"God's own country" if I may hijack a phrase, is nestled between two of India's fledgling metros, Mumbai and Ahmedabad, both having advanced medical infrastructure. The best treatment in India was just a few hours away, hence medical facilities including Orthopaedics lagged behind. But winds of change have blown fast and furiously on South Gujarat.
Skilled surgeons and physicians have set strong roots here and once the "Mecca of References" is now an area where all skilled procedures and surgeries are carried out with success rates comparable to the best metros on India.
The need to start a full fledged Orthopaedic Association arose as the number of Orthopaedic Surgeons rose rapidly from a minuscule 25 to well over 300 in the past three decades. Starting as an small informal gathering of like minded Orthopaedic Surgeons the association has grown rapidly in strength.
South Gujarat Orthopaedic Association (SGOA), as we abbreviate ourselves, has been one of the pillars in promoting the advancement of Orthopaedics and looking after the welfare of it's members. From a toddler taking forward hesitant tentative steps forward, we are now an confident adolescent taking confident strides forward in the millennium. I invite the Orthopaedic Fraternity to become a part of this success story.
Our dreams range from the small and minuscule to the bold and audacious. I may take the liberty to put forth some of them. As someone associated with Orthopaedics, naturally the assimilation and re-distribution of recent advances and research in Orthopaedics amongst our members will remain our main focus. An attempt to increase bonding in the fraternity by organizing cultural meets, get together's is another focus. An difficult but not impossible activity planned, during my tenure as President, is to plan activities to form a bridge with society and try to heal the wounds of mistrust and anger towards doctors that has crept into society in recent years.
Finally, as host for the Annual Conference of Gujarat Orthopaedic Association, it is my humble and heartfelt appeal to register in large numbers for the meet. A bountiful of excellent academic lectures and workshops along with cultural programs is awaiting your august presence. We eagerly wait for your confirmation and presence in Surat.