NZOA KOREAN TRAVELLING FELLOW REPORT 2024
“Fusion of the past and present”
I had the privilege of representing the NZOA as the Ambassador to the Korean Orthopaedic Association (KOA) Scientific Congress in Seoul. Attending the meeting in such a historic yet vibrant city highlights the fusion of past and present, as Seoul continues to be a beacon of surgical innovation, driving the future of Orthopaedic surgery.
The meeting was held in the historic Swiss Grand Hotel overlooking Seoul. As a first year consultant with a subspecialty interest in shoulder surgery, I have always wanted to visit this “Powerhouse” in shoulder surgery. Korean Orthopaedic surgeons have been at the forefront of advancing arthroscopic procedures, enabling minimally invasive treatment for various shoulder and elbow conditions. I was blown away by the scientific calibre of this meeting. It was eye opening to see the entire meeting presented in English and I was especially interested to see some preliminary data on the use of The Da Vinci robot in rotator cuff repairs. I was grateful to be given the chance to showcase some research funded by the NZOA Wishbone Trust. Our study on the use of “Mixed Reality Navigation in Shoulder Surgery” stimulated excellent discussions.
During the meeting, I had the opportunity to visit the world renowned Samsung Medical Centre (SMC) and observe some cutting edge shoulder surgery with Professor. JC Yoo. The SMC is a premier healthcare facility with 1,800 beds and treats over 3million patients annually. I was impressed with their state of the art infrastructure and the quality of their surgeries was world class.
Overall, the experience was rewarding, and I would encourage my friends and colleagues to represent the NZOA as an Ambassador in the future. Finally, I would like to thank the NZOA, Karyn Eggers, Khalid Mohammed, Haemish Crawford and the executive members for their support.
Ryan Gao, NZOA Korean Travelling Fellow
NZOA TRANS-TASMAN TRAVELLING FELLOW REPORT 2024
It was an honour to attend the 2024 AOA Annual Scientific Meeting as the Trans-Tasman Travelling Fellow. The event took place at the Brisbane Convention Centre, centrally located in the vibrant South Bank area of Brisbane, from 14th to 17th October 2024.
The theme of this year’s meeting was “Making Data the Solution,” with plenary sessions held in the main auditorium and multiple concurrent breakout sessions focused on various Sub Specialties.
A standout presentation was by Simon Kos, Chief Medical Officer at Microsoft, who showcased the potential integration of generative AI into clinical practice. AI can create patient summaries, write referral letters, prescribe medications, and manage billing and coding—all with minimal human input.
Further presentations explored the encroaching role of machine learning in medical specialties with a heavy emphasis on diagnostics, such as radiology, dermatology and anatomical pathology. However, orthopaedics will not escape AI. I see a future where AI will automatically calculate angles, correct deformities and alignment, and template — tasks we currently perform manually on imaging.
The enthusiasm for robotics is also noteworthy. Currently, 40% of primary knee replacements in Australia are robotic-assisted, with an additional 20% navigation assisted. I believe that robotic-assisted surgery will eventually become the global standard of care.
The meeting also included a robust social program, featuring a welcome function at the Queensland Art Gallery, industry dinners, and a gala dinner themed “A 70s Extravaganza.” Highlights from the gala included a live band, fronted by an orthopaedic surgeon from Victoria, and Mr. Hadlow showcasing his best 70s attire.
Finally, I would like to extend my gratitude to the NZOA and AOA for their generous sponsorship of the travelling fellowship, and to the AOA staff for their warm welcome. After this fantastic experience, I strongly encourage everyone to seize such opportunities—you will not regret it!
John Zhang, NZOA Trans-Tasman Travelling Fellow
NZOA HONG KONG YOUNG AMBASSADOR REPORT 2024
I had the privilege to be selected as the NZOA Hong Kong Young Ambassador 2024. It was truly an eye opening experience for me, and I would highly recommend this programme to other colleagues.
Shortly after checking in to the hotel, I was taken to the Welcome Dinner for an eight course Chinese degustation menu. The Chinese delicacy of fried bird’s nest was a highlight. It was here that I realised the Chairperson/Host of the Hong Kong Orthopaedic Association (HKOA) Congress 2024 was an alumni of University of Otago. Interesting conversations naturally followed, ‘re-living’ the university days.
Attending the HKOA Congress was an enriching experience, blending professional development with cultural immersion. One of the most valuable aspects of the Congress was the collaboration among international experts. Renowned surgeons from around the globe delivered instructional lectures and presented clinically relevant, practical research findings. This exchange of knowledge not only enhanced my understanding of current practices but also encouraged innovative approaches in orthopaedic surgery.
Furthermore, I was deeply impressed by the commitment to research demonstrated by medical students and junior doctors in Orthopaedic surgery. Their innovative research projects showcased the depth of talent and commitment within the field, and bodes well for the future of HKOA.
The Congress Banquet was another delightful evening, with enriching speeches and awards ceremony. I was seated with the Young Ambassadors from other countries. I found this particularly rewarding. It provided a unique opportunity to bond with fellow surgeons at similar career stages from various countries. Sharing experiences and challenges created lasting connections and a supportive network that I am sure will continue beyond the congress.
I would like to thank NZOA for providing the opportunity for this rewarding experience, and to the HKOA for their hospitality and kindness throughout my journey.
Alex Lee, NZOA Hong Kong Young Ambassador
2024 AMERICAN BRITISH CANADIAN (ABC) TRAVELLING FELLOWSHIP
Anand Segar, Auckland, New Zealand
As the 2024 New Zealand Orthopaedic Association (NZOA) representative on the American British Canadian (ABC) Travelling Fellowship, I felt both privileged and humbled. Founded in 1948, the fellowship was initially intended for British fellows to learn about North American orthopedic advancements. It expanded to include New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa in 1954, with North American fellows first visiting the Southern Hemisphere in 1985. The fellowship has since served as a significant platform for building leadership within NZOA; 11 former fellows went on to serve as NZOA presidents.
The fellowship has become even more meaningful post-pandemic, evolving from a clinical focus to one that also addresses broader issues in healthcare systems and the challenges unique to orthopedics across different countries. We travelled to Calgary, Ottawa, Halifax, Nashville, Memphis, St Louis, Denver, Chicago. Key takeaways from the 2024 fellowship included insights into healthcare demand,
expanding roles of alterna7ve providers, corporate influence on healthcare, and efforts in equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI).
Key Learnings
1. Burden of Growing Healthcare Demand: Aging populations and pandemic impacts are universally driving up healthcare demands. In Canada, with its government-funded healthcare model, there is reluctance to expand private healthcare, although private services like imaging and labs are available. Some provinces even allow patients to seek privately funded care outside their home provinces, underscoring the complexity of healthcare delivery across jurisdictions.
2. Practice Creep from Alternative Providers: Alternative healthcare providers, including podiatrists, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners, are expanding their scopes of practice, sometimes into areas traditionally overseen by doctors. In the U.S., podiatrists
increasingly compete with orthopedic surgeons in treating lower limb conditions. Physician and anaesthesia associates in the UK are also being recruited to fill gaps in the National Health Service (NHS), though these practitioners often lack comprehensive medical training.
Misunderstandings arise when patients assume they’re being seen by a doctor when this isn’t the case. In response, the British Medical Association recently took legal action against the General Medical Council over regula7ng physician associates.
3. Large Healthcare: In both the U.S. and UK, the rise of large healthcare organizations has strained the traditional doctor-patient relationship. In the UK, insurers dictate referral paths to specific providers, while in the U.S., doctors are increasingly employed by insurers, hospitals, or private equity firms. Physicians who sell their practices to these ensures may benefit financially in the short term but often experience restrictions in patient care as corporate goals prioritise profits over quality.
4. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI): The fellowship underscored the importance of inclusivity in orthopedics, with evidence suggesting that a diverse workforce improves patient outcomes. EDI initiatives are universally challenging due to ingrained biases, yet many hosts discussed their ongoing efforts to make orthopedics more accessible and representative.
The fellowship offered more than professional insights—it fostered connections, created an international network for research collaboration, and provided a platform to exchange innovative ideas. Dr. Stu Weinstein, a former American Orthopaedic Association president, once said, “There is no greater return on investment for our profession than the ABC travelling fellowship.” The experience
united us as a family and strengthened our commitment to the orthopedic profession. The fellowship deepened my appreciation for New Zealand’s healthcare model, where NZOA’s cohesive structure enables effective advocacy for patients and practitioners alike. Observing challenges faced by colleagues abroad highlighted the benefits of our unified approach in New Zealand. This journey has strengthened my respect for the efforts of NZOA’s council and committees, whose dedicated work enhances orthopedics across New Zealand.
I am immensely grateful to NZOA for this opportunity, to the institutions for their generosity, and to my family for their support. I look forward to serving the NZOA and contributing to orthopedics in the years to come.