History of APPOS | APOA

    • APPOS History & Milestones

      The Asia Pacific Pediatric Society (APPOS) traces its origins to 1985, when it was established as the Paediatric Section of the Western Pacific Orthopaedic Association (WPOA). Over the decades, APPOS has evolved into a prominent professional organisation dedicated to advancing paediatric orthopaedics across the Asia-Pacific region. Its growth and development have been shaped by significant milestones, landmark meetings, and successive leadership transitions, reflecting its enduring commitment to professional excellence, regional collaboration, and the advancement of paediatric orthopaedic care.
      Origins and Early Development

      The foundations of the Asia Pacific Paediatric Society (APPOS) were laid in 1985, when members of the Western Pacific Orthopaedic Association (WPOA) convened in Bangkok, Thailand, and established a pro tem committee to spearhead the formation of a dedicated paediatric orthopaedic section.

      The founding leadership comprised:

      • Chairman: Dr Thamrongrat Keokarn (Thailand)

      • Vice Chairman: Dr Louis CS Hsu (Hong Kong)

      • Secretary/Treasurer: Dr Chaithavat Ngarmukos (Thailand)

      The founding members included Dr Jimmy S Daruwalla (Singapore), Dr Katuro Iwasaki (Japan), Dr Eng Hin Lee (Singapore), Dr John Leong (Hong Kong), Dr M S Moon (Korea), Dr In-Young Ok (Korea), Dr Shier Chieg Huang (Taiwan), and Dr M Sivananthan (Malaysia).

      This pioneering initiative marked a significant step towards strengthening regional collaboration and advancing paediatric orthopaedic care.

      In November 1987, the inaugural meeting of the WPOA Paediatric Section was held in Chiang Mai, Thailand, formally establishing the Section and laying the foundation for its future development into APPOS.

    • Key Milestones and Achievements

      • 1989 – Singapore: The Section's constitution was approved, with two council representatives from each member country.

      • 1991 – Seoul: First joint meeting with the Spine Section (now APSS), marking the beginning of collaborative meetings.

      • 1994 – Taiwan: Applied for alliance membership with the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA).

      • 1996 – Kochi: Officially became an alliance member of POSNA.

      • 1998 – Fukuoka: Gained recognition as the Asia-Pacific representative within the International Federation of Paediatric Orthopaedic Societies (IFPOS).

      • 2000: WPOA was renamed APOA, expanding its representation across Asia.

      • 2008–2010: Introduced and expanded travelling fellowship programmes.

      • 2013 – Kuching: Renamed the Asia Pacific Pediatric Society (APPOS).

      • 2024–2025: Recognised by EPOS and POSNA as a representative society for the Asia-Pacific region, strengthening its international presence.

    • List of Meetings and Leadership of APPOS

      The following table provides a chronological overview of APPOS’s key meetings and leadership history, highlighting the Presidents and Chairmen who have guided the Society’s growth and development over the years.

      APPOS Past Meeting

      Abbreviations for Leadership Positions
      • P – President / Section Chairman
      • VP – Vice President
      • S – Honorary Secretary
      • T – Honorary Treasurer

    • 1985–1987: Formation and Inauguration

      • In 1985, members of the Western Pacific Orthopaedic Association (WPOA) met in Bangkok and proposed a subspecialty section for Paediatric Orthopaedic Surgery.

      • A protem committee was formed:
        • Chairman: Dr Thamrongrat Keokarn (Thailand)
        • Vice Chairman: Dr Louis C S Hsu (Hong Kong)
        • Secretary-Treasurer: Dr Chaithavat Ngarmukos (Thailand)

      • 4 November 1987: Official inauguration in Chiang Mai.

      • First board meeting: protem leaders confirmed as official officers.

    • 1989–1992: Early Growth & Leadership Changes

      • Second board meeting (1989, Singapore): Constitution adopted.
        • Regular board meetings every 2 years during WPOA congress.
        • Each member country to have 2 representatives.

      • 1991, Seoul: First combined Spine & Paediatric Section meeting.

      • 1992, Jakarta: Dr In Young Ok becomes chairman.

      • Surplus from the first combined meeting donated to Paediatric Section.

      • Bank account opened in Singapore by Dr Lee Eng Hin.

      • Board elections held every 3 years during main congress.

    • 1994–2000: International Alliances

      • 1994: Applied to join Paediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) – accepted in 1996.

      • 1998: Accepted by International Federation of Paediatric Orthopaedic Societies (IFPOS) as Western Pacific representative.

      • 2000: WPOA reorganized as Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association (APOA).
        • Geographical coverage expanded to include India, China, and other countries.
        • Asia-Pacific contributions gained global significance.

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    • 6th APSS-APPOS Combined Meeting in Taipei, Taiwan in 2005
      From left, Dr Ken Kuo, Dr Toshio Fujii, Dr Wu and Dr PQ Chen 

    • 2007–2010: Academic Collaborations

      • 2007: Affiliation with Journal of Children Orthopaedics (JCO).

      • 2010: Invitation from Journal of Paediatric Orthopaedics (JPO) to submit research.

      • 2010, Hawaii: Co-organized APOA/POSNA Annual Congress.
        • Led by Dr In Ho Choi (Chairman) & Dr PQ Chen (APOA President).
        • around 100 members from across Asia-Pacific attended.

    • Team Leaders of APOA Paediatric Section (APPOS) and Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) Congress in 2010, Hawaii 

      Front row, from left: Dr. Ken Kuo, Dr. PQ Chen, Dr. Toshio Fujii
      Back row, from left: Dr. Makoto Kamegaya, Dr. John Dormans (POSNA, President), Dr. In-Ho Choi, Dr. Saw Aik

    • 2008–Present: Travelling Fellowships

      • 2008: First Paediatric Orthopaedic Travelling Fellowship launched.
        • Fellows from Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia visited Seoul & Fukuoka.
        • Program concluded at 7th combined Spine & Paediatric Congress, Jeju, Korea.

      • Subsequent fellowships:
        • 2010: Visits to Kaoshiung & Nagoya; 8th combined Congress, Gifu, Japan.
        • Recent: Visits to India; 50th Golden Anniversary Congress, New Delhi.

      • 2026: 9th combined Congress in Kuching, Malaysia to host 4 travelling fellows visiting 3 countries.

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    • 2011–Present: Organizational Development


      • 2011: New POSNA alliance agreement signed by Dr In Ho Choi & Dr Saw Aik.

      • Board meetings now held during combined Spine & Paediatric Section congresses for better attendance.

      • Updated constitution allows elections every 2 years.

      • Key focus:
        • Maintaining an up-to-date membership list.
        • Encouraging member participation in POSNA, IFPOS, and other initiatives.
        • Adapting to subspecialty growth and telecommunication advancements.

    • Former Presidents at 12th APSS_APPOS 2019 combined meeting in Incheon, Korea
      From left, Dr. Saw Aik, Dr. Mark Lin, Dr In-Young Ok, Dr. Toshi Fujii, Dr Makoto Kamegaya, Dr. In-Ho Choi

      Recent Presidents at 12th APSS-APPOS 2019 Combined Meeting in Incheon, Korea
      From left. Dr. Bobby Ng, Dr. Tae-Joon Cho, Dr. Leo Donnan, Dr. Yasuharu Nakashima, Dr. Ashok Johari

      Online Meeting Due to the COVID-19 PANDEMIC
      13th APSS-APPOS 2021 Combined Meeting in Kobe, Japan

    • With over 40 years of history, the Paediatric Section has grown from a small regional group into a major Asia-Pacific subspecialty network. It has established strong academic collaborations with leading global journals and professional societies, while maintaining an ongoing commitment to education, research, and fellowship programs that continue to advance paediatric orthopaedic care across the region.

    • APPOS Council Meeting at 14th APSS-APPOS 2025 Combined Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

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