30 years later: ISTH’s first president from the Asian-Pacific region, Hidehiko Saito, reflects on his term

Hidehiko Saito, M.D., Ph.D., from Japan is a distinguished pioneer of the ISTH, helping to propel the Society’s exciting globalization and expansion during the 1980’s and 1990’s.

Saito served as ISTH President from 1994 to 1996, and upon his appointment, he became the Society’s first President from the Asian-Pacific region.

During his term, the ISTH was establishing itself on the world stage and Saito was integral to its growth and innovation. Prior to serving as ISTH President (which was formerly termed Council Chair), he was a member of the ISTH Council (1990-1994) and an active member of the Scientific and Standardization Committee (SSC). He also served as Associate Editor of the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis.

Saito is an internationally recognized physician-scientist who has made important contributions to the field of thrombosis and hemostasis. He is best known for the studies on contact phase of blood coagulation. In 1975, together with his colleague, Saito discovered a new coagulation factor, the Fitzgerald factor, and established the relationship between clotting and kinin generation.

Today, Saito is Emeritus Director of the Nagoya Medical Center and also Emeritus Professor of Medicine at the Nagoya University School of Medicine in Japan.

Today, he looks back on his leadership 30 years ago and shares his perspective on the rapid growth of the ISTH during that time.

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What year did you join the ISTH as a member and when did you attend your first ISTH Congress?

Saito: I do not remember the exact year that I joined the ISTH, but it was sometime in the early 1970’s. My first ISTH Congress was in 1972 in Washington D.C., USA.

What inspired you to serve in an ISTH leadership role and how has the field evolved over the last 30 years?

Saito: Our field started with bleeding disorders, and then came thrombotic disorders. In terms of becoming a leader, I thought it would be nice to serve as an Asian and to show the multicultural nature of our Society. The Society was expanding a lot during that time and I was proud to be part of that.

In the mid 1990’s during your leadership, what were some of the biggest accomplishments or challenges of the ISTH?

Saito: The accomplishments and the challenges in the 1990’s were very much the same. Our goal was to include members from as many global areas and countries as possible. There was a lot of efforts to achieve this globalization.

Do you have any favorite memories or experiences from previous ISTH congresses you have attended?

Saito: Yes, I have great memories from many ISTH events. Some of my favorite Congresses were those that were held in Jerusalem, Paris, Tokyo, Kyoto and New York.

Looking ahead, what is next for you and your career?