2) COA OFFICE STAFF ANNOUNCEMENT
We are pleased to announce that Meghan Corbeil has joined the Canadian Orthopaedic Association's team as the maternity leave replacement for Trinity Wittman.  In this capacity, Meghan's primary focus will be on the planning and execution of the COA's Annual Meeting in Edmonton next June and St. John's in July of 2011.  Based in our Montreal office, Meghan can be reached by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or by phone through Trinity's extension at 514-874-9003 x 4. Meghan will take on full responsibility for the position as of January 4, 2010.  Please join us welcoming Meghan to the team and congratulating Trinity and her husband Gren on the pending arrival of their baby girl!

3) 2009 FOUNDERS' MEDAL AWARD RECIPIENT
Congratulations are extended to Dr. Neil Saran and his research team at McGill University for being awarded the Founders' Medal for the best basic science paper presented at the 2009 Canadian Orthopaedic Research Society (CORS) Annual Meeting.  Dr. Saran's research entitled "An In-vivo Evaluation of the Effect of a Hydroxyapatite Coating With and Without the Use of BMP-7 on Extracortical Bone Bridging Using a Canine Segmental Defect Model" was presented at the CORS Annual Meeting this past July in Whistler, BC.  Dr. Saran is a graduate of the McGill orthopaedic residency program and is currently completing paediatric subspecialty training and a Masters degree in Clinical Epidemiology at the University of British Columbia.

4) COA MEMBERS RECEIVE TOP CANADIAN ACHIEVEMENTS IN HEALTH RESEARCH AWARD
The Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR) and the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) recently honoured eight outstanding Canadian individuals and teams with the first ever CIHR-CMAJ Top Canadian Achievements in Health Research Awards, which recognize and celebrate Canadian health research and innovation excellence. 

The COA is proud to congratulate Drs. Bob Litchfield (London, ON) and Dr. Nizar Mahomed (Toronto, ON) for being two of the recipients of this honour.

A second round of Awards has just been launched, with a February 1, 2010 deadline for applications. Applications are welcome from individuals or teams working as health researchers, health professionals, policy makers, or administrators. For more information, visit www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca or www.cmaj.ca.

5) COA PAST PRESIDENT RECEIVES THE ORDER OF CANADA
The COA expresses its sincere congratulations to Dr. Marvin Tile (COA President 1992) who has been named as a member of the Order of Canada for his contributions as a clinical orthopaedic surgeon, teacher and groundbreaking researcher.  The Order is Canada's highest civilian honour, given to those whose lifetime achievements have improved the nation. 

6) TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Deadlines to apply for the Canadian-French-Belgian-Swiss (CFBS) fellowship or the Austrian-Swiss-German (ASG Fellowship) are right around the corner! Visit www.coa-aco.org and select the Medical Education menu option, then select Travelling Fellowships to download application forms for these two opportunities.  The deadline to apply for the CFBS fellowship is November 1, 2009.  The deadline to apply for the ASG Fellowship is December 1, 2009.

7) GLASGOW COMBINED MEETING - CALL FOR ABSTRACTS!
We encourage all COA members to submit their research for presentation at the 12th Annual Meeting of the Combined Orthopaedic Associations.  The meeting will be held in Glasgow from September 13-17, 2010.  Abstracts are being accepted until December 31, 2009. To submit your abstract and obtain complete information about this event, please visit: http://www.comoc2010.org/