History
The World Association for photobiomoduLation 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 photobiomodulation with lasers and other light sources.
The multinational membership includes the world’s leading experts in all forms of treatment mediated by the photobiomodulating effects of light occurring without thermal effects on irradiated tissue.
WALT LIFETIME MEMBERS
Judith Le Broque
Mark Rogers
Sue Wright
Lutz Wilden
MKW Therapiesysteme (Mathias Mink)
Ervin Tanos
Toshio Ohshiro
Farouk Al Watban
Jan Tuner
Felix Kramer
Institute Marti
Peter Marti
James Carroll
Kevin Moore
Neil Camera
Chukuka Enwemeka
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), Brazil (2016), and Nice, France (2018). The next conference will be a virtual summit in October 2021.
World Association for Photobiomodulation Therapy 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), Prof Rodrigo Lopes Martins, Brazil (2015 – 2016), Prof Jan Bjordal, Norway (2016-2018), Prof Praveen Arany, USA (2018-2020), and now Prof René-Jean Bensadoun, France (2020-2022).
Journal
The official journal of WALT up until 2003 was Laser Therapy. Since 2004 to date, the official journal of WALT is Photobiomodulation, 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.;