MEDICAL TOURISM CONFERENCE
April 16, 2009
Chicago, Illinois, USA
In collaboration with several local Turkish American organizations and with the support of the Turkish Ministry of Culture & Tourism, the Turkish American Chamber of Commerce & Industry – Midwest organized the first “Medical Tourism in Turkey” Conference in the U.S. in April 2009.
The main purpose of the event was to present the current facts, figures, and trends in Global Healthcare and Medical Tourism industries and to introduce Turkey as a potential and alternative medical destination for patients from the U.S. where top quality affordable health care can be combined with many holiday and tourism opportunities.
This was the first full-day event in the United States introducing and promoting Turkey's health care industry. Over 200 guests attended the conference which was held at the Union League Club of Chicago, on Thursday, April 16th. Following the breakfast and networking period, the conference started with the opening remarks of the Hon.U.Kenan Ipek, Consul General of Turkey in Chicago and Dr. Candan Karlitekin, the Chairman of the Board of Turkish Airlines Inc. There were two informative panel sessions and an after-lunch special session presented by a total number of twelve expert speakers. During lunch, the attendees had the chance to listen and learn about the therapeutic affects of different classical Turkish music modes played by kanun and classical kemenche performers from Turkey. The afternoon was allocated to one-on-one private meetings.
The conference was organized in collaboration with the Turkish Healthcare Tourism Development Council, the Turkish American Tourism Council, the Healthcare Tourism Committee of TAIK / DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Council), and several other local Turkish-American organizations in Chicago, including the Turkish-American Doctors Association of Midwest (TADAM) and under the auspices of the Turkish Consulate General's Office in Chicago.
Turkish Airlines Inc. was the main sponsor of the conference and, with their support, a group of expert panelists and health industry representatives both from Turkey and the US were brought together here in Chicago to inform conference attendees about the current medical/health tourism related trends, issues and the accredited, high-quality healthcare facilities and services in Turkey. Among the guests attending the event were the members of the Turkish Government's Health and Tourism Ministries, the Healthcare Tourism Development Council, the Turkish American Tourism Council, DEIK members, representatives and directors of several JCI accredited Turkish medical facilities as well as the representatives from health, medical tourism, insurance, and related industries, employer groups and HR divisions of major Midwest companies in the US.
The panel sessions were presented by a group of distinguished speakers. Among the panelists from Turkey were the founding president of the Turkish American Tourism Council and the Turkish Healthcare Tourism Development Council; the president of DEIK (Foreign Economic Relations Council) Healthcare/ Medical Tourism Committee; the marketing director of a JCI accredited Medical Center; a representative from the Health and Wellness Tourism industry; etc. Among the US speakers were the COO and the General Counsel of the Medical Tourism Association and the editor of Medical Tourism Magazine; the President & CEO of Joint Commission International & Joint Commission Resources; the Director of the Health Industry Management Program, Kellogg School of Management & Professor of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University; representatives from an insurance industry and Deloitte Center for Health Solutions; directors of medical tourism facilitators; Turkish-American doctors; and a patient who took medical trip to Turkey. To see the program details and download the presentations please click here. To see the press release and media coverage please click here.