Canberra hosts 1,600 delegates for international orthopaedic conference

Australia’s peak professional organisation for orthopaedic surgery, the Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA), is hosting its 79th Annual Scientific Meeting (AOA ASM 2019), at the National Convention Centre Canberra. The international conference kicked off with 1,140 delegates from 31 countries, on 6 October and continues until 10 October. Canberra will also host four sub-specialty group meetings over a 13-day period, bringing an additional 500 delegates to the nation’s capital. “Canberra, and more specifically the National Convention Centre Canberra, was a natural destination to host our annual scientific meeting this year,” said Dr David Martin, AOA President. Dr Maurizio Damiani, AOA ASM 2019 Local Convenor said the conference theme was ‘Teamwork and Engagement’ and added that Canberra provided an ideal backdrop with its scenery and culture. The conference programme is discussing how the medical community can work better together with industry, research bodies, government and the wider community. “Hosting the AOA ASM 2019 in Canberra provides the Australian Orthopaedic Association with unparalleled proximity and access to leading universities and research institutions, and world-leading experts in the field of orthopaedic surgery,” said Michael Matthews, CEO of Canberra Convention Bureau. Australia’s biggest celebration of spring, Floriade, complements the scientific programme, with private tours of the event grounds included in the extensive accompanying persons programme, along with a busy social programme taking delegates to the National Museum of Australia, National Arboretum, National Portrait Gallery and Australian War Memorial. The AOA ASM 2019 is expected to deliver nearly A$3.5m in economic impact for the ACT.   www.asm.aoa.org.au