Description
In a recent address, Deborah Eastwood, the outgoing president of the BOA (British Orthopaedic Association), reflected on her year in office and the significant developments within the organization related to diversity, equity, inclusion (EDI), and governance. She announced the successful passage of resolutions that enhance the roles of key office holders and emphasized the importance of embedding EDI initiatives in the association's governance to better engage members. Eastwood highlighted top priorities for the coming years, such as implementing a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, introducing unconscious bias training, and establishing local reporting processes.
She also shared updates about recent activities, including the success of the ORTHOPOD group’s publication on trauma management, a significant drop in research applications, and exciting fundraising events like marathons that support the BOA. Eastwood expressed gratitude to colleagues and the supportive teams who made her presidency memorable. Her address culminated in a light-hearted moment involving a haiku challenge from her colleague, which she managed to meet with a poetic nod to collaboration and future aspirations.
Following Eastwood, Simon Hodgkinson was introduced as the new president, emphasizing the critical issues facing the healthcare system, particularly related to the musculoskeletal health workforce in the UK. He cited concerning statistics about doctor shortages and the challenges in workforce recruitment, retention, and training. Hodgkinson called for innovative solutions to sustain the orthopedic profession and ensure that new trainees receive adequate hands-on experiences despite the hurdles posed by recent disruptions in healthcare delivery. He concluded with a commitment to focus on these crucial workforce issues during his presidency.