The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) announces that the 2020 AOSSM Annual Meeting, scheduled for July 9-12 in Seattle, has been canceled.

“AOSSM’s priority is the health and safety of our community, including our members, staff, supporters, vendors and volunteers,” said James P. Bradley MD, AOSSM president, in a media release.

“We have been monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic from the beginning stages, and all along, continued to work hard putting the finishing touches on our event. We remained very hopeful about bringing our community together in July. Unfortunately, it has become clear that in the face of this unprecedented situation, we needed to make the tough decision to cancel.”

The Society will work with registrants directly over the coming weeks. AOSSM’s professional team, in partnership with AOSSM leaders and Education Committee, are in the process of creating a unique, virtual experience packaging together several key elements planned for the 2020 Annual Meeting. Details will be available soon, it notes in the release.

“We recognize the magnitude of this decision for the association and our membership,” says Gregory F. Dummer, AOSSM’s CEO. “The Annual Meeting brings together thousands of passionate professionals and hundreds of exhibitors every year to celebrate the research, science and camaraderie of the orthopaedic surgical sports medicine elite. Our coming together not only galvanizes the profession and its stakeholders, but also provides opportunities for attendees to explore and connect with our host cities. This year, we were especially looking forward to the event taking place in Seattle; however, the well-being of our community, staff and Seattle residents is the number one concern, and that drove our decision-making.”

“Although this is a great disappointment, AOSSM is far from the only organization taking a hard look at its events,” Bradley adds. “We are using this to fuel our planning for the 2021 Annual Meeting in Nashville next July and looking ahead to our 50th Anniversary event in July 2022. We want to ensure both meetings are incredible experiences and serve as opportunities for the profession to regroup and recharge.”

[Source(s): American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, PRWeb]