1) COA PARTICIPATES IN "DOCTORS IN THE HOUSE" LOBBY DAY
This past month, the COA participated in the CMA's Doctors in the House lobby day. A big thank you to Dr. Ken Hughes who ably represented the COA on Parliament Hill for this important event. Dr. Hughes and Doug Thomson had productive meetings with 5 MPs, including MP Colin Carrie, parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Health. The COA agenda was heavily weighted toward health human resource issues in orthopaedics as well as the shortage of operating room resources for existing orthopaedic surgeons. Important contacts were made and are being followed-up.

2) WTA PHYSICIAN DIARY STUDY RESULTS
We'd like to thank COA members who completed the Wait Time Alliance (WTA) Physician Diary Study in March. The study sought to record the wait time interval for T1 - from GP referral to first consult; and, T2 - from decision to treat to date of procedure for hip & knee arthroplasty. The results are under an embargo until the WTA releases its annual Wait Time Report Card in late May. The results are interesting as they demonstrate substantially longer wait times for arthroplasty than what is reported on provincial web sites.

3) CORS SYMPOSIUM ON EARLY HIP OSTEOARTHRITIS
The Canadian Orthopaedic Research Society (CORS) will be presenting a combined CORS/COA symposium in Whistler on early hip osteoarthritis. Moderated by Dr. David Wilson (UBC), the symposium will take place on Saturday, July 4 from 3:45-5:15pm. Topics of discussion will include: biomechanics of the normal and deformed hip, hip dysplasia: imaging and surgical treatment, femoroacetabular impingement: imaging, diagnosis and open surgical management and arthroscopic approaches for femoroacetabular impingement and labral tears. All COA members are encouraged to attend.

4) CANADIAN NATIONAL FOP CONFERENCE & FAMILY MEDICAL CLINIC
This event will take place from May 29-31, 2009 at the Thames Valley Children's Centre in London, Ontario. To download a conference brochure and registration form, go to www.cfopn.org or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP) is a rare genetic disorder in which bone forms in muscles, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues, progressively causing immobility and fusing joints. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine discovered the FOP gene in April 2006. This important discovery is relevant, not only for patients with FOP, but for those with more common musculoskeletal conditions and will have a major impact on the study of skeletal biology and regenerative medicine.

5) THE CANADIAN ORTHOPAEDIC FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES EXPANDED ORTHO CONNECT SERVICE
Originally piloted for hip and knee replacement patients, the free, telephone-based Ortho Connect peer support programme is now available for any type of orthopaedic surgery. Through it, new patients can talk to other patients who have successfully been through the same surgery. Volunteers are matched based on patient needs: type of surgery, age, gender, language, location and more for as many commonalities as possible. To access services, have patients contact the Foundation directly at 1-800-461-3639 or at www.canorth.org.

6) HVO LAUNCHES ORTHOPAEDIC PROGRAMME IN MONGOLIA
HVO is pleased to announce the establishment of an orthopaedic training programme in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia at the National Traumatology and Orthopaedic Research Center (NTORC). Volunteers with the programme focus on improving the quality of orthopaedic care by increasing the knowledge among orthopaedic surgeon faculty members and orthopaedic residents. Training is provided in the areas of pelvic and acetabular trauma, knee arthroscopy, paediatric orthopaedics, hand surgery and other orthopaedic sub-specialty areas as identified by the site. Participants with the programme must be board eligible/certified orthopaedists, hold a current license and have five years of experience. Final year residents are eligible to volunteer if paired with an experienced volunteer surgeon. HVO is seeking to recruit 5 - 7 volunteers each year for a minimum two week assignment.

To learn more, visit https://www.hvousa.org/index2.htm or contact the HVO Programme Department (202) 296‑0928.