Celebrating 80 Years of WOA History

The WOA was the first U.S. regional orthopaedic organization and predates both the ABOS (1933) and the AAOS (1933). The WOA’s mission emphasizes education for our members and opportunities for resident/fellow/faculty participation. The Association also encourages members to collaborate and network with colleagues in the region.

The WOA began as a meeting of the Los Angeles Orthopaedic Club in 1922 followed by joint meetings between orthopaedists in San Francisco and Los Angeles in 1923. The constitution to formalize the WOA came in 1932 and Dr. James Watkins from San Francisco became the first president in 1933. By 1942, there were 89 members. Since then, the Association has met annually with the exception of a brief hiatus during World War II. The organization represents orthopaedic surgeons in 14 Western states. Annual Meeting sites rotate between California, Hawaii, and one of the other member states.  View WOA's history

At each Meeting, resident research awards recognize outstanding papers. In addition to the year’s outstanding scientific program, the WOA 80th Annual Meeting Presidential Guest Speaker is Professor Tim Briggs, former President of the British Orthopaedic Association. The Howard Steel Lecturer is historian Dr. Ronald White, Jr.

Larry Housman, MD
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