor to serve as the ninth president of the Asian Society of Cardiovascular Imaging (ASCI). I extend my heartfelt thanks for your trust and support.
An academic society is defined as “an organization that promotes a specific academic discipline, profession, or group of related disciplines.” For ASCI, that core discipline is cardiovascular imaging within the field of medicine. We also embrace the relevant technologies that continue to advance and reshape our field.
This year, ASCI celebrates its 19th anniversary. I often compare the development of a society to human growth. In our first decade, ASCI was driven by a strong desire to establish itself, carefully building its structure amid the challenges of integrating new cardiovascular imaging modalities and fostering interdisciplinary synergy. In the second decade, the society grew rapidly, fueled by the widespread adoption of these modalities and strengthened collaborations across disciplines. I am deeply grateful to my eight predecessors who have guided ASCI so successfully through these two decades.
Now, ASCI enters a new phase—adulthood. Some may see the current ASCI as mature and stable, while others may view it as reaching a plateau, much like a natural growth curve with alternating spurts and pauses. I believe we are indeed in a growth plateau, and that we face a critical moment to catalyze our next leap forward.
Among the many factors contributing to this plateau, I would like to highlight three key challenges:
A Saturated Market: Our “market” is the exchange of ideas, knowledge, expertise, and skills in cardiovascular imaging. To foster growth, we need to expand our scope to include new interdisciplinary collaborations and emerging technologies.
Limited Resources: The global trend toward more efficient medical practice has increased clinical burdens, particularly in high-pressure fields like cardiovascular medicine. This, in turn, affects the influx of new members to ASCI. To address this, we must more purposefully promote education and research, especially through initiatives like the ASCI School.
A Changing Environment: As our industry partners experience financial shifts, we must manage ASCI’s financial resources wisely. Establishing clearer agreements with partner vendors can help balance mutual interests. Additionally, we should improve our internal funding mechanisms, such as membership dues and donation systems, to ensure sustainability.
Finally, I am reminded of an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Let us stand together as ASCI enters adulthood—rooted in collaboration, innovation, and unity. Please continue to support our society and enjoy being part of this vibrant community.
Thank you very much.
Jongmin John Lee
Professor of Radiology & Biomedical Engineering
School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University,
South Korea
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