The ESPRM2024 event will bring experts up to date with the vast and complex fields of Physical and Rehabilitation medicine. The Scientific Program and Teaching Programs are at the core of the ESPRM2024 Congress. These are complemented by plenary lectures from leading experts in their fields, scientific sessions relevant to all clinical conditions and rehabilitation interventions, and poster sessions that will feature the broadest research of our colleagues.
In addition to learning and science, the ESPRM2024 offers an excellent opportunity for communication and exchange.
A few weeks before the congress, we talked to Klemen Grabljevec, MD MSc FEBPRM, President of the ESPRM2024 and President of the European Society for Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ESPRM).
Q1: This will be the first independent Congress of the European Society for PRM after the pandemic. What are the most noticeable advantages of in-person expert meetings that no online or hybrid event can replace?
We are looking forward to this event, which will allow us to see each other in person again, rekindle old friendships and collaborations, and establish new ones, besides restoring our regular congress routine. In-person meetings and presentations allow attendees to communicate freely with detailed discussions and in a more comprehensive way.
Q2: How many years did it take for Ljubljana to win the bid to host the ESPRM Congress? What convinced your colleagues on the board? How many attendees do you expect will attend? How many countries will they come from?
The Slovenian delegation in the ESPRM Assembly was very convincing. After expressing straight intention far back in 2018 that Ljubljana – with Cankarjev Dom as collaborating PCO, will bid for the ESPRM Congress, no other candidates stepped forward with a bid. So it was kind of an easy win. But for that very reason, the trust and expectations from the colleagues increased substantially.
Q3: How demanding is your role as the president of the organising committee? We know you have rich experience organising congresses for the University Rehabilitation Institute Soča (URI Soča). Have you personally organised a similar congress in the past?
Understandingly, the pre-congress organisational activities demand a substantial and continuous focus and extra activities, which are to be done parallel to my regular clinical and administration work at the URI Soča. Fortunately, experiences from the organisation of the Mediterranean Congress of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine back in 2008 – also in collaboration with Cankarjev Dom, as well from many other international scientific meetings organised by URI Soča (ISPO, EFRR, and EACD) helped us a lot. Of course, the team is most important. Here I want to express my gratitude to Prof. Dr Helena Burger, who did a lot of work organising the Scientific programme, to my colleague from URI Soča Dr. Zala Kuret – president of the Slovenian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine and last but not least, Gregor Rogač and Mateja Peric from Cankarjev Dom, who routinely coordinated all organisational and financial matters with their experiences.
Q4: When did you start cooperating with Cankarjev dom, and in what ways will they help organise this event?
As mentioned, our first project was the Mediterranean Congress of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine far back in 2008 – I just became the president of the Slovenian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. I was young and totally inexperienced in the field of Congress organisation. The Cankarjev Dom team gave great support and led my team through the preparations and through the event. And I must admit – that was the best Mediterranean congress so far!
Q5: What is the impact of artificial intelligence in your professional field? Do you believe AI will influence the way of organising congresses?
AI will be added soon as one of the pillars of modern rehabilitation medicine – besides the existing ones – which are telerehabilitation, virtual reality, robotic technology and neuromodulation. I believe that AI will influence many fields of our lives, so the congress business will not be excluded.
“Nothing can replace the interpersonal interaction between experts – it is an incomparably better way of cooperating.”
Q6: What do attendees coming to Ljubljana cherish most?
Safety, cleanliness, »cuteness« and the fact that services are still relatively inexpensive.
Q7: We discuss sustainability a lot. The transport of attendees contributes the largest part of the carbon footprint when organising an international congress. On the other hand, meetings of scientists and experts in various fields have numerous regenerative effects. What do you believe are the positive effects of events beyond carbon footprint?
Nothing can replace the interpersonal interaction between experts – it is an incomparably better way of cooperating – and I hope this will never change. If the carbon footprint is the price for that – we should search for transportation with less carbon footprint and not restrict the number of congresses.
Q8: In Slovenia, we have several experts who are active members of international expert associations, yet they do not decide to try and bid for events. How would you encourage them to prepare bids to host events? What benefits does hosting such congresses bring?
One should understand that renowned experts are generally very occupied and busy people. Therefore, the support of the domestic agency, which should take over the administrative work of bidding, would be very probably appreciated by them. Hosting the congress improves the visibility and recognition of our work and achievements towards international scientific societies.
Find out more about the ESPRM 2024 conference here.
