Children's Orthopedics in Underserved Regions (COUR)

The COUR Committee educates the membership of the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA) about opportunities to enhance the delivery of orthopaedic care for children worldwide through both education and service. Read More …

What’s New

POSNA/POSI Outreach Course
Again this year we will be cooperating with the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of India (POSI) in organizing another Outreach Continuing Education Course in Coimbatore in Southern India and Sri Lanka. This is a course of the Children’s Orthopaedics in Underdeveloped Regions (COUR).

Haiti Disaster Relief
We are all deeply saddened by the recent catastrophe in Haiti, and POSNA wishes to summarize some opportunities to help the countless individuals injured in the earthquake. While the information available is limited at this early stage, we have identified organizations that you can contact and volunteer your expertise. Members may also discuss within their institutions whether provisions can be made to accept transfer of patients for more chronic care if the situation arises. We will plan to send other emails as more information becomes available.

COUR International Educational Scholarship
The goal of this project is to have 4 orthopedic surgeons from developing nations attend the POSNA meeting and associated social events free of charge, on an annual basis under the guidance of POSNA, and to facilitate short term visit of the visiting scholar to pediatric orthopedic centers in North America by identifying interested local hosts / institutions. Applicants should be practicing orthopedic surgeons from a developing nation, and dedicate a significant percentage of their practice to the care of children. Each candidate must be nominated by a POSNA sponsor, and must not have received a POSNA COUR fellowship during the past 5 years.

The Children’s Orthopedics in Underserved Regions committee would like to call for nominations for our Visiting Scholars Program.

Hospitals for International Observers
A list of hospitals willing to have international visitors come to observe several different subspecialites. Points of contact are listed for each hospital.

Download COUR Materials
(Restricted to members only)
The COUR committee has collected educational materials which will be posted for members use, including powerpoint lectures and materials from COUR symposia at the annual meeting. POSNA members will enter the private section, and will be able to download the materials for their adaptation and use.

Interactive POSNA COUR map of the world
The interactive COUR map of the world represents a catalogue of POSNA member’s experiences overseas. Those visiting this section of the site will be able to click on a country or region, and be able to see which POSNA members have been there, what they have done, and to learn from their experiences. Each year, POSNA members are polled via a mass email to update experiences of the membership. This is presented as a poster at the yearly meeting, and the data is integrated into the COUR interactive map.

Scoliosis Research Society Global Outreach Program (SRS GOP)
The Scoliosis Research Society Global Outreach Program (SRS GOP) provides care to pediatric and adult patients in underserved regions of the world with any disorder that affects the shape, alignment, and function of the spine. We foster the development of regional, self-sufficient spine centers staffed by local physicians capable of providing continuing care to patients with spinal deformities.