Dr Stephen John, Union Board of Directors member, delivered the closing speech at The Union World Conference on Lung Health 2023.
"Honoured guests, distinguished members of The Union and conference participants, thank you for your contribution to The Union World Conference on Lung Health 2023.
"It has been fantastic to bring the lung health community back together in person after three years apart.
"As you can tell, we underestimated the sheer level of enthusiasm we have witnessed this week. So we apologise for the overcrowding in some sessions, but this is testament to the incredible content and The Union’s ability to bring this community together each year.
"This underestimation was in part due to the difficult situation The Union found ourselves in over the last few years. However, we are on the road to creating a sustainable and impactful conference and organisation. Your continued support of The Union is vital to this and we are grateful to you all for that.
"I want to thank all those people who have made this conference an outstanding success. The close collaboration between teams of members and staff, led by Dr Carrie Tudor, the Chair of the Coordinating Committee of Scientific Activities, Zahedul Islam, Chair of the Union Community Advisory Panel, and David Jackson, Director of Conferences, underpins this wonderful event.
"It has been an honour to gather the most brilliant minds under one roof, from world-leading scientists and researchers, to inspirational community representatives. Without you all, it wouldn’t be possible to host such a thought provoking Conference. But now we all have duty to use the knowledge we have been equipped with this week to transform evidence into practice.
"We must move forward with the tools and skills we have if we have any chance of achieving the fast-approaching 2030 End TB targets.
"Together we can achieve a healthier world for all, free of tuberculosis and lung disease.
"With that, I would like to thank you for your attendance at The Union World Conference on Lung Health 2023. I wish you a healthy and successful year ahead."