ISHA is dedicated to advancing hip preservation through education, research, and collaboration. Its mission is to promote early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies to improve patient outcomes worldwide. The society brings together surgeons, clinicians, and researchers to share best practices and push the boundaries of medical innovation.
ISHA’s annual scientific meetings play a crucial role in achieving these objectives. These gatherings create a sense of community and shared purpose combined with research presentations. “Hip preservation as a discipline has always attracted pioneers and innovators,” Mackenzie notes. “Our meetings reflect that spirit by offering cutting-edge scientific content, hands-on learning experiences, and meaningful engagement between experts and emerging professionals.”
A Landmark Event in Cape Town
The 2023 ISHA Annual Scientific Meeting in Cape Town was a milestone event for the global orthopaedic community. “This was the first time an ISHA Annual Meeting was held on the African continent,” Mackenzie explains. “We deliberately chose Cape Town with the goal of creating a lasting impact on hip preservation in Africa.”
The conference was designed to address regional challenges in orthopaedics, particularly the limited awareness, training, and access to hip preservation techniques in many parts of Africa. The Africa Day Forum, held before the main event, brought together multidisciplinary stakeholders to discuss barriers to care and potential solutions. “This was about understanding the real-world challenges that prevent access to hip preservation and working towards change,” she says.
The event was also significant for its strong community engagement, with a strong presence of African healthcare professionals alongside international experts. “We wanted to ensure that the meeting didn’t just serve ISHA’s existing network, but also extended its reach to new audiences who stand to benefit most from the advancements in this field.”
What Made ISHA 2023 an Award-Winning Conference?
Winning the ABPCO Best International Conference Award was a natural consequence for the 2023 ISHA Annual Scientific Meeting. The conference betted on its collaboration, sustainability and lasting impact commitment and won. “We wanted people to be part of the learning process,” says Mackenzie. “That’s why we focused on live surgical demonstrations, hands-on workshops, and discussions that encouraged real exchange. It made the science come alive.”
Sustainability was central to the event’s success. “We made a conscious effort to reduce waste, eliminate single-use plastics, and work with local suppliers. We wanted to run a responsible event ensuring our presence in Cape Town benefited the local community.”
But what truly set ISHA 2023 apart was its lasting legacy as two projects emerged from the conference:
1. The Mission Programme – a collaboration with the East African Arthroscopy Association, the South African Association for Hip Arthroscopy, and Mercy Mater Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. This initiative is training orthopaedic surgeons across East Africa in hip preservation techniques, bridging a critical skills gap.
2. The Early Adolescent Screening Pilot Study – a project that uncovered a 17.6% rate of undiagnosed hip disease in its initial phase. The study is now being developed into a global research initiative to improve early detection and intervention strategies.
Mackenzie reflects: “The Mission Programme is now training surgeons in East Africa, and the Early Adolescent Screening Pilot Study is shaping the future of early diagnosis of FAI Impingement, that will be extended to a global reach. What we started in Cape Town is continuing to make a difference, and that’s what makes this award so meaningful for all those within the ISHA membership and partner organisations.”
Overcoming Challenges in Global Medical Meetings
Organising an international scientific meeting is never without its challenges, and ISHA’s global reach means navigating a landscape of different healthcare systems, cultural expectations, and logistical complexities. Ensuring the content remains relevant and valuable to a broad audience is key.
“We have to strike a balance between presenting cutting-edge research while making sure it’s accessible and applicable to professionals in different regions, with varying levels of resources and expertis,” she explains.
Engaging a diverse audience is another priority. ISHA’s meetings are designed to bring together professionals at all career stages, from early-career specialists to leading surgeons and researchers. “Hip preservation is a multidisciplinary field, and we work hard to make sure everyone who plays a role in patient care feels included and valued.”
Securing the right sponsors and industry partnerships is also critical. “We need to ensure that our partners align with our long-term vision; we look for collaborators who want to advance the field alongside us.”
Despite these hurdles, ISHA remains committed to making its meetings scientifically impactful, globally relevant, and accessible to all who can benefit from them. “It’s a challenge, but it’s also what makes our work so rewarding,” Mackenzie admits.
The Future of ISHA’s Conferences
With the success of the Cape Town meeting and the ABPCO Award, ISHA is looking ahead to the next evolution of its conferences. One key priority is broadening reach. “We want to engage more physiotherapists, rehabilitation specialists, and professionals from related fields, ensuring that hip preservation is addressed in a truly multidisciplinary way,” Mackenzie says.
Additionally, ISHA is exploring ways to further integrate technology into its events, particularly through hybrid formats and digital education tools. “Virtual components allow us to connect with more people globally and ensure that the knowledge shared at our meetings has an even greater impact.”
Mackenzie is particularly passionate about ensuring that ISHA’s meetings set new benchmarks. “We need to move beyond the traditional conference model where everything ends once the delegates leave,” she says. “Our goal is to ensure that every ISHA event drives real change, both in scientific advancement and in the communities we engage with.”