The role of the JOA in the globalization of orthopedics

The recent development of the Internet has enabled us to obtain information instantly from around the world, and the expansion of the transportation network has reduced our awareness of borders. New knowledge, information, and skills in the medical fi eld have also been able to be shared so rapidly and extensively across borders that better treatments are likely to be provided equally throughout the world. The reality is, however, that medical standards among nations vary greatly, which causes signifi cant differences in the improvement of patients’ quality of life and longevity. Through international cooperation, all orthopedic surgeons should endeavor to provide their patients with the best and equal medical treatments regardless of where they are. The members of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) have so far achieved that goal through a number of measures. Those include participation in international conferences of organizations such as the International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (SICOT), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EFORT), and the Asia Pacifi c Orthopaedic Association (APOA); and involvement in the World Campaign of the Bone and Joint Decade, the acceptance of foreign students, assistance for young orthopedic surgeons from outside Japan participating in Japanese academic conferences, and offers of technical advice to medical personnel abroad on individual bases. The JOA should play a major role in the support and development of these activities from now on. Furthermore, it will be necessary for us to increase the number of non-Japanese participants, especially from Asian countries, at annual meetings of the JOA; and for us to attend meetings and visit facilities outside of Japan, including those in developing countries. One of the negative aspects of globalization for Japanese orthopedics is that the excellent osteotomy procedures developed in Japan may be gradually replaced by operations with prosthesis. Our original osteotomies, however, should continue to be performed and taught to young orthopedic surgeons. The gap between the rich and the poor seems to be widening because of the globalization of the economy. More and more poor people, especially those in developing countries facing a population explosion, are likely to suffer because of a lack of suffi cient medical care. To solve this problem, international cooperation led by governments and by nongovernmental organizations should be further promoted. As the congress president, I will organize a symposium entitled “Globalization in Orthopaedics” at the 82nd Annual Meeting of the JOA in 2009. I hope to be able to present a prospective strategy for the globalization of each orthopedic society in cooperation with all the representatives of SICOT, AAOS, EFFORT, and APOA.