PRESIDENT'S INAUGURAL MESSAGE

My dear Colleagues of the APOA:

It is my honor to be inducted as President of the APOA for 2022-2023. I would like to thank the members of the Council for their trust and confidence in bestowing this distinct privilege upon me.

As we celebrate 60 years of the APOA since its founding in 1962. I would also like to thank the Philippine Orthopaedic Association for hosting the APOA’s diamond Anniversary which makes it all the more memorable for me. I am humbled to be the second Filipino to serve as President of the APOA since it was first established in Manila in 1962.

At its founding in 1962, the APOA was known as the Western Pacific Orthopedic Association with only 13 countries as members. It was only in the year 2000 that the WPOA was renamed the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association. Today, there are now 21 member federation countries, 24 chapters, and the total membership has now increased to more than 60,000 making the APOA the largest Orthopaedic association in the world.

These past 60 years, our association has prospered in spite of the many adversities that have come along. Mutual understanding and cooperation have always kept us UNITED. Unity is the core strength of the APOA.

Two years of the Covid pandemic have disrupted our association’s activities. We were forced to quickly adapt and innovate. We hosted virtual webinars, held online meetings, and continued to hold annual congresses to ensure that everyone was updated and abreast with the latest Orthopaedic education, training, research and innovations. The past two years showed the resiliency of our organization, and proved that the APOA works together to further the advancement of Orthopaedics in our region despite all odds.

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ELLEWELLYN G. PASION, MD, FACS, FPOA

President
Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Association
2022-2023