A Letter from the COA President

Dear Friends and Colleagues in the COA,

The first 100 days of my presidential mandate seem to have passed in a flash. Without a doubt, I am energized and encouraged by the support, engagement, and dialogue generated by our membership. I would like to share some highlights with you from the first phase of my mandate.

As we savour the memories of our outstanding Annual Meeting hosted in St. John’s this past June, we realize that Calgary 2027 is just around the corner. Planning for next year’s meeting is already well underway, including a recent site visit of the conference and event facilities in Calgary. The city is ready to welcome us, with recent enhancements to the Calgary TELUS Convention Centre and a strong commitment to making this meeting better than ever.

Details continue to come together, but I can assure you that the program and social events will be exceptional. Dr. Prism Schneider, our Program Chair, is leading the development of a unique and interactive experience. The educational program will include surgical demonstrations and focused discussions on the changing landscape of orthopaedics in Canada. Early career surgeons and the successful scholars and learners from our Emerging Leaders Program and Diversity in Leadership scholarships will also be featured prominently. There truly will be something for everyone.

I encourage all of our members to submit research abstracts for presentation by October 20.

This fall is shaping up to be an action-packed season, with participation in provincial and regional association meetings across the country. To date, we have attended the Atlantic Provinces Orthopaedic Society (APOS) meeting in Halifax, where the East Coast charm made knowledge translation that much more enjoyable. More recently, we attended the Alberta Orthopaedic Society meeting in Canmore where we had many productive discussions about the rollout of dual public-private practice in the province and how we, as surgeons, might contribute to the successful implementation of this important initiative. I was particularly impressed by the compassion, engagement, and commitment of their membership. President Elect, Dr. Paul Beaulé, represented the COA at the Quebec Orthopaedic Association’s meeting last week, where he participated in important panel discussions with our provincial colleagues.

Up next, we will be attending the Manitoba, and Ontario society meetings to better understand both the regional and shared challenges facing our profession, and to explore how we can strengthen our collective voice at decision-making tables across the country.

The COA’s new monthly webinar series, held on the last Tuesday of each month at 20:00 ET, are also taking shape nicely. A diverse range of topics will be covered, including the evolution of various orthopaedic techniques in Canada, with national legends from the specialty. We will also explore leadership, professionalism, and a number of timely clinical topics. Be sure to mark these dates in your calendars!



The COA is also welcoming several new faces into leadership roles. Please watch for upcoming communications regarding available positions and nominations for awards of recognition. I can assure you that serving the profession in this capacity is a highly rewarding experience and a wonderful opportunity to contribute to the future of Canadian orthopaedics.

If the first 100 days are any indication of what is to come, I am very much looking forward to the months ahead. I am deeply appreciative of the support, engagement, and commitment of our members and representatives from across this great country.

This is a particularly meaningful year to celebrate our rich history, our shared values, and the strength of our united nation.

With gratitude,

Robert B. Litchfield

President, Canadian Orthopaedic Association

Canadian Orthopaedic Association | www.coa-aco.org | president@canorth.org