Organised by the European Society of Association Executives (ESAE), EAS has become a key gathering for associations across Europe that are driving change and raising standards. The European Association Awards, now in their third edition and presented during the Summit, were created to honour precisely that spirit of innovation and impact.
As ESAE’s exclusive media partner, Boardroom spoke with Zhanna Kovalchuk, Executive Director of ESSKA, to explore the strategy, significance, and future of this groundbreaking DEI programme.
At its core, ESSKA supports orthopaedic surgeons and sports medicine professionals throughout their careers, from residency to retirement. The association’s mission is to improve patient outcomes in sports traumatology and degenerative joint conditions by promoting excellence in research, education, and clinical practice. Yet as Kovalchuk notes, “twelve years ago, I was the only woman in the boardroom, and I was just a staff member.” That moment—both personal and systemic—foreshadowed what would become a deeply intentional pivot toward inclusion.
From Inspiration to Impact
The Women in ESSKA programme reflects a multi-faceted approach to inclusion that goes beyond symbolic gestures. Comprising four main pillars—scholarships, a dedicated Congress session, educational webinars, and a mentorship programme—it is designed to address the layered barriers women face in the field of orthopaedics, both as practitioners and as researchers.
“We offer scholarships for female surgeons and scientists to attend our congress,” explains Kovalchuk. “There, we hold a dedicated Women in ESSKA session, which blends inspiring talks with networking—cocktails included. But perhaps most transformative has been the mentorship component, where younger orthopaedic professionals connect directly with key opinion leaders in the field.”
The feedback has been unequivocally positive. Participants report not only professional growth but increased confidence—particularly in the high-pressure context of the operating room. “The journey has been transformative,” Kovalchuk says, “in terms of both career outlook and confidence.”
The programme also includes webinars that address both gendered experiences in the medical profession and the nuances of care for female patients—an often overlooked aspect of healthcare equality.
Recognition with Purpose
The DEI Award was, in fact, as validation for years of persistent and strategic work. “We’re proud of what’s been achieved,” says Kovalchuk. “We submitted our project not just for recognition, but in the hope it might inspire other associations to take similar steps.”
And the metrics are tangible: ESSKA’s community of female specialists has grown by more than 120% in just six years. The association now counts two women as board members, and there are women leading committee chairs and working groups. In 2028, the association will also welcome its first female president.
According to Kovalchuk, the initiative aligns naturally with ESSKA’s wider mission: “This reflects our openness to change, our willingness to innovate, and our commitment not only to set bold goals, but to follow through with them.” In an association landscape where DEI work can often be siloed or relegated to ad hoc efforts, ESSKA’s approach is deeply embedded within its operations and long-term strategic planning.
Beyond DEI: Building a Culture of Educational Excellence
While the Women in ESSKA programme takes centre stage today, the association is far from resting on its laurels. Education remains its primary vehicle for impact, with an ambitious roadmap under development for orthopaedic training in Europe.
At the heart of this plan is ESSKA’s European Certification Programme, a rigorous assessment system that benchmarks surgical skills against a recognised standard of excellence. “This has involved hundreds of key opinion leaders,” Kovalchuk explains, “and so far, we’ve assessed more than 350 participants from over 75 countries.” Though she hints at further developments in the pipeline, details remain under wraps—for now.
Towards Sustainable, Systemic Change
The DEI Award at EAS 2025 may have brought ESSKA’s work into the spotlight, but the path ahead is long and requires sustained commitment. By embedding DEI into its educational, professional, and structural frameworks, ESSKA provides a blueprint for how associations can move from intention to impact.
As Kovalchuk reflects, quoting a line that encapsulates the initiative’s ethos: “I hope that in the future, there will be no female leaders—just leaders.”