This is a pivotal time in America and we as physicians and future physicians have an obligation to stay knowledgeable regarding all health crises. I know you have all been inundated with information regarding COVID-19 but I feel it never hurts to be reminded and pass along more information. As the Coronavirus continues to spread across America, and the world, take a moment to remind yourself and those around you of the ways we can all help slow the spread of this virus. Below is a list of a few things each person can do to help themselves and those they come in contact with;
- Wash your hands regularly
- Disinfect surfaces you come in contact with
- Avoid shaking hands or contact with others as much as possible
- Avoid crowded areas and travel
- Limit food sharing
- And promptly reach out to a medical professional if you have any of the following symptoms: fever, dry cough, or new onset shortness of breath
If you have any questions or would like more information on the Coronavirus situation visit www.cdc.gov or www.who.int
Unfortunately, as you are all aware of by now, the AOAO made the difficult but appropriate decision to cancel the Spring 2020 conference in Las Vegas, NV. We are all saddened by this situation and will miss getting to be with each of you. Your conference chair, Julia Chung, had created an amazing event for all SAOAO members in attendance. We hope many of the speakers that were scheduled will join us for the Fall conference in Austin, TX so they can have the opportunity to educate us on their experiences in Orthopedic Surgery or the products they provide to enhance our learning. For those members who registered to attend the Spring conference, your SAOAO Executive Board is working diligently to deliver a brief synopsis and key points of some of the events that were planned.
On to more exciting news!
Your SAOAO Executive Board has been working tirelessly to provide each SAOAO member with the most diverse and inclusive information available to prepare you for a residency in Orthopedic Surgery. One of those methods has been to create a universal place to access all the important information for succeeding during 3rd and 4th year rotations, tips on how to set up 4th year rotations, information to help you standout, networking opportunities, and much more. Therefore, your SAOAO Executive Board is in the process of creating a brand new SAOAO website making it easier for you to access everything! The new website will launch sometime late Spring or early Summer so watch your emails and social media for updates. We are hoping the new SAOAO website will be your go to place for everything related to Orthopedics!
As we move forward, the SAOAO will be placing more emphasis on our social media accounts to spread the word about our organization. To help tell people about the SAOAO we will be launching contests with amazing prizes that are sure to boost your Orthopedic knowledge! Follow us on Instagram at @nationalsaoao and Facebook at www.facebook.com/studentaoao to make sure you know when contests begin.
The SAOAO Executive Board wishes all of the 4th year students best of luck in their match and all 2nd and 3rd year students best of luck studying and preparing for their upcoming board exams!