The idea of creating a global organization that would serve as a platform for the exchange of medical advances and as a forum to promote scientific interests was proposed as early as 1998 and at a meeting organized by the University of Hong Kong, it was decided that scientific conferences would be held annually for the purpose of the academic exchange of information and ideas in the field of reproductive medicine. It was agreed that these meetings would be hosted in turn by Mainland China, Hong Kong and Taipei (China).

In 1999, Professors Soong Yong-Kuei and Yang Youshi from Taiwan, Professors Pak-Chung Ho, William Shu-biu Yeung and Milton Leong from Hong Kong and Professors Chen Guian and Guang-Lun Zhuang from Mainland China met and decided to hold the first conference in Zhuhai China in 2000, which was attended by more than 400 delegates.

At the second conference held in Taipei in 2001, it was decided that it would be of greater benefit to broaden the scope to include overseas colleagues of Chinese origin. With this goal in mind, a group of Chinese doctors and scientists held a preparatory meeting that same year at the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) Annual Meeting at Orlando, Florida, USA, which was organized by Dr. Milton Leong and chaired by Professor Guang-Lun Zhuang. As a result of their efforts, the First Global Chinese Congress on Reproductive Medicine was held in Hong Kong in 2002. The meeting was truly international in scope, welcoming speakers and attendees of Chinese descent from around the world.

During the meeting in Hong Kong, it was decided that in order to have a base where Chinese doctors and scientists could meet annually, we should work with the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) to incorporate ourselves as a Special Interest Group, which would entitle us to hold our own meeting and symposium yearly within the ASRM annual meeting. A committee consisting of Professors Chen Guian and Pak-Chung Ho, Dr. Milton Leong and Professors Yong-Kuei Soong, Seang-Lin Tan, Peng-Cheang Wong, William Yeung and Guang-Lun Zhuang was elected during the meeting to carry out the preparatory work with the ASRM. Through the efforts of Dr. Milton Leong and Professor Seang-Lin Tan, the ASRM accepted the proposal. In 2003, the first meeting of the Special Chinese Interest Group, chaired by Dr. Milton Leong and Professor Seang-Lin Tan, was held at the ASRM Meeting in San Antonio, USA. At that time, the group was informed of progress made to date and was advised that recruitment of members would soon be underway.

In October 2004, during the ASRM Meeting in Philadelphia, USA, the formation of the Global Chinese Association of Reproductive Medicine was officially announced at a meeting chaired by Professor Seang Lin Tan and Dr. Milton Leong. The goals of the organization were put forth as being the exchange of information between physicians and scientists of Chinese origin within and outside of China, and collaborating to provide opportunities for further training, research and clinical studies. As part of CGARM’s mandate, it would be responsible for organizing two meetings each year: a one-day symposium at the ASRM Annual Meeting and one Global Conference which, in reflection of the international scope of the Association, would alternate one year within China and one year outside.

It was agreed that the Second Global Chinese Congress on Reproductive Medicine would be held in Beijing in August 2005 and would include speakers from around the world, particularly those of Chinese descent, in order to illustrate the breadth of Chinese experience in the field of reproductive science. Following the meeting at ASRM, an committee chaired by Professor Seang Lin Tan was established to organize the congress. Seed funding for the conference was generously provided by the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. Owing to the tireless efforts of the Committee, world-renowned experts from Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, South America, the United States and the United Kindgom have agreed to participate as invited speakers and, together, they represent probably the most stellar cast of reproductive medicine physicians and scientists ever assembled for a two-day conference in China.

Also since our meeting in October 2004, an inaugural executive and board of directors have been established for GCARM, comprised of members renowned in reproductive medicine from both within and outside China. The members of the board from China were proposed by the group of doctors from Mainland China who were present at the meeting.

Formal by-laws have been drafted clearly defining the goals, purpose and administration of the Association and GCARM has been registered as a non-profit organization in Canada.

Another of our stated goals at the 2004 meeting was to hold a one-day symposium at the ASRM Annual Meeting. GCARM’s first symposium, entitled “An Odyssey of 25 Years of Reproductive Medicine”, will take place in Montreal in October 2005. Members of the faculty are Professors Seang Lin Tan, Victor Gomel, R. Jeffrey Chang and Dr. Milton Leong. All are encouraged to attend.

We are also proud of the fact that RBM Online has agreed to become the official journal of GCARM and would like to thank its editor, Professor Robert Edwards, for his support.