Visit focuses on building relationships with Chinese organizations

In May, AAOS Chief Executive Officer Karen L. Hackett, FACHE, CAE, led a delegation of association executives to China to explore ways to establish a presence for their associations in the East Asian country, which has the second largest and fastest-growing economy in the world.

As chair of the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Ms. Hackett headed up the 8-day ASAE study mission, during which she and the other members of the group networked with leaders of local associations and met with senior policy makers and government officials, as well as with local and regional authorities.

During the visit, Ms. Hackett helped guide discussions about how associations—including the AAOS and other orthopaedic organizations, such as the American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society, which was represented by its executive director, Lousanne Lofgren, CAE—can offer their products and services in China and collaborate with Chinese organizations.

From Beijing to Shanghai
The visit focused on two major cities: Beijing, the seat of China’s central government, and Shanghai, the capital for international business.

While in Beijing, the members of the delegation learned about Chinese culture during a presentation by the Ministry of People’s Affairs, and also participated in a panel discussion with representatives from associations and institutions that have established presences in China. In addition, the group visited the National Stadium (known as the “Bird’s Nest”) built for the 2008 Olympic Games and toured the China National Convention Center.

According to Ms. Hackett, one of the highlights of the visit was a meeting with Yan Wang, MD, president of the Chinese Orthopaedic Association (COA), at People’s Liberation General Hospital in Beijing. Ms. Hackett, who received a tour of the hospital, met with Dr. Wang to discuss how the AAOS can continue to build on the working relationship the international department and AAOS leadership have already established with the COA. (See “AAOS/COA plan joint educational program.”)

“We covered several topics, including opportunities to collaborate on education,” she said.

In Shanghai, experts gave a presentation to the group on the economic outlook in China, as well as its legal structure and taxation policy. In addition, the ASAE delegation learned much from a panel discussion by representatives from associations and local business leaders. A formal meeting with officials from the Shanghai Tourism Association and a visit to the Shanghai EXPO Grounds, including the China Pavilion, rounded out the trip.

“We learned a great deal about the opportunities and challenges that associations face when doing business in China,” said Ms. Hackett. “China has 130,000 orthopaedic surgeons, more than five times as many as the United States. But the AAOS is a world leader in orthopaedic education, and I am very optimistic about our ability to collaborate in this area.”

Monica Reichert is an executive assistant in the AAOS executive department. She can be reached at reichert@aaos.org

Jennie McKee is a staff writer for AAOS Now. She can be reached at mckee@aaos.org

AAOS/COA plan joint educational program
Jesse B. Jupiter, MD, chair of the International Committee, will attend the 2011 COA annual meeting in December. The committee recently approved the second official joint AAOS/COA program, which will be held in 2012. As more information on the program becomes available, it will be posted on the AAOS website, www.aaos.org