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It has been a great privilege to be part of the emerging fields of orthopaedic sports medicine, knee surgery and arthroscopy since the beginning of the 1970s. I have had the fortune
to be inspired by mentors such as Robert J. Johnson and Lars Peterson. I especially admire their strong dedication to clinical skills, scientific integrity and innovations.
When ISAKOS was formed in Hong Kong in 1995 I felt that it would
be the ideal society for me. I was elected chair of the Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Committee and then Secretary of the Executive. To work as program chair with Roli Jacob for the extraordinary Montreux meeting in 2001, when ISAKOS lifted to new heights, was a treat and made me feel ready and even more inspired
to pursue a leadership role within ISAKOS.
What was the biggest challenge during your term as ISAKOS President?
I strongly believe, that ISAKOS is the natural leader to meet the challenges in our field. However in 2003 ISAKOS was still establishing its infrastructure
2003 – 2005
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Per Anders Renström, MD, PhD SWEDEN
President
John A. Bergfeld, MD USA
First Vice President
Paolo Aglietti, MD ITALY
Second Vice President
Moises Cohen, MD, PhD, Prof. BRAZIL
Treasurer
Freddie H. Fu, MD USA
Vice Treasurer
Donald Hugh Johnson, MD, FRCSC CANADA
Secretary
Barry R. Tietjens, FRACS NEW ZEALAND
Past President
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
John Bartlett, MD AUSTRALIA
Stephen S. Burkhart, MD USA
Gilberto Luis Camanho, MD BRAZIL
Mahmut Nedim Doral, MD, Prof. TURKEY
Lars Engebretsen, MD, PhD NORWAY
Pieter Jordaan Erasmus, MB, ChB, MMed SOUTH AFRICA Anastasios D. Georgoulis, MD GREECE
Hideshige Moriya, MD JAPAN
Mitsuo Ochi, MD, PhD JAPAN Fernando Radice, MD CHILE
Marc Raymond Safran, MD USA Robert Jacek Smigielski, MD POLAND
2003 – 2005
Per Anders Renström, MD, PhD SWEDEN
President, 2003–2005
PRESIDENTIAL MESSAGE
with a weak economy. I felt that the biggest challenge would be to make ISAKOS function more effectively. Some examples of improvements:
• The Executive Committee is the wheel around which important decisions and principles are discussed. In 2003 the Executives could meet once a year. We decided to meet face to face at least twice a year with ample time for discussion and have telephone meetings if possible once a month.
• We gave full support to Michele Johnson, our Executive Director, who had created a very dedicated and efficient office, which was very instrumental in lifting ISAKOS to be the accepted world leader.
• To further promote this we asked
an outside professional to make an evaluation of ISAKOS organization. In 2005 the “The Nelson Report” was finalized with recommendations such as: the Executive should finalize a position description and evaluation format of the Executive Director, retain an attorney to represent ISAKOS, undertake regular member surveys etc.
• Committee work is the heart and soul of ISAKOS and we really made an effort to select the best experts in the world. I just loved meeting so many gifted people from around the world.
• The Global Connection Campaign, initiated in 2002, was a major success and a milestone due to outstanding work by Barry Tietjens and Freddie Fu. To implement
the campaign ideas we decided
to organize a Global Leadership Retreat. The first was held in Boston in October, 2004 with very creative discussions how to form a closer relationships between ISAKOS and industry. Areas of collaboration
were decided to be; workshops, consensus seminars, recognition and access to members.
I felt good when leaving office after
10 exciting years in the Executive Committee. It was a fantastic trip with great comradery between very special and uniquely talented people involved in ISAKOS leadership. Thank you all.
– Per Anders Renström MD, PhD
20 ISAKOS 20TH ANNIVERSARY