Our Story
IODA was established in 2020 by Australian surgeon, Jennifer Green in collaboration with 45 orthopaedic leaders from 30 nations with a mission advance the inclusion of women and under-represented minorities in orthopaedics worldwide. The initiative was driven by the inspiring leadership of Kristy Weber (President, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) in North America; Vivian PC Chye, (President, Malaysian Orthopaedic Association) in the Asia Pacific region; and Li Felländer-Tsai (President, EFORT) and Deborah Eastwood (President Elect, British Orthopaedic Association) in Europe.
Connecting at the American Orthopaedic Association Leadership Meeting
At the American Orthopaedic Association Leadership Meeting (2019), Kristy Weber, Mary O’Connor, Anthony “AJ” Johnson, Matt Schmitz and Jennifer Weiss met Jennifer Green and joined the IODA collaboration.
Connecting with the British Orthopaedic Association
The British Orthopaedic Association diversity strategy was being developed and early IODA members were able to share learnings from the recent American and Australian Orthopaedic Association diversity strategies . Giles Pattison, Caroline Hing and Simon Fleming from the UK joined the movement to establish a multi-national diversity advocacy group.
IODA expanded organically as an alliance of surgeons collaborating across national and regional boundaries to advance diversity, equity and inclusion in orthopaedic surgery.
A Global Effort
Laurie Hiemstra (Canadian OA Vice President), Annette Holian (AuOA Vice President), Ian Incoll, (Past President AuOA), Birgitta Ekstrand (Swedish OA President), Katre Maasalu (Estonian OA President), Chris Morrey (AuOA 2nd Vice President) and Adriaan van Zyl (Past President South African OA) added further leadership and regional insights to IODA.
IODA's First Publication
Caroline Hing (UK), Laurie Hiemstra (Canada) and Jennifer Green (Australia) were the drivers of IODA’s first invited publication on International Women’s Day 2020 “Diversity: Women in orthopaedic surgery – a perspective from the International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance” in the Journal of Trauma & Orthopaedics (UK). Contributors included Dafina Bytyqui (Kosovo), Margaret Fok (Hong Kong), Elham Hamdan (Kuwait), Magaly Iñiguez (Chile), Carrie Kollias (Canada/Australia), Philippe Livernaux (France), Violet Lupondo (Tanzania) and Margy Pohl (New Zealand).
A second publication in EFORT Open Reviews in October 2020 initiated by Li Felländer-Tsai and stewarded by Caroline Hing and Deborah Eastwood included a broader approach to diversity in orthopaedics with multiple IODA member contributions on gender, culture, the military orthopaedic surgeon perspective, LGBTQI+ and the ageing surgeon.
IODA US Growth
The US IODA membership continued to grow to include late Freddie Fu, Elizabeth Matzkin, Mary Mulcahey, Coleen Sabatini, Julie Balch Samora, Jonathan P Braman, Ron Navarro, Lisa Lattanza Erica Taylor - all active diversity advocates. The US IODA founding members represented established US orthopaedic diversity advocacy organisations - the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society, the Robert J Gladden Orthopaedic Society, the American Association of Latino Orthopaedic Surgeons, the Perry Initiative and, the soon-to-be established, Pride Ortho.
IODA Expands Globally
Claudia Arias (Peru), Sybille Facca (France), Linda Chokotho (Malawi), Nardos Worku (Ethiopia), Mari Thiart (South Africa), Dalal Bubshait (Saudi Arabia, Ana Filipa Garcez (South Africa), Sonali Pande (India/Brunei), Paula Sarmiento (Colombia) joined as strong diversity advocates in their own orthopaedic communities. In Australia, founding members also included Marinis Pipiris, Avanthi Mandaleson, Kate Stannage, Andrew Wines, Lynette Reece, and Juliette Gentle, all leaders in diversity and inclusion.
Specials thanks to Adrian Cozenza (AOA CEO), Michelle White (AOA Strategic Programs Consultant), Claude Martin Jr (AO Foundation Managing Director) and Dino Damalas (AAOS, COO) for their invaluable expertise and support of the International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance.