EFAS Wishes you an Happy New Year 2024

2023 has passed and we stand at the beginning of 2024. I wish you all the best for 2024, may it be a successful year filled with good initiatives and a joyful year with friendship and peace.
Last year, we completed several projects. I would like to thank Manuel Monteagudo and the Scientific Committee for the Advanced Symposium in Madrid. The opinions were predominantly positive. It was a success both in terms of content and location. Here, I also want to express gratitude to our secretariat (Katerina and Marina) and event organizers (Aurore and Charlotte).
Our events are not possible without the continuous support of our loyal partners within the industry. Many thanks to all our sponsors.
It remains the core business of EFAS to take the lead in education within our field. Our strength lies in the cooperation of various national associations across borders, the creativity and synergy that arise from diverse European schools, and the collaboration of international experts. Our fellowship program, with its different fellowship levels, the new surgeon-to-surgeon project, and the alumni project, is a perfect example of this collaboration (Fellowship Committee; Chair Nuno Côrte-Real).
EFAS is 25 years young and has come a long way. In the meantime, we have grown into a large, solid family. The further evolution lies with the various committees and forums, thanks to the personal commitment of our members. I would like to thank all committees and forums for their work, as well as all EFAS members for their interest and attendance at our various events (congress, symposium, courses and webinars). The courses enjoy unprecedented success. This may seem simple, but nothing could be further from the truth; it is a challenge each time to build a good scientific program, independent of commercial bias, with the best faculty. Allow me to thank the faculty for their availability and commitment, time again for the congresses (Scientific Committee; Chair Manuel Monteagudo), Instructional courses (Educational Committee; Chair Jean-Luc Besse), and Cadaver courses (Lab Specimen Committee; Chair Xavier Martin).
The future lies in the recognition of our subspecialty, and we are working hard on our EFAS Certificate to make it reliable and accessible for our members with a solid quality label (Certification Committee; Chair Don McBride).
In addition to the committees, we have now also started with several discussion forums. Diversity and inclusion remain a significant challenge. Only when everyone feels safe in the association can we harness all talents in EFAS. A first step towards a diversity policy was taken with the diversity forum during our congress and the charter for committee functioning with the accompanying selection procedure. A diverse and inclusive association is, for me, the ideal breeding ground for an open academic debate, propelling the association and science forward.
It is self-evident that we must continue to invest in the future and involve and encourage our young colleagues in cross-border scientific work. The educational forum, under the leadership of the Youth Committee (Chair Alessio Bernasconi), with a first webinar in February, specifically targets assistants and residents.
A challenge for EFAS is actively involving our senior members.
A very first step towards a scientific consensus forum is the forum on malleolar ankle fractures. By aiming for a consensus forum, I would like to start drafting EFAS guidelines for the benefit of our members. Other forums can follow, and the list is not exhaustive; proposals can be submitted to the EFAS board via the president’s forum.
The EFAS Foundation, led by Victor Valderrabano, closely collaborates with the Research Committee (Chair: Fabian Krause) to promote our scientific work through grants and awards. But also, to encourage young people to participate in our activities, including a traveling award to our residents. For me, the Research Committee remains a key committee to watch over our independent scientific contributions.
Of course, we need to communicate all this knowledge to our members. Our Journal, with Martinus Richter as the Chief editor, is the perfect platform for this. The Journal is doing well with an excellent impact factor. I would like to thank the editorial team and all the reviewers for their daily commitment, as well as the authors who trust in our Journal. The Journal is a good place to publish your contributions, based on a reliable peer review process and a quick turnover time. However, this requires a lot of effort from the reviewers. I would like to make another warm call to everyone to volunteer for the review work. With more good reviewers, we can maintain the quality of our Journal. It is also a valued way to contribute to the association. Just submit a brief CV with a motivation letter to Martinus Richter.
Our efforts should not be limited to Europe; it is also our task to disseminate our knowledge internationally. The collaboration between EFAS and AOFAS is part of this project. Our EFAS session during the AOFAS congress in Louisville on minimally invasive techniques was well received, as was the AOFAS intervention on Ankle Osteoarthritis during the Advanced Symposium.

But our ambition goes further. We are starting a new committee to disseminate our knowledge and education where needed, in close collaboration with the EFAS Foundation. Of course, we also count on your support here. Any financial contribution to the Foundation is welcomed to support our mission. The Membership committee is tasked with providing support to young starting National associations but now also provides support to global associations wishing to join EFAS.
There are, of course, a number of challenges that we, as an association, need to address. The landscape of congresses and courses has expanded tremendously since COVID. Each company now offers its own course program, and several other scientific associations have also developed their own foot and ankle curriculum. This fragmented educational landscape and potential dilution can ultimately lead to a depletion in quality education. However, I am convinced that EFAS stands strong here, and collaboration between different associations and companies can lead to a solution to safeguard quality.
We live in a globalized world, and there is increasing National and European involvement in our profession. Regulations are becoming complicated and affect each of us in our daily operations. Therefore, the connection with EFORT is crucial, and we maintain our relationships and try to make our position clear and inform you. The website is an important tool for this, and it is our task to further expand it (Media Committee; Chair Joris Hermus).

Finally, I would like to thank my fellow Executive and Council Officers. The Council members reflect the friendship that our association stands for. It is an honour for me to lead the Council at this moment; this atmosphere is a perfect breeding ground for the creative process and entrepreneurship. Friendship also leads to open debate. Friendship has always been central in EFAS, and my wish for 2024 is that this can remain the EFAS pillar. And after an autumnal weekend brainstorming with Manfred Thomas our President-Elect, I am looking forward hopefully to the further EFAS future.

- Dr. Kris BUEDTS

(EFAS President 2022-2024)