Mission

The mission of the Western Orthopaedic Association (WOA) is to help ensure that people in the western region of the United States receive high quality ethical care by providing orthopaedists with educational programs, opportunities to foster collegiality and ways to influence health policy.

 Goals

1. Create a funding and revenue plan that will assure financial viability and growth

Strategic Directions to Achieve Goal:

1. Review staffing and other expenses to ensure cost-effectiveness.

2. Increase the number of members.

3. Improve the frequency and clarity of financial reporting to the Board.

4. Optimize dues in relation to meeting fees.

5. Make the Annual Meeting profitable.

6. Expand the endowment.

7. Develop additional sources of non-dues revenue.

8. Develop an effective investment plan for the portfolio.

2. Provide a comprehensive multidimensional educational and professional development program to meet the diverse needs of orthopaedists in the Western United States.

Strategic Directions to Achieve Goal:

1. Create and provide scientific programs based on the needs of attendees.

2. Provide a forum for orthopaedic residents and fellows to make scientific presentations.

3. Create and provide practice management education programs.

4. Provide a “Visiting Professor” program.

5. Seek collaborative opportunities in education and professional development with other organizations.

6. Maintain the ability to offer Continuing Medical Education credit to attendees.

7. Explore opportunities for the publication of abstracts.

3. Promote collegiality among WOA members and their families.

Strategic Directions to Achieve Goal:

1. Select Annual Meeting sites that are accessible and popular, and that enhance the opportunities for social programs and family participation.

2. Bridge the generation gap between older and younger WOA members.

3. Improve the quality and frequency of communications between WOA leaders and members.

4. Create activities for families at association meetings.

5. Encourage the participation of families at association meetings.

4. Create and maintain an organizational structure that carries out the association’s strategic plan.

Strategic Directions to Achieve Goal:

1. Improve communications between the WOA Board and committees, and clearly establish the role and functions of the committees in relation to the association’s strategic plan and Board expectations (e.g., create a policies and procedures manual).

2. Pursue greater interaction and collaboration between western state orthopaedic societies and the WOA.

3. Review and update the WOA’s bylaws.

5. Influence health policy on behalf of orthopaedic patients and WOA members.

Strategic Directions to Achieve Goal:

1. Encourage membership and participation in state and national orthopaedic Political Action Committees (PACs).

2. Coordinate communication about health policy issues between and among the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, musculoskeletal specialty societies and state orthopaedic societies in the western region.

3. Communicate with WOA members about pertinent health policy issues.