This year marks a major milestone for the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) International Musculoskeletal Congress. The global musculoskeletal (MSK) community has held 15 Congresses around the world since 1989, with the express purpose of bringing orthopedic surgeons, physiatrists, physical therapists, and musculoskeletal specialists together to discuss the evolution of their field—and work together to help support one another and further patient care.
As with many international medical events, this bi-annual Congress began modestly—and gradually grew thanks to the hard work of many dedicated individuals. One person who was instrumental in the launch of the MSK Congress was Marvin S. Gilbert, MD. His home in New York, U.S.A., has the distinction of hosting the first informal MSK meeting.
The following is a timeline of the history of the MSK Congress, from its beginnings in 1977, to its establishment as an official WFH Congress in the 1990s, to the 15th Congress which will be held this May in Seoul, Korea. This year’s Congress also marks first time the event will be held in Asia.
Dr. Gilbert reflected on past MSK Congresses and those yet to come: “May we all continue to contribute to the control and possible elimination of hemophilia, which in the 1960s crippled most all affected persons.”
