History of the ISK

Scroll down or click on a year below to explore the history of the ISK.

1977-1979 | 1979-1981 | 1981-1983 | 1983-1985 | 1985-1987 | 1987-1989 | 1989-1991 | 1991-1993 | 1993-1995 | 1995-1997

  • The Foundation of the ISK

    By Giancarlo Puddu, MD ITALY
    Download the slideshow

    Merv Cross Collection

    View the collection


  • 1977-1979

    In 1977, The ISK was founded: Rome (Villa Pamphia)

    Objectives

    • Communication and dissemination of knowledge relative to the knee
    • Further the development of research and study relative to the knee
    • Provide a forum for presentation and discussion is issues relating to the knee

    ISK Founding Fathers

    • Don O’Donoghue (USA) President: 1977 – 1979
    • Albert Trillat (France)
    • Ian Smillie (Scotland)
    • Jack Hughston (USA)
    • Lamberto Perugia (Italy)
    • Joaquin Cabot (Spain)

    In 1979, the First Congress was held in Lyon (France) and the President of the Congress was Don O’Donoghue (USA).

    1977-1979 Board of Directors


  • 1979-1981

    The new President was Albert Trillat from France (1979 – 1981)

    In 1981, the Second Congress held in New Orleans (USA) and the President of the Congress was Albert Trillat (France).

    1979-1981 Board of Directors


  • 1981-1983

    The new President was Ian S. Smillie from Scotland (1981 – 1983)

    In 1983, the Third Congress was held in Gleneagles (Scotland) and the President of the Congress was Ian Smillie (Scotland) and the Program Chair was Kenneth DeHaven (US).

    1981-1983 Board of Directors


  • 1983-1985

    The new President was Jack C. Hughston from USA (1983 – 1985)

    In 1985, the Fourth Congress was held in Salzburg (Austria) and the President of the Congress was Jack Hughston (USA).

    1983-1985 Board of Directors


  • 1985-1987

    The new President was Richard M. Tooth from Australia (1985 – 1987)

    From 1985 ISK and IAA decided to hold their meetings over the same dates and up till 1985 both societies held their meetings every two years but did not coincide. The reasons for this change were:

    • Both were having successful Congresses
    • Worldwide international participation and attendance
    • Effective worldwide exchange of scientific information on arthroscopy and knee surgery
    • Both were attractive to those interested in Orthopaedic Sports Medicine
    • Many surgeons were members of both
    • Both were supported by the same central office in Chicago by 1981

    In 1987, both societies ISK and IAA decided:

    • IAA wanted to switch from triennial to biennial meetings
    • Discontinue triennial Congresses in conjunction with SICOT and initiate biennial Congresses in conjunction with ISK in the same cities
    • Next triennial Congress year, 1987, same as the next ISK biennial Congress
    • IAA scheduled 1987 Congress in same city as ISK (Sydney), just before the ISK Congress

    In 1987, the Fifth ISK Congress and Fifth IAA Congress were held in Sydney (Australia).

    The President of the ISK Congress was Richard M. Tooth (Australia) and the President of the IAA Congress was John B. McGinty (USA).

    Road to Merger
    The architects were:

    • Kenneth E. DeHaven (USA)
    • David J. Dandy (UK)

    Their objectives were:

    • They had both thought for several years that the two organizations should merge
    • They were past Program Chairs and future Presidents of the two organizations
    • They recognized that merger at that time was unrealistic
    • They decided that since we could not merge the organizations
    • They should gradually merge the meetings

    In Sydney the IAA and ISK meetings were separate with a free day between.

    1985-1987 Board of Directors

    Local Organizing Committee
    Richard Tooth (Australia)
    Brian Casey (Australia)
    Brett G Courtenay (Australia)
    Mervyn Cross (Australia)
    Neal L. Thompson (Australia)
    Kevin J. Wickham (Australia)

    Ladies Committee
    Marianne Tooth (Australia)
    Susan Tooth Courtenay (Australia)
    Virginia Cross (Australia)
    Jan Thomson (Australia)


  • 1987-1989

    The new President of the ISK was Lamberto Perugia from Italy (1987 – 1989).

    In 1989, the First Combined Congress IAA and ISK was held in Rome (Italy) 8th-12th May. The President of the IAA was Jan Gillquist (Sweden) and the President of the ISK was Lamberto Perugia (Italy).

    The Program Chairman was Rene Marti.

    1987-1989 Board of Directors

    Program Chairman:
    Rene Marti

    Local Organizing Committee:
    Chairman: Lamberto Perugia
    Francesco Falez
    Andrea Ferreti
    Pier Paolo Mariani


  • 1989-1991

    In 1991, the Second Combined Congress IAA and ISK was held in Toronto (Canada). The President of the IAA was David J. Dandy (UK) and the President of the ISK was Kenneth E. DeHaven (USA).

    1989-1991 Board of Directors

    Continuing on the road to merger:
    The overlap of the meeting was increased to three days
    With one day of arthroscopy in joints other than the knee at the beginning
    And one day of non-arthroscopic knee surgery at the end
    Separate registrations for IAA and ISK, but revenues and expenses were pooled, and profits were equally divided between the two.

    1991 Distribution of ISK Membership


  • 1991-1993

    In 1993, the Third Combined Congress IAA and ISK was held in Copenhagen (Denmark). It took place from the 25th to the 30th of June in the Falconer Center of Copenhagen, Denmark. The President of the IAA was David J. Marshall (Australia) and the President of the ISK was Jan Gillquist (Sweden).

    1991-1993 Board of Directors

    Continuing on the road to merger:
    The overlap of the meeting was now complete
    There was a single registration
    With one consolidated budget
    Again splitting the proceeds equally

    In Addition:
    The Boards of both organizations voted to merge at the next Congress in 1995 contingent on membership approval
    The two nominating committees brought forth the same individuals for secretary, treasurer, and at large members for both Boards
    But there were no nominees for future president as there were already two previously elected in 1991
    Gary Poehling for IAA and Peter Fowler for ISK
    It was agreed that the first president of the new organization would be Peter Fowler, and the second would be Gary Poehling
    It was agreed that the name of the new organization would be the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS)


  • 1993-1995

    In 1995, the Fourth and Final Combined Congress IAA and ISK was held in Hong Kong (HK). The President of the IAA was Harold Eikelaar (Netherlands) and the President of the ISK was Rene Marti (Netherlands).

    In 1995 the IAA and the ISK were dissolved and the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee surgery, and Orthopaedic Sports medicine (ISAKOS) was founded, with its first President Peter Fowler.

    1993-1995 Board of Directors


  • 1995-1997

    1995-1997 ISAKOS Board of Directors