Looking Back While Moving Forward 

Peter J. O'Brien, M.D., FRCSC
President, Canadian Orthopaedic Association

The Canadian Orthopaedic Association's Strategic Plan initiatives continue to be the focus of activity for the Executive Committee. Dr. Cy Frank, our President Elect, has been leading the models of care effort. He led a Bone and Joint Canada symposium on models of care at the end of March and we anticipate that a Toolkit describing successful models will be available to our members in the very near future.

Dr. Peter J. O'Brien

Many parts of the country continue to have major obstacles in the delivery of hip and knee arthroplasty. We will utilize the information gained from the recent Wait Times Alliance report card to advocate for our patients in the provinces that received failing grades. A symposium on models of care will be held at our Annual Meeting this year to bring you up to date on the progress that has been made in this important area.

The outcomes strategic initiative is now focusing on the Canadian Joint Replacement Registry. Major changes to the way data is captured for the Registry will be introduced in the near future. The goal is to have over 90% of hip and knee arthroplasties performed annually in Canada entered into the registry. Once that has been accomplished, our members will be able to receive meaningful feedback about the techniques and implants that they are using.

Advocacy is moving ahead in many areas. Foot and ankle care, CMPA and government relations are some of the projects that we have been working on over the past few months.

The major challenge for the Association this year has been our precarious financial situation. Our Treasurer, Emil Schemitsch, and CEO, Doug Thomson, have put together and excellent financial recovery plan and we are on track to being in the black for the first time in three years. However, the Association's finances are heavily reliant on the financial success of the Annual Meeting. I want to encourage our members to attend this year's event in Whistler.

The COA Annual Meeting will be held in Whistler, B.C. from July 3-6, 2009. Dr. Bob Meek has organized an excellent social program. Drs. Pierre Guy and Bob Hawkins, along with their Program Committee, have assembled an outstanding scientific and educational program. The details are available at: www.coaannualmeeting.org. I hope that most of you will be able to attend.

This will be my last Presidential Message published in the COA Bulletin. Connie and I would like to thank you for giving us the incredible opportunity of representing the COA this year. Canadian orthopaedics is held in high regard around the world. Our organization is strong thanks to the commitment of our membership and committee members. The full time staff, Cynthia and Trinity, under the capable leadership of our CEO, Doug Thomson is responsible for our ongoing success and I wish to express my sincere gratitude to each of them. It will be an honour for me to turn over the Presidency to Dr. Cy Frank who I know will do an outstanding job in the upcoming year.

I look forward to seeing you in Whistler in July.