2026 Vol. III President's Message

João Espregueira-Mendes, MD, PhD, Full Prof., PORTUGAL

ISAKOS eNewsletters   eNewsletter Article 2026   rating

Philanthropy in ISAKOS: The Power of Giving Back

Our professional journeys are shaped by the generosity of others. A colleague who shares experience, a mentor who opens a door, or an institution that provides an opportunity can influence an entire career. Philanthropy carries this spirit forward, allowing us to extend to others the support that helped us grow.

For ISAKOS, giving is an expression of responsibility to our profession and to the patients we serve. Our international community brings together colleagues working in very different circumstances. Through philanthropy, we can turn our collective strength into practical support, ensuring that the opportunities created by our society reach further and have a lasting impact.

Turning Generosity into Opportunity

Membership dues and Congress participation sustain the core activities of ISAKOS. Philanthropic contributions provide additional capacity to expand our reach, develop initiatives, and respond to needs that might otherwise remain unmet. The Annual Fund is central to this effort, offering the flexibility to direct resources where they can make the greatest difference. Donors may also choose to support a particular ISAKOS program or purpose that holds particular meaning for them.

Traveling fellowships illustrate how this generosity can extend beyond the individual recipient. By helping surgeons learn from colleagues in other institutions, philanthropic support creates opportunities to bring valuable experience back to their own teams and share it with the communities they serve.

Behind each contribution is an opportunity: a colleague able to participate in our community, a promising professional able to take the next step, or a partnership able to reach more surgeons. The value of giving grows when the recipient shares that opportunity with others. Knowledge and experience brought back to a department can benefit colleagues, trainees, and patients for years to come.

The Godparent Program: A Personal Commitment

The ISAKOS Godparent Program gives this principle a personal dimension. Through a minimum contribution of USD 5,000, payable over five years, Godparents help eligible surgeons under the age of 45 who demonstrate financial need. Support may include up to five years of complimentary ISAKOS membership and one complimentary registration to an ISAKOS Congress. These opportunities can mark the beginning of a lasting professional connection. Joining an international community allows a surgeon to exchange ideas, develop relationships, and discover new possibilities for contributing to our specialty.

I am deeply grateful to our Godparents, whose generosity demonstrates leadership through a sustained commitment to colleagues they may never previously have met.

ISAKOS Godparents 2025

ISAKOS Godparents 2017

ISAKOS Godparents 2015

Supporting Societies, Strengthening Communities

Our philanthropic outlook should also extend to the societies that serve orthopaedic communities around the world. ISAKOS identifies collaboration with regional and national societies as an area strengthened by donor support. These organizations understand local priorities and provide essential connections between international expertise and everyday practice.

We should build on these relationships by listening carefully to what partner societies need and identifying where our resources and experience can be most useful. Sharing organizational expertise, connecting faculty, and supporting jointly developed activities are meaningful ways to help societies with fewer resources strengthen their own work.

The purpose must be lasting local capacity. A partnership has its greatest value when it enables a society to develop its own initiatives, support its members, and sustain progress over time. This is a form of generosity that respects local leadership and recognizes that every society has experience and knowledge to contribute.

A Shared Role for Members and Industry

Individual donors and corporate supporters bring complementary strengths to this mission. ISAKOS offers industry partners opportunities to contribute to existing programs or discuss proposals that support shared objectives in education, research, and access to care.

Such generosity deserves our appreciation and careful stewardship. As we develop these relationships, scientific independence, clear priorities, and responsible use of resources must guide our decisions. Donors should understand the purpose of their support and the opportunities it helps create. Trust is essential to a philanthropic culture that can endure across generations of leadership.

Make Giving Accessible

A strong culture of giving welcomes different levels and forms of contribution. ISAKOS provides several options, including direct donations, donor-advised funds, and gifts of stock. Donors in New Zealand can also support the Society through The Gift Trust’s NZ Friends of ISAKOS arrangement. These pathways allow supporters to explore an approach suited to their circumstances.

Alongside financial support, our members contribute time, expertise, encouragement and help connecting ISAKOS with potential donors, partners, or colleagues who could support its work. Each of us can help connect a potential supporter with a meaningful initiative or bring attention to a need within a partner society. Participation begins with recognizing that we have something valuable to share.

A Legacy We Build Together

As President, I warmly thank everyone who supports ISAKOS through donations, service, and partnership. Your generosity helps turn our ambitions into opportunities for others.

I invite our members, friends, and industry partners to consider contributing to the Annual Fund, becoming a Godparent, or supporting a program that reflects their own commitment to our specialty. You can explore the available programs and make a contribution at Support ISAKOS. To learn how you can contribute, please visit Programs in Need of Support, the ISAKOS Annual Fund, or the ISAKOS Godparent Program.

The legacy of philanthropy lives in what others are able to achieve because we chose to help. Together, we can build that legacy, supporting colleagues, strengthening societies, and extending the benefits of our global community to the patients who depend on us.

João Espregueira-Mendes - ISAKOS President