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Inaugural Congress of the Asia-Pacific Knee, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Society (APKASS)
April 14–15, 2014 Nara, Japan
Mitsuo Ochi, MD, PhD
Professor and Chairman
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery,
Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima University Society President of Asia Pacific Knee, Arthroscopy Sports Society
I am very pleased to report in the ISAKOS newsletter on the inaugural Asia-Pacific Knee, Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Society (APKASS) congress, which was held on April 14 – 15, 2014. The venue was the Nara Prefectural New Public Hall, located in Nara, which is one of Japan’s most historical cities. The inaugural congress included 421 participants from Asia, Europe and the USA.
The Society was formed in 2013, evolving from the Asia Pacific Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (APOSSM), which was established in 1995. APKASS was established with two major aims: to expand opportunities to learn and to exchange information in the fields of knee joint, arthroscopy and sports medicine, and to become the Asia-Pacific counterpart of the European Society of Sports Traumatology Knee Surgery and Arthroscopy (ESSKA), the Latin American Society of Knee Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine (SLARD), and the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM).
The theme of the first APKASS congress was “Let’s Maximize Asia-Pacific Vitality Starting from Japan”. This theme proposed the bringing together of various activities in the fields of the knee joint, arthroscopy, and sports medicine in the Asia- Pacific region.
It proved to be a highly memorable congress that included the establishment and presentation of the inaugural Takagi and Watanabe Award by APKASS. The Takagi and Watanabe Award memorial award was won by two highly respected surgeons, Prof Konsei Shino and Prof Kai-Min Chan, who also presented the Takagi and Watanabe Award lectures.
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The famous opera singer, Michie Nakamaru, performed the Japanese national anthem solo at the opening ceremony. The congress program included six special lectures, nine lunchtime seminars, four morning seminars, and four evening seminars. In addition, there were four symposia with the themes of the ACL, Cartilage, Shoulder, and Arthroscopy, respectively.
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APKASS received a total of 215 abstracts, but owing to time and space limitations, 66 abstracts were selected for oral presentations. The three best posters were announced at the closing ceremony.
The congress attendees were given special night admission to the famous and World Heritage-classified Todaiji Great Buddha before the very enjoyable Gala Party, which was held in the Japanese Garden at this venue.
Many APKASS member provided very positive feedback on the success of our inaugural APKASS Congress, praising the well balanced program that not only showcased the fields of orthopaedics, arthroscopy, and sports medicine, but that also highlighted the vitality of medical science in Japan and the Asia-Pacific region. We hope that all of the participants found it a rewarding and productive experience.
01 APKASS board member at the Nara Hotel, Japan.
02 APKASS President, Mitsuo Ochi, presenting the congress welcome
speech in the Noh Butai room at the Nara Prefectural New Public Hall.
03 A group photo of APKASS President, Prof. Ochi, with the APKASS
international attendees at the President’s Banquet.
04 The memorial photograph of the inaugural Takagi and Watanabe
Award recipients, Dr. Shino and Prof Chan with APKASS President, Prof. Ochi, at the Gala Party.
APPROVED COURSE REPORTS
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ISAKOS NEWSLETTER 2015: Volume I 43