History
The World Association for Laser Therapy (WALT) was formed in 1994 in Barcelona, Spain at the joint Congress of the International Laser Therapy Association (ILTA) and the International Society for Laser Application in Medicine (ISLAM) when these two international groups merged and WALT became the leading world body for promoting research, education and clinical applications in the field of photo-therapy with lasers and other light sources.
The multi-national membership includes the world’s leading experts in all forms of treatment mediated by the photo-bio-modulating effects of light occurring without thermal effects on irradiated tissue.
Congresses
WALT hosts its World Congress every two years with venues spread worldwide. Since its formation in 1994, congresses have been held in: Jerusalem, Israel (1996), Kansas City, USA (1998), Athens, Greece (2000), Tsukuba, Japan (2002), Guaruja, Brazil (2004), Limassol, Cyprus (2006), Sun City, South Africa (2008), Bergen, Norway (2010), Gold Coast, Australia (2012). Washington, USA (2014). The next conference will be held in Brazil in 2016.
Leadership
WALT has run under the leadership of the following presidents: Prof Shimon Rochkind, Israel (1996-1998), Prof Chukuka Enwemeka, USA (1998-2000), Dr Nic Nicolopoulos, Greece (2000-2002), Dr Kazuo Hanaoka, Japan (2002-2004), Prof Also Brugnera Jnr, Brazil (2004-2006), Prof Farouk Al-Watban, Saudi Arabia (2006-2008), Prof Jan Bjordal, Norway (2008-2010), Prof Heidi Abrahamse, South Africa (2010 –2012) Prof Liisa Laakso, Australia (2013-2014) and now Prof Rodrigo Lopes Martins, Brazil (2015 – 2016).
Journal
The official journal of WALT up until 2003 was Laser Therapy. Since 2004 to date, the official journal of WALT is Photomedicine and Laser Surgery. Printed by Mary Ann Liebert, USA, It is the leading photomedical scientific journal and is published online 12 times a year.
The association is grateful to the following individuals and organizations for their major gifts in initiating and establishing Photomedicine and Laser Surgery in 2004: Toshio Ohshiro Japan Medical Laser Laboratory/ Ohshiro Clinics, Tokyo, Japan; James Carroll – Thor International, Amersham, Bucks, U.K; Farouk Al-Watban – Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Neil Camera – Laser Therapeutics, Centerville MA, U.S.A.; Tina Czech – Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Chukuka S. Enwemeka – Kansas City, KS, U.S.A.; Felix Kramer – Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Judith Le Broque – Sunbury, Victoria, Australia; Prof. Dr. H.P. Peter Marti – Thun, Switzerland; Institute Marti – Thun, Switzerland; MKW Therapiesystems – Sinzheim, Germany; Kevin C. Moore – Oldham, U.K.; Mark J. Rogers – Adelaide, Australia; Ervin Tanos – Budapest, Hungary; Jan Tunér – Grangesberg, Sweden; Lutz Wilden – Nabburg, Germany; Sue Wright – Chadstone, Victoria, Australia.
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