The Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association that began life in 1962 as the Western Pacific Orthopaedic Association has entered a new and vital phase of its development. I am honoured to be its President and will do my utmost to protect its core values and advance its aims. The WPOA was formed in the era of Asian development. The practice of orthopaedic surgery was just coming to grips with the twin scourges of musculoskeletal tuberculosis and poliomyelitis, diseases which threatened the future of an Asian Pacific zone that was just beginning to recover from the ravages of war and internal conflict. Understanding of biomechanics was rudimentary and the age of joint replacement, effective spinal instrumentation and reliable fracture fixation was just in its infancy.
Against this backdrop a group of orthopaedic surgeons met in Hong Kong and formed the WPOA with the intention of sharing their experiences and skills not just amongst themselves but also with other orthopaedic surgeons in the region. Many meetings and workshops were organised at university level and great friendships were forged.The WPOA thus became the main body linking surgeons from lands and systems which were diverse but shared common problems.
Read moreDavid Siew-Kit Choon
President, APOA 2016-2018
The objects for which the Association is established are:
To advance the science, art and practice of orthopaedic surgery in the region particularly in those countries with chapters;
To promote professional education, research, and other interest in orthopaedic surgery;
To share knowledge of and solutions to medical problems;
To assist countries of the region in all matters relating to orthopaedic surgery;
