1) EDMONTON 2010 - REGISTER AND SAVE!
Register for the COA's upcoming Annual Meeting before April 1 to take advantage of our optimized early bird rates.  A preliminary program, hotel listings, info about the CORA and CORS meeting programs, social event descriptions and our secure online registration can all be found right here: www.coaannualmeeting.org Register today!

2) 2009 RESEARCH GRANT RECIPIENTS
The Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation is pleased to announce its 2009 research grants recipients: The winner of the J. Edouard Samson Award, sponsored by Bayer HealthCare, is Dr. Kevin A. Hildebrand for his research proposal entitled: "Post-traumatic Joint Contractures: Correlation between the Human Condition and an Animal Model, and Identification of a Potential Preventative Intervention".  This year's application review of the Canadian Orthopaedic Research Legacy (CORL) Grant, sponsored by Angiotech, resulted in a first-ever tie. The winners are Dr. Victoria Avram and Dr. Mohit Bhandari for their research proposal entitled: "Prevalence of Abuse with an Intimate Partner Violence Surgical Evaluation (PRAISE):  A Multi-Centre Cross-Sectional Study" and Dr. Paul Duffy and Dr. Prism Schneider for their research proposal entitled: "A Randomized Clinical Trial Comparing Open Reduction and Internal Fixation with Non-operative Treatment of Isolated Ulnar Diaphyseal Fractures".  To learn more about the Foundation's research grants, visit www.orthoconnect.org, The next call for applications will be in the summer of 2010. Watch the Dispatch for more information.

3) NEW PROCESS OF MAILING DATA TO CANADIAN JOINT REPLACEMENT REGISTRY (CJRR)
CJRR has recently modified the process of receiving data collection forms from participating surgeons' offices.  Brown envelopes containing the new CIHI address were sent to all surgeons who submit their data to CJRR using paper forms.  When returning completed CJRR forms to CIHI please follow the given instructions:

 1.   Once paper forms (the blue and yellow forms) have been completed, place all completed data submissions into the provided brown envelopes containing the CJRR mailing address label.

2.   Place the brown envelope containing the completed data submissions into the pre-paid express post envelopes provided by CJRR, also with the CJRR mailing address. Your package is now ready to be sent to CJRR.

This 'double-wrapping' will aid in optimizing the privacy and confidentiality of patient data.  If you have any questions, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

4) WINTER ARTHROPLASTY UPDATE COURSE - RESCHEDULED
The 2010 Winter Arthroplasty Update Course that was scheduled to take place at the Blue Mountain Resort in Collingwood has been postponed.  The meeting will no longer be held from March 5-6 and has been tentatively rescheduled for January 21-22, 2011.  Final dates will be confirmed shortly

5)  NATIONAL PHYSICIAN SURVEY - COMING SPRING 2010!
The next National Physician Survey will be starting in the spring of 2010. The survey is conducted co-operatively every three years by The College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Canadian Medical Association and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. It reaches out to all physicians in Canada as well as medical residents and medical students for your input on Canadian health human resource issues. The results become a valuable information resource for us all. When you receive the survey, please take a few minutes to respond.  Your input is important and greatly appreciated. 

6) OMeGA GRANTS DEADLINE = MARCH 24
Orthopaedic programs in the Americas can apply for orthopaedic fellowship grants (up to $75,000) and residency/general education grants (up to $5,000) for the 2010-2011 academic year.  Funds are awarded through a consistent, non-biased process, based on objective criteria, and independent of program size, personnel, or affiliation.  Although one application is used for all fellowship categories, criteria is weighted differently to reflect sub-specialty differences.  

Applications will be accepted through Wednesday, March 24 at 5pm CST.  Programs should go to http://www.omegamedicalgrants.org/PrePages/index.html to begin the application process.  Questions should be directed to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

7) E-LEARNING NEEDS ASSESSMENT SURVEY
The Royal College of Physicians & Surgeons in conducting a research study to help understand how you use technology in your continuing professional development. If you've already participated in this survey, thank you for your contribution, please avoid completing it a second time.  The online survey takes only five minutes to complete and must be completed by March 15, 2010.  Results will be kept confidential and data will be presented in the aggregate only.  Click here to participate: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/V5XMFBX

If you require further information or have questions about this survey, please contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . 

Member in the Spotlight

Dr. Brad Petrisor of Hamilton, ON has been recently appointed the Program Director of the McMaster University orthopaedic training program.  "I am looking forward to the next few years in this position and want to help make a positive difference in the lives of our orthopaedic residents while working collaboratively with the other Program Directors across Canada to continue to provide quality orthopaedic training," says Dr. Petrisor of this new appointment.  With the support of his wife and three children, he has recently completed his first orthopaedic mission when he went to Haiti to help with the St. Joseph's Hospital Foundation International Outreach Program, Hamilton for disaster relief.  In Haiti he worked with a team of health care professionals to assist the Hopital Universitaire de la Paix in the Delmas district of Port Au Prince to deliver health care to the Haitian people.  "This experience was humbling and emotional as patient after patient presented with untreated fractures and malunions in the face of already strained resources."

 A different member of the COA will be highlighted in each edition of the Dispatch.  Would you like to be featured?  Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it  for details.