You may choose to become involved in the World Orthopaedic Concern in one of various ways.
1 If you are a practicing, or recently retired Orthopaedic Surgeon and wish to share your knowledge and skills, we invite you to contact WOC and become a sustaining member. You may then choose an already-established location to which you would like to travel and contribute your expertise. Expenses are generally your own, although in many instances room and board is provided to some extent.
2 If you are a young Orthopaedic Surgeon in a developing country who wishes to obtain additional training, you may apply to WOC for a professor to come to your site/location. Or, you may apply for assistance in attending training (typically 1-3 months) at a Center of Excellence. Funds are always in short supply, so frequently a sponsor is needed.
3 If you represent a healthcare delivery site, such as a local hospital or university, you may contact WOC for assistance in setting up or continuing an educational program.
To explore any of these options, please contact a Regional Secretary.
Our basic tenet remains that Orthopaedic Surgeons and Traumatologists are best trained in their own countries with their own available facilities, and with patients suffering from prevailing orthopaedic and traumatic problems. We strive to maintain a cadre of surgeons who have worked in developing areas, and who may wish to return every 3-4 years.
A surgeon participates by working with an established regional program. If no programs are available within your region to coordinate with your schedule, you may be able to participate in programs within another region.
We are affiliated with SICOT (Societe Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopedique et de Traumatologie) as well as a number of other organizations. One of them is the International Center for Orthopaedic Education (ICOE), which is a clearinghouse of educational opportunities, both in giving and receiving around the world, on an independent basis.
