JGH chief instrumental in bringing Congress of Perinatal Medicine to Montreal

More than 3,000 delegates will be heading to Montreal in 2021 for the World Congress of Perinatal Medicine, thanks in large part to the involvement of the JGH’s world renowned Chief of Pediatrics and Neonatology, Dr. Apostolos Papageorgiou.

When the 15^th edition of World Congress opens on September 22, 2021, for five days of lectures and discussions at the Palais des congrès, it will mark the first such meeting of the international body in Canada.

The decision to convene in Montreal was announced in late October at the 13^th World Congress in Belgrade, Serbia, following a detailed presentation by Dr. Papageorgiou and a representative of the Palais des congrès.

At this year’s congress, Dr. Papageorgiou, who is a Professor of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology at McGill University, also delivered three lectures and presided over two sessions. Of the 216 speakers at the event, he was one of only two Canadians to have a speaking role.

Now that the choice is official, Dr. Papageorgiou is on a local three-member organizing committee that will plan the scientific content for the 2021 congress. Assisting him are Dr. Haim Abenhaim, Director of Perinatal Research at the JGH and Associate Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at McGill; and Dr. Sylvain Chemtob, Professor of Pediatrics, Ophthalmology, Optometry and Pharmacology at the University of Montreal and Adjunct Professor of Pharmacology at McGill.

As a result their involvement, Dr. Papageorgiou says, there will be heightened interest in the innovations, programs and services that distinguish the JGH, as well as those at McGill and the University of Montreal.

Several cities were in the running for the event, but Dr. Papageorgiou thinks Montreal had the edge because of its standing in scientific and academic circles. Another strong point is Dr. Papageorgiou’s reputation as one of the 30 permanent members of the International Academy of Perinatal Medicine.

Having Montreal as host of the 2021 congress is “a major honour that will put this city, Quebec and Canada in the spotlight,” Dr. Papageorgiou says. It also means that a larger number of American delegates are more likely to attend than if the event were held in a location that would be more expensive and time-consuming for them to reach.

“I’m very excited about welcoming so many of my international colleagues to Montreal,” he adds. “Now the hard part begins: nearly four years of planning and preparation.”