Coe Medal 2027 Recipient

Atsuyuki Yamataka

It is a great privilege to introduce Dr. Atsuyuki Yamataka as the 2027 recipient of the prestigious Coe Medal. A world-renowned pediatric surgeon, Dr. Yamataka serves as the Professor and Head of the Pediatric Surgery Department at Juntendo University in Tokyo, Japan. Throughout his esteemed career, he has been a pioneer in advancing pediatric care, specializing extensively in minimally invasive and hepatobiliary surgery. His profound global influence and exceptional leadership in the field are highlighted by his distinguished service as the Past President of the Pacific Association of Pediatric Surgeons (PAPS), the Asian Association of Pediatric Surgeons (AAPS), and the International Pediatric Endosurgery Group (IPEG). With a remarkable legacy of innovative surgical techniques and hundreds of peer-reviewed publications to his name, Dr. Yamataka’s lifelong dedication to improving surgical outcomes for children makes him an exceptionally deserving honoree for the 2027 Coe Medal.

Gans Lecture

"Our future world: jungle or wasteland?"

Gary Quinlan AO FAIIA

Previously one of Australia’s most senior and long-serving diplomats, Gary Quinlan was Australia’s Ambassador to Indonesia from 2018 to 2021. 

Prior to that he was Deputy Secretary of Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and Australia’s Senior Official to ASEAN and to the East Asia Summit. He was concurrently Australia’s chief negotiator with Timor-Leste (East Timor) on maritime boundaries, resulting in the historic Maritime Boundaries Treaty of 2018. He was Australia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, New York 2009 to 2015; Australia’s Representative on the United Nations Security Council 2013 to 2014 and President of the Council twice during that period.

He was Senior Adviser to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs, Defence and National Security 2008 to 2009, and earlier had held senior positions in DFAT responsible for North Asia; the Americas; Europe; and in management. In 1999, he led Australia’s operational response to the East Timor crisis. He was a lead negotiator for Australia in international negotiations on Law of the Sea and on Antarctic matters. 

His overseas assignments, prior to Ambassador to the United Nations, were as Deputy Ambassador in the Australian Embassy in Washington DC; High Commissioner (Ambassador) to Singapore; the Australian Mission to the United Nations, New York; the Australian Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, Paris; and the Australian Embassy, Dublin.

He has also served outside DFAT as Chief of Staff to the Australian Minister for Resources; the Minister for Industrial Relations; the Minister for Trade; and the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology.

Mr Quinlan holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Newcastle, NSW and an Honorary Doctor of Letters (Newcastle). He was made an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in 2016 for his government service principally in international relations. He was conferred with the Ukraine Freedom Award in 2017 for his support for Ukraine during his membership of the Security Council and after. He was appointed a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA) in 2022. Although now retired, he still does work for DFAT and other government agencies, and  regularly presents on foreign policy issues to other bodies and in the media. He is a Board member of Advance Global Australians, which seeks to leverage the engagement of the large numbers of professional Australians living and working overseas.

PACIFIC ASSOCIATION OF PEDIATRIC SURGEONS INNOVATION AWARD

The goal of the Innovation Award is to recognize outstanding innovation, methods, or ideas performed by Investigators in Pediatric Surgery. Innovation may be - but not limited to - a new device, surgical technique, or novel patient care method 

1. Eligibility: Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, and Trainees are eligible for the Innovation Award. 
2. Application: To apply for the Innovation Award, applicants will indicate their intent to participate in the Innovation Award competition upon initiation of the abstract submission process for the Annual Meeting. Abstracts submitted for the Innovation Award are not eligible for the PAPS Prize. Candidates for the Innovation Award MUST present their work at the PAPS annual scientific meeting.
3. The Innovation Award will be awarded on the basis of ingenuity of a novel technique, idea, or application. This MUST be original work. 
4. Innovation Award is awarded by the Scientific Committee Chairperson after consultation with the Program Committee Chairperson. Scoring criteria for the Innovation Award will be determined by the Scientific and Publication Committee.
5. The winners of the Innovation Award will be announced at the annual meeting by the PAPS President.

You could be the inaugural innovation award recipient at PAPS 2027 - Okinawa Meeting, join NOW! 

Conference Tour

Shuri Castle and Okinawa World

20th April 2027 (Tuesday)

1) Shuri Castle

In 2000, Shuri Castle was designated as a World Heritage Site, as a part of the Gusuku Sites and Related Properties of the Kingdom of Ryukyu.

2) Okinawa World

The largest coral limestone cave is Gyokusendo Cave. Created over 300,000 years,

Gyokusendo Cave is one of the largest in Japan

Fee Per Person: Free for registrants 

Preliminary Itinerary:  

09:45  Departure from Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort   

10:30  Arrival at Shuri Castel (UNESCO World Heritage)

11:30  Departure from Shuri Castel 

12:00  Lunch: Buffee at Hotel (Naha City)

13:00  Departure from Hotel (Naha City) 

13:30  Arrival at Okinawa World

15:30  Departure from Okinawa World

16:30  Arrival at Hilton Okinawa Chatan Resort