1. IMIA-LAC Alvaro Margolis, MD MS, President on behalf of the IMIA-LAC Board 2006-2009 Term

2. Latin America and the Caribbean • Over 20 countries. • 560 million people. • From polar to tropical climates. • Most people speak Spanish and Portuguese. • Only four National Member Societies belong to IMIA.

3. Strategic goals for the next term of IMIA-LAC Board • 1. Strengthen the network of Health Informatics Societies in Latin America and the Caribbean • 2. Define the main topics to promote and the groups in charge of doing it

4. Goal 1. Strengthen the network of Health Informatics Societies • In each Country, there is a need for Health informatics Societies that are: • Multidisciplinary, • Representative within, across and outside each Country, and • Have a strong link with the Academia and Government

5. Goal 2. Define the main topics and the groups • Clinical information systems • Legal and regulatory bodies in each Country, • Adoption of Standards, and • Organizational Change and other critical success areas • Health Informatics Education • Graduate students of Health Careers, and • Health Informatics Professionals

6. Other areas of interest • Medical imaging and PACS • Integrated Health Information Systems • Telemedicine • Computer-assisted education • Nursing informatics • Bio-informatics • Public health informatics

7. Move from budget “zero” to a budget that would allow IMIA-LAC to accomplish its goals

8. Steps taken • Creation of electronic list • Imia-lac-board@informaticamedica.net • Renewed interest in becoming National Members (Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia, Perú, Colombia…) • Virtual informatics Congress in 2007 • Regional Congress in 2008 • Coordination and support from Societies from other Countries and Regions

9. Thank you! Alvaro Margolis, MD MS margolis@mednet.org.uy