We wish you a happy holiday and festive season, and a prosperous, peaceful, and healthy New Year 2025! Reflecting on ISBM’s endeavors of 2024, we can proudly look back on a year filled with many activities that have strengthened ISBM’s mission of advancing behavioral medicine worldwide.
We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank Michael Hoyt, who after many years of extraordinary, dedicated service as the Editor-in-Chief of our International Journal of Behavioral Medicine, is stepping down. The journal has continued to grow and flourish under Michael’s guidance. One of the journal’s highlights of 2024 was the special issue entitled “Social Isolation and Loneliness in Acute and Chronic Illness”, edited by Allison Marzilliano and Michael Diefenbach. We did this special issue in honor of IJBM’s 30-year anniversary, expressing pride that our journal has existed for three decades. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Michael Hoyt in his role as ISBM President-Elect.
The members of our early career network INSPIRE, chaired by Allison Marzilliano, in collaboration with our Education and Training Committee, chaired by Chris Kilby, have created wonderful opportunities for our early career members. Amongst other activities, they have initiated a webinar series with monthly talks by international speakers in behavioral medicine. This series commencing in 2025 will be a wonderful opportunity for every member of ISBM to learn more about the research that happens in our member societies and to connect with other ISBM members.
Looking ahead, the dedicated members of our Local Organizing Committee, chaired by Urs Nater, and our Scientific Program Committee, chaired by Dawn Wilson-King, are working hard to make ICBM 2025 a success and to put together an outstanding scientific and social program for our forthcoming conference. Our 18th International Congress of Behavioral Medicine in August 2025 in Vienna, Austria, will be dedicated to a major international topic: “Advancing Global Health Equity Through Science, Education, and Advocacy”. We very much look forward to this highlight of 2025 and to coming together in person for a great scientific exchange on Behavioral Medicine! Take the opportunity to submit abstracts reflecting your work by the 6th January!
Now that we near the end of 2024, we extend our deep thanks to all our member societies and their members for your contributions and efforts. ISBM’s international work in Behavioral Medicine can only succeed with your engagement. We unite in continuing our fruitful collaborations and meeting the challenges we face as researchers, clinicians, colleagues and family members, to strengthen Behavioral Medicine in 2025!
Warmest regards,
Kerry Sherman, ISBM President
Michael Hoyt, ISBM President Elect
Anne H. Berman, ISBM Past President
Beate Ditzen, ISBM Treasurer
Maria Kleinstäuber, ISBM Secretary
