stage of the approval process. Public comments from all JCS members regarding planned revisions to the new articles of incorporation has been collected and related enforcement regulations, and humbly ask for your future cooperation.

Promoting the contributions made by female doctors to the society is an ongoing issue. To this end, this year we have established a gender equality committee that will examine specific measures to promote these contributions. With regard to the internationalization of the society, I want to promote further cooperation with Europe, the United States, and other Asian nations. Furthermore, based on the conflict of interest policy and regulations established by the Japanese Society of Internal Medicine in 2009, we newly established the Conflict of Interest Committee and are planning to create guidelines.

Over the next two years I will do my utmost to respond to the expectations of the society’s 24,000 members, some 11,000 of whom are board-certified specialists in cardiovascular medicine. Thank you for your continued support.

Respectfully,