About
The AOAA helps to attract and hold the interest of leading young trauma surgeons. This Association affords a channel of communication between committed surgeons and the AO bodies. It encourages the development and progress of fracture management through the experiences and ideas of its members throughout the world. Furthermore, its objective is to update the Alumni on current AO trends and activities in the fields of research, development, education and documentation.
The AOAA South Korea counts 35 members (February 2010).
Prof. Key-Yong. Kim
History of the AOAA Korean Chapter
AOAA Korea Chapter is pleased to present its history and current activities
to AOAA members.
AO philosophy/principles were first introduced to Korea by Dr. K.Y. Kim
following his participation in an AO course held in Davos in 1972. Dr. J.C. Ihn
completed his fellowship at AO Research Institute in 1976 and Dr. D.Y. Cho
participated in an AO course held in Davos in 1978. More surgeons in following
years completed the AO Principle and Advanced courses. The growing level of
understanding and ever increasing demand of AO courses made it possible to
organize AO Principle, Advanced and ORP courses for the first time in Korea in
1987.
Thanks to Dr. S. Weller (Tubingen, Germany) who represented international
faculty of AO International. The AO principles continued to expand among
Orthopaedic surgeons in Korea. Some surgeons studied the AO principles in
various institutions in Switzerland, Germany and the U.S.A. as AO fellows and
these surgeons subsequently became key members of Korean Fractures Society
(KFS) and played an important role for Korean Orthopaedic Association
(KOA).
AOAA Korea Chapter was established by a large number of trauma surgeons in
1993. Its Executive Committee consisted of a chairperson, a co-chairperson and
eight directors. Chairperson was Dr. K.Y. Kim serving until 1998 and was
succeeded by Dr. N.H. Kim serving until 2001 and Dr. Byung-Jik Kim serving
until 2004. Dr. K.Y. Kim was re-elected as chairperson for the 2nd AOAA Asian
Chapter Symposium in 2005. The Executive Committee Meeting is held annually one
day prior to Annual Meeting of KOA in October. Two districts of AOAA Korea
Chapter were set up in Daegu and Kwangju cities to improve its function and to
advance its activity.
The first mission of AOAA Korea Chapter is to promote the AO principles in
the treatment of patients with trauma and disorders of the musculoskeletal
system. It offers direct and indirect guidance in the formulation of the annual
AO courses. Since holding the first AO courses in 1987, Principle/Advanced/ORP
courses and special courses (Spine/Pelvic-Acetabular/Hand courses) are held
alternately every year. The second mission is to educate young surgeons to
follow the AO principles. To achieve this mission a Permanent Working Station
(PWS) was established at Asan Medical Center, Ulsan University in 1994 with the
help of Dr. Marvin Tile who was the president of the AO foundation. AOAA Korea
Chapter supports intensive courses for orthopaedic residents and they are held
every Friday and Saturday from March through the end of July of each year.
Approximately 180 orthopaedic residents have been educated annually by a
36-member faculty since 1994. A 36-member faculty meets annually before
starting the resident course and discusses the level and contents of the
lectures and practical exercises. At the request of local orthopaedic surgeons
one day workshop also has been held occasionally at the PWS.
Executive Committee decided to hold the 2nd AOAA Asian Chapter Symposium in
Jeju Island, Korea and AOEA approved the proposal of AOAA Korea at the AGM in
2005. Dr. K.Y. Kim was re-elected as Chairperson of AOAA Korea and Organizing
Committee was organized with 7 members for the Symposium.
