TOTBID

The idea of forming a “self-sufficiency board” in the field of Orthopedics and Traumatology started to be argued during the chairmanship of Prof. Dr. Rıdvan Ege of the association. During the cooperative studies conducted with UEMS and UDKK the need for the establishment of an education board became more evident. The preparations for the formation of a board were initiated during the chairmanship term of Prof. Dr. Mümtaz Alpaslan. Six members were determined through the elections held during the XVII. National Orthopedics and Traumatology Congress, in Antalya on 24-29 October 2001. In addition to these six members, 3 more members, assigned by the board of administrators of TSOT formed TBOT (Turkish Board of Ortopedics and Traumatology). On Jan 12, 2002, the board of administrators of TBOT held its first meeting and initiated its activities. The task distribution made during this meeting was as follows:

Chairman : Prof. Dr. Mehmet Demirhan
Secretary : Asst. Prof. Yalım Ateş
Accountant : Asst. Prof. Muharrem Yazıcı
Members
Prof. Dr. Haluk Berk
Asst. Prof. Ali Biçimoğlu
Prof. Dr. Hayati Durmaz
Asst. Prof. Mücahit Görgeç
Prof. Dr. Sefa Kapıcıoğlu
Asst. Prof. Muhittin Şener

The first challenging task of the board of administrators was to prepare a directorate. With reference to a sample pattern prepared by the UDKK, a new directorate was prepared in compliance with the specific characteristics of our filed of expertise. Our objective was clearly stated in Article 1: “This Board, established under the name Turkish Board of Ortopedics and Traumatology (TBOT), is established with the objective of elevating the quality of ‘Education for Specializing on Orthopedics and Traumatology’ in Turkey and creating a standardized structure among the relevant educational institutions and increasing the quality of the practice of the physicians specialized on Orthopedics and Traumatology”. The directorate prepared on Feb 2, 2002 was unanimously approved and forwarded to the board of administrators of TBOT. The directorate approved by the board of administrators of TSOT was voted and approved during the General Assembly of TSOT, on June 29, 2002.

Group for Determining and Controlling the Standards of Orthopedics and Traumatology Education . The activity frame of this group can be outlined as follows: Defining the physical, technical and educational infrastructure necessities for a modern orthopedics and traumatology education, without overlooking the current circumstances of our country; studying on defining the core curriculum of the specialization program; organizing certain activities for overcoming the difficulties the institutions are facing in the efforts for fulfilling the mentioned necessities, under the leadership of TSOT; working with a voluntary basis, for the accreditation of the educational institutions.
The activity group for determining and controlling the educational standards after the accomplishment of specialization (Examination Education Committee). The activity frame of this group can be outlined as follows: Encouraging the Ongoing Medical Educationactivities; taking the necessary steps for the elevation of the quality of these activities; supporting and controlling the participation of the MDs into these activities, applying examinations for the determination of the educational level (board exams); founding the commissions for organizing the exams.
The activity group for determining the conditions for an upgrading in the educational institutions on Orthopedics and Traumatology and for the determination and controlling of the educational standards following the specialization. The basic activity frame of this group can be outlined as follows: Defining the minimum conditions to be expected from the candidates for associated professorship and professorship; determining the conditions to be taken into consideration while assigning a chief doctor to the medical education hospitals.
Committee for Orthopedics and Traumatology Studies and Post Graduate Education. This group shall work on the following issues: Encouraging the scientific studies, organization of a summer school covering the BASIC and CLINICAL sciences on Orthopedics and Traumatology and e-learning. The group will conduct its studies cooperating with the board of administrators and the other sub-commissions of TBOT.

Having started its activities in compliance with its directorate, the board contacted Dr. Marc Speeakhart, Chairman of European Specialization Associations Board of Orthopedics and Traumatology, with the objective of improving its international relations and of a better recognition abroad. Via TSOT, TBOT applied for the membership of the association. Its application was soon approved and TBOT became an associate member in the meeting held in Norway on October 10, 2002. Thanks to the mutual personal relations cherished from the day Prof. Dr. Mehmet Demirhan was assigned as the AOTB representative of our association, the general assembly meeting of the AOTB will be held in Istanbul, during our national congress. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Demirhan played a crucial role in bringing the AOTB general assembly to Istanbul.

The certification process defined in the directorate has been initiated. A protocol was signed with ÖSYM for conducting the written exam under the supervision and organization of ÖSYM. The remarkable efforts of both Prof. Dr. Mümtaz Alpaslan and Prof. Dr. Muharrem Yazıcı in the realization of this protocol should be underlined here. The first exam was held by ÖSYM on September 7, 2003 in Ankara and was attended by 108 people. As for the oral exam it was decided to employ OSCE-Objective Structured Clinical Evaluation since this system was UEMS approved. Therefore the necessary steps were taken for the application of this examination. Prior to the exam a course covering the exam techniques was conducted in Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine in Izmir. Following the completion of the course the oral exam was held on September 27, 2003. The chairman of exams committee of the AOTB, Mr. J. Mineiro attended to and supervised this exam. The certificates of our 20 colleagues, who accomplished to pass the written exam, were submitted in Istanbul, on 18-23 October, 2003, during the National Congress for Orthopedics and Traumatology.

The first term of the Board ended during the National Congress for Orthopedics and Traumatology held in Istanbul. Therefore, new members were elected in compliance with the conditions set in the directorate. The second term started with the new board elected during the national congress. The members of the new board were as follows:

Chairman : Prof. Dr. Haluk Berk
Secretary : Prof. Dr. Hakan Ömeroğlu
Accountant :Surg. Dr. Şükrü Solak
Members
Asst. Prof. Yalım Ayteş
Prof. Dr. Önder Aydıngöz
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Demirhan
Prof. Dr. Sefa Kapıcıoğlu
Asst. Prof. Mücahit Görgeç
Prof. Dr. Mahir Gülşen

During the second term the board concentrated on courses. Within the framework of the course-supporting protocol TBOT prepared and applied the following courses: Course for Refreshing Information in Adana (Prof. Dr. Mahir Gülşen), TBOT Summer and Winter Schools for Basic Sciences and Research in Konya and Isparta (Prof. Dr. Ahmet Turan Aydın) and Training of the Trainers in Istanbul (Prof. C. Bulstrode). In addition courses supported by TBOT on the following topics were organized and conducted: Orthopedic Trauma, Arthroplasty, Monolateral External Fixator, PEV and USG reading and Pavlic.

The objectives which shall soon be realized can be summarized as follows: facilitating the application of assistant reports (even enabling its applicability via internet), completion of the core curriculum and putting it into practice, preparation of the infrastructure of remote education.

Being open to exciting improvements TBOT regards the future full of hope for the creation of a better environment for education.