Page 4 - ISAKOS 2019 Newsletter Vol II

PRESIDENT & BOARD OF DIRECTORS
2 ISAKOS NEWSLETTER 2019: VOLUME II
Greetings from
Willem M. van der Merwe, MBChB, FCS(SA)
Ortho Assumes Position of President of the
International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee
Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine.
My mission, coming from a small country and home society, has always been to make sure societies like ours do not get isolated or forgotten. For that
to happen, we must continue to involve leaders from around the world in ISAKOS.
– Willem Mare van der Merwe, MBChB, FCS(SA)Ortho
Born in Rustenburg, South Africa, Willem M. van der Merwe MBChB, FCS(SA)Ortho became the first President from Africa for the International Society of Arthroscopy, Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS). He officially succeeded Marc R. Safran, MD of the United States at the Second Business Meeting held at the 12th Biennial ISAKOS Congress in Cancun, Mexico.
Dr. van der Merwe currently serves as the Head of Orthopaedics at the South African Institute of Sports Science. He received his medical degree from the University of Free State, followed by Post Graduate Honors from the University of Oxford, England. He completed his Fellowship in Orthopaedics at Groote Schuur Hospital University of Cape Town. An athlete all his life, playing cricket, rugby and golf, Dr. van der Merwe still enjoys being active in his free time, spending time with his wife and three children.
Dr. van der Merwe has been an active and dedicated ISAKOS Member since 2005. He has served as the Executive Committee’s First Vice President, Second Vice President, Assistant Treasurer and Treasurer, and also served as Chair of the Knee: Arthroplasty Committee. In addition, he is currently a member of the Journal of ISAKOS Editorial Board. Dr. van der Merwe chose to join ISAKOS as a way to give back to his profession as a knee surgeon – a chance to educate and provide proper treatment to not only Africans, but people all over the world. In his fourteen years with ISAKOS, his involvement has grown into more than he ever expected. Dr. van der Merwe stated that “ISAKOS is about the people,” and that he owes this personal growth and experience to the ISAKOS family, his mentors, and the friends he has made along the way.
David A. Parker, MBBS, BMedSc, FRACS ISAKOS Second
Vice President
Sydney, AUSTRALIA
Joining Dr. van der Merwe in new positions on the ISAKOS Executive Committee are David A. Parker MBBS, BMedSc, FRACS of Australia, who was elected as Second Vice President during the 12th Biennial Congress, and David Figueroa MD, Prof. of Chile, who was selected to serve as Secretary for the 2019–2023 Term.