President's Message

It is an honor to be elected as the President of the Hong Kong Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine (HKIMM) for the term 2023 – 2026. As one of the founding members and the first council members when HKIMM was established in 2005, I consider it my imperative duty to uphold the successes of my predecessors and to lead the institute toward new achievements in the coming years.

Musculoskeletal pain significantly impacts patients' quality of life and imposes a considerable burden on society. The release of the report "Common Musculoskeletal Problems in Primary Care Settings" by the Health Bureau of HKSAR in 2022 confirms the importance of managing musculoskeletal conditions at the primary care level. This aligns with our institute's mission, and we will continue to enhance awareness of musculoskeletal medicine while providing high-quality education to medical professionals and allied healthcare providers to alleviate patients' suffering.

Having served as the Chairman of the Board of Education for HKIMM for 19 years, I believe it is time to review our certificate course in practical musculoskeletal medicine in light of the latest advancements in knowledge, skills, and technology. We are in the process of finalizing the Diploma course in Musculoskeletal Medicine, which encompasses the anatomy and function of musculoskeletal systems, updated clinical examination skills, objective assessment of pain and disability, diagnostic musculoskeletal ultrasound, and comprehensive patient management–from self-directed restorative care to pharmacological therapy, multidisciplinary approach of care and regenerative injection therapy. Our focus extends beyond our local community; we actively collaborate with international colleagues, associations, and societies.

HKIMM is one of the national societies of the International Federation of Manual/Musculoskeletal Medicine (FIMM) (fimm-online.com) which committed to delivering high-quality training in manual and musculoskeletal medicine. We work closely with the Taiwan Association of Prolotherapy and Regenerative Medicine (TAPRM) (www.taprm.org) to promote regenerative injection therapy. We also have good relations with the Australian Association of Musculoskeletal Medicine (AAMM) (www.aamm.org.au), the American Association of Orthopaedic Medicine (AAOM) (aaomed.org), Martinoli Ultrasound (martinoliultrasound.com), the Indonesia Malaysia Regenerative Medicine Study Group (Ig: regmed_imrsg), and others. It enables us to exchange clinical knowledge, enhance management skills, and collaborate on research and publications.

The future presents numerous challenges, and we have much work ahead to improve HKIMM. Fortunately, I am not alone in this endeavor; we operate as a team to establish our goals and achieve our objectives. I am deeply grateful for the support of our Vice President, Dr. Ngai Ho Yin Allen; Honorary Secretary, Dr. Lee Wang Yat Paco; Honorary Treasurer, Dr. Wu Wing Keung Ricky; the chairpersons of our supporting boards; our past presidents; our advisors; and our secretary, Ms. Melissa Leung. Thank you all for your unwavering support and guidance.

Dr. Lai Wai Wah Mark
President
The Hong Kong Institute of Musculoskeletal Medicine