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Carl Kennedy, M.D. & Andrew Furey, M.D.
Co-Presidents, CORA 2003
St. John's, NF Over 65 orthopaedic residents from across Canada attended the 28th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Ortho-paedic Residents Association (CORA) in Winnipeg, Manitoba earlier this fall.
The two-day scientific programme included 20 resident papers of excellent quality on various topics including paediatrics, basic science, arthroplasty, sports medicine, spine and trauma. Of these 20 presentations, three were selected by a panel of adjudicators to receive the annual CORA awards, which are presented to the three papers of most outstanding quality.
The COSA Award for the best science paper was awarded to Dr. Seth Bitting, University of Calgary, for his paper entitled: The Effects of Nonsteroidal Antiinflammatory Drugs on Ligament Healing: A Mechanical, Morphological, and Biochemical Assessment.
 | Dr. Steven J.M. MacDonald congratulates two of the CORA award winners at the 2002 CORA Annual Meeting in Winnipeg, MB.
From L to R: Dr. Wade Gofton (J.A. Nutter Award Recipient),
Dr. Steven J.M. MacDonald (National Guest Speaker),
Dr. James L. Howard (Alexandra Kirkley Award Recipient).
Missing from photo: Dr. Seth Bitting (COSA Award Recipient). |
The award for best clinical paper was renamed this year after the late Dr. Alexandra Kirkley of London, Ontario. CORA felt that the best clinical paper award is appropriately named after Dr. Kirkley in memory of her exceptional work in clinical research. Dr. Kirkley was also a CORA alumni, having served as president of the organization in 1991. Dr. James Howard from the University of Western Ontario was awarded the 2002 Alexandra Kirkley Award for his paper entitled: A Quantitative Analysis of Bone Support with Cementless Synergy and Prodigy Total Hip Replacements.
Dr. Wade Gofton, from the University of Western Ontario, was awarded the 2002 J.A. Nutter Award for the best overall paper presented at the CORA meeting. Dr. Gofton's paper, Comparison of Wear Analysis Techniques using a 3D Phantom Model, will be presented as a podium presentation at the upcoming 2003 COA Annual Meeting in Toronto, Ontario.
An integral component of the scientific programme included presentations by Dr. Steven J.M. MacDonald who attended the 2002 CORA meeting as the invited National Guest Speaker. Dr. MacDonald presented exceptional papers on alternate bearings in total hip arthroplasty and revision total hip arthroplasty.
Dr. Alain Jodoin was asked by the President of the COA to attend the residents' meeting on his behalf as the COA Guest Speaker. Dr. Jodoin made a special lunchtime presentation about the goals and objectives, committee actions, government lobbying efforts, recent activities and initiatives that the COA has undertaken. Dr. Jodoin also presented a talk during the scientific session on fractures and dislocations of the lower cervical spine.
Included among the guest lecturers were a number of local faculty members from the departments of orthopaedics, rheumatology and anesthesia. The guest and faculty lectures were very well attended and received by the meeting participants.
The CORA Board of Directors also held a productive meeting during the annual conference to discuss a number of issues pertinent to the organization and its members. A specialist in fundraising for not-for-profit health care organizations was invited to the Board meeting to present recommendations on how CORA could strengthen its ties with industry, create fundraising opportunities and how CORA could increase its visibility within the Canadian orthopaedic community. CORA had already put some of these recommendations forward earlier this year by inviting the meeting sponsors to exhibit during the event. The exhibit tables were appropriately set up in the breakout section of the meeting venue where residents met with local representatives to discuss the products and services on display.
While the quality and popularity of the CORA meeting continues to grow, the funding for these meetings is threatening to decrease. Most recently, our largest corporate sponsor, The Canadian Orthopaedic Strategic Alliance (COSA), has confessed its uncertainty about funding future CORA meetings in the same capacity they have given in the past. Without major new funding to make up for a disappearance of COSA's support, the CORA meeting will cease to exist.
With more and more companies shaving back their budgets, the future of the organization is on shaky ground. We've realized that we cannot solely survive on corporate funding any longer and need to explore other fundraising channels.
Nearly every actively practicing orthopaedic surgeon in Canada is a CORA alumni. We are hoping that our alumni still feel a sense of commitment to CORA and will come together to support our organization. CORA would like to establish an endowment fund within the auspices of the COF with monies voluntarily donated by orthopaedic surgeons. This endowment fund would be used exclusively to help finance our annual meetings. Your donations would ensure CORA's future.
If you would like to make a donation to the CORA endowment fund, please contact the COF office at 1-800-461-3639 x 5 or by email
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. All donations are tax deductible.
The CORA annual meeting has evolved to become an essential component of residency training. The research presented at these meetings continues to excel year after year. The meeting provides tremendous opportunities for sharing ideas, research and also socializing with colleagues from across the nation. It enables residents to develop, as a group, into the orthopaedic surgeons of tomorrow.
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