Dear Colleague,

Occupational therapy department in collaboration with Postgraduate Education and Academic Affairs, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, National Guard-Health Affairs has the great pleasure to organize the 1st Saudi Arabian Occupational Therapy Conference to be held in Riyadh Marriott Hotel on 06-07 April 2010.

I would like to thank King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard-Health Affairs for hosting this event and providing this remarkable opportunity for local and overseas delegates to interact and share their knowledge, ideas, research findings and clinical experiences in occupational therapy.

As reflected in the theme for this conference, there is diversity in the practice of occupational therapy in the region, owing to the unique history, culture and beliefs of the people in each country.

As this profession emerges into the global scene, such diversity will be shared and therapists will face new challenges and experiences. Nevertheless, all therapists will continue to uphold the profession's noble image and provide care and assistance to the sick and the less fortunate.

The demand for occupational therapy services in Saudi Arabia will continue to grow in the coming years, in tandem with the young population and rising patients' expectations on the quality of life. The establishment of a growing number of specialist rehabilitative services and facilities is a testimony to this growing demand so, to cope with this demand, the National Guard-Health Affairs has also introduced the Allied Healthcare Scholarship to encourage more students to consider occupational therapy as a career.

In this respect, I have the pleasure to note that the National Guard-Health Affairs has taken the leads to sponsor the Saudis to get the BSc in Occupational Therapy Schools also the approval of the OT College at KSU-NGHA, in addition providing in -house programs and co-ordinate continuing education and training for occupational therapists.

I am confident that the National Guard-Health Affairs will continue to provide professional leadership and organize activities to maintain high standards in the profession.

On this note, I shall conclude by wishing all delegates a pleasant and fruitful conference.