APHRS

Dear APHRS Colleagues and Friends,

Warm greetings to all members of the APHRS community as we welcome the start of Year 2026.It is both a great honor and a profound responsibility to serve as President of the Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society during this meaningful year.

I would first like to express my sincere gratitude to the Past President Dr. Hui-Nam Pak and to the Board of Trustees, Committee Members and Country Representatives for their leadership and vision. Their dedicated efforts have shaped APHRS into a vibrant, globally respected society in the Asia-Pacific region while actively contributing to the cardiac electrophysiology community worldwide. Their notable achievements throughout the past years, ranging from information sharing, research and training to connections to the progress of our field in an age of new technology and artificial intelligence as well as important to ongoing efforts toward better detection and management of cardiac arrhythmias.

As we well know, APHRS is the only organization created in the Asia Pacific region to promote excellence and advancement in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with heart rhythm disorders. In 2025, APHRS continued its strong momentum in advancing the field of cardiac electrophysiology across the Asia Pacific. The 2025 Congress led by Prof. Wataru Shimizu and Japanese colleagues and supported by all APHRS members attracted a diverse international faculty and a large global audience for high-level scientific exchange and education. In addition to reinforcing APHRS as a premier platform for cutting-edge research, clinical innovation and cross-border collaboration were enhanced during the annual meeting. Throughout the year, educational initiatives were strengthened through structured training programs on cutting-edge topics and fellowship sustained through activities that will continue to pay dividends in APHRS’ commitment to nurturing the next generation of electrophysiologists.

Looking ahead to 2026, the focus will be on deepening quality while expanding scale and regional impact. Given significant disparity in electrophysiology development, with some member countries facing substantial unmet needs in education and training, our organization intends to strengthen in-depth education and capacity-building initiatives over the next year. Supporting high-impact research and publications, fostering meaningful collaboration among clinicians, scientists and allied professionals, and nurturing young electrophysiologists are among our stated goals. Specifically, promoting equitable access to education across diverse regions, and advancing multicenter research initiatives that address real-world clinical needs throughout the Asia Pacific region will be emphasized. I am looking forward to the APHRS Annual Scientific Meeting in 2026 in Busan, Korea, certain that there will be another successful meeting with the support from APHRS members and experts from around the world.

As we embark on the year 2026 together, it is meaningful to note that, in Chinese culture the Horse symbolizes vitality, perseverance and forward momentum—qualities that strongly resonate with the spirit of cardiac electrophysiology and with the mission of APHRS. By working together supporting one another, and maintaining an open and collaborative mindset, I am confident that APHRS will continue to reach new heights and make lasting contributions to global heart rhythm care.

Thank you for your trust, support and friendship. I sincerely wish you and your families a healthy, fulfilling and prosperous New Year.

Wei Hua, MD, PhD, FAPHRS
President of the APHRS (2026)