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Minutes of the special General Assembly 2025 - IWAS

Minutes of the special General Assembly 2025 - IWAS

International Wrist Arthroscopy Society (IWAS)

Minutes of the Special General Assembly
Date: Sunday, September 7, 2025
Time: 7:00 AM CDT (Virtual – Zoom)
Chair: Dr. Pedro Delgado, President
Secretary: Dr. Steven Moran, Secretary General

1. Opening Remarks & Welcome

Dr. Steven Moran welcomed all members, outlined the objectives of the Special General Assembly, and emphasized the importance of advancing IWAS through collaboration, education, and research.

2. Review of 2025 Finland General Assembly Minutes

Prof. Henk Coert presented the minutes from the Helsinki GA. The minutes were reviewed and approved without amendment.

The members of the Executive Committee approved in Helsinki in June 2025 was reviewed by Dr. Moran:

  • President: Pedro Delgado
  • Vice President: Bo Liu
  • Vice Secretary General: Martin Caloia
  • Teaching Committee: Youssra Marjoua, Gustavo Gomez
  • Scientific Committee: Mark Ross
  • Webinar Committee: Eva-Maria Baur, Mireia Esplugas
  • Relationship and IT: Sze-Ryn Chung
  • Advisory Board: Eva-Maria Baur, Henk Coert, Greg Bain, Jan Ragnar Haugstvedt

3. Presidential Reports

  • Outgoing Presidential Report (Dr. Martin Caloia): Reflected on accomplishments during 2024, with thanks to members and committees.
  • Incoming President (Dr. Pedro Delgado): Presented his vision for IWAS, highlighting:
    • Need to strengthen collaboration among chapters (LAWA, APWA, EWA).
    • Challenges: decline in new members, financial concerns, outdated structure, lack of appeal to young surgeons.
    • Proposals:
      • Increase membership and engagement.
      • Attract younger surgeons through training opportunities, IWAS Diploma, and webinars.
      • Strengthening industry partnerships and funding sources.
      • Reduce costs, particularly related to the Journal of Wrist Surgery.
    • Stressed the value of IWAS as a global community united by science, education, and passion for wrist arthroscopy.

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4. Outgoing Secretary General Report

Prof. Henk Coert summarized membership statistics and society activities for 2024–25.

5. Financial Report

Dr. Lorenzo Merlini presented the accounts. Discussion focused on balancing income from membership fees, legal fees, and sponsorship with expenditures. Budget planning for 2026 was outlined.

6. Journal of Wrist Surgery (JWS) Report

Prof. Toshi Nakamura reported:

  • Impact factor decreased from 0.7 (2022) to 0.6 (2025).
  • Submission numbers remained stable (153–165) with 65% acceptance rate.
  • Strategies include open access initiatives, newsletters, and more aggressive marketing.
  • Objectives will focus on meeting with publishers and working to decrease journal cost to membership, and restructuring contract.

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7. Committee Reports

  • Teaching Committee (JR Haugstvedt / Y. Marjoua / G. Gomez): Reviewed IWAS-endorsed courses and highlighted the need for sustainable sponsorship models.  Present sponsorship by Arthrex has been complicated by lack of regular 2.4mm scopes at educational conferences.
  • IT Committee (Matthew Brown): Presented analytics and proposed enhancements to website, social media, and membership systems. Additional committee members were added to aid  S.-R. Chung in her efforts at increasing the web presence: 
  •  
    • Action items: Additional members of the IT committee approved by individual motions :
    • Dr. Ricardo Kaempf-nominated by Pedro Delgado
    • Dr. Carlos Morales-nominated by Gustavo Mantovani
    • Dr. Sanj Kakar-nominated by S.-R. Chung
    •  
  • Relationship Committee (S.-R. Chung / with comments by M. Esplugas): Reviewed partnerships with FESSH, IFSSH, and other organizations. Opportunities for joint sessions were discussed.  Dr. Moran made a call to all Associations and Chapters to supply the names of one to two representatives to serve as a liaison between the Association and IWAS. 
  • Action item-motion made to have Dr. Ahlam Arnaout to liaison for IWC and IR-CAD to IWAS, and Jane Messina to Relations Committee.  Both motions were approved.
  • Scientific Committee (Mark Ross): Acknowledged the transition and will work with Dr. Moran on transition plan and collaboration with IFSSH and establishment of formal scientific meetings.

8. Report from the President-Elect

Dr. Delgado outlined priorities for 2025–26:

To form a Global Strategy Network

• Work together with related associations– APWA, EWA, LAWA

• Work directly where there is no chapter– North Am, Africa…

• Collaboration with education groups– IRCAD-IWC, IWC centers…

• Links with international societies– IFSSH, ISAKOS, SICOT…

Other initiatives:

  • Increased membership engagement in committees.
  • Reduce cost of JWS
  • Strengthening chapter representation.
  • Registration for IWAS Wrist Arthroscopy Diploma
  • Increase access to webinars
  • Expanding industry partnerships.
  • Establishing IWAS scientific forums through IFSSH
  • Launch of the first IWAS Book (Radial Sided Disorders of the Wrist).

 

9. Secretary General Overview

Dr. Moran highlighted IWAS’s evolving role within global arthroscopy societies and the need to build visibility and influence internationally.

Action Items Approved:

  1. Ricardo Kaempf, Carlos Morales, Sanj Kakar appointed to IT Committee.
  2. Alham Arnout was appointed as liaison to the IWC.
  3. Jane Messina appointed to Relations Committee

10. New Business

Open discussion included suggestions for increasing regional representation, enhancing digital presence, and creating mentorship opportunities for young surgeons.

11. Adjournment

President Pedro Delgado thanked members for their participation and reiterated his vision of IWAS as a united global network committed to education, growth, and excellence in wrist arthroscopy. The meeting was adjourned.

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