As an emeritus ASES member, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the Asian Shoulder and Elbow Association on a successful academic conference.

 

Fifty years ago, as I was completing my PhD in Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering, I was inspired by the vision of a giant in orthopedic surgery, Dr. Mark B. Coventry at the Mayo Clinic. He recognized that joint replacement would shape the future of orthopedic surgery. Following his vision, Dr. Edmund Chao was recruited to establish a biomechanics laboratory at Mayo, and I had the honor of joining the team focused on developing arthroplasties for the upper extremities.

 

Over the past 40 years, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside numerous orthopedic surgeons, including the conference president, Dr. J.Y. Kuo, and many of you present today. I have found my colleagues from Asia not only exceptionally skilled in their surgical techniques but also remarkably innovative. As a biomechanician, I have learned immensely from them, insights that have been critical for guiding my research.

 

I’ve participated in many surgical and medical conferences, including the inaugural ACASEA conference in 1994 in Taipei, organized by Dr. J.J. Wu. It was there that I first met Dr. Nobuhara, the founder of ASES. I later learned that he had stayed at Dr. Coventry’s home and studied with him for a time. Dr. Nobuhara is truly a man of many talents—skilled in shoulder surgery, an accomplished jazz musician, and a passionate historian. His hobby of collecting Hotei, the laughing Buddha, adds to his multifaceted character, making this conference venue at Fo Guang Shan monastery particularly fitting.

 

President Kuo aptly referred to Dr. Nobuhara as our "eternal mentor," a sentiment I hope resonates not only in this life but also spiritually. As the Christian Bible reminds us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” I encourage all of you to trust in Jesus for that promise of eternal life.

 

Finally, I wish you a successful meeting filled with fruitful exchanges of personal experiences and innovative ideas. Thank you!