Increasing road traffic accidents causing high numbers of injuries in Cambodia are fuelling demand for trauma care. The lack of qualified medical personnel, however, is an issue: there are only 80 trauma and orthopedic (T&O) surgeons in the country’s 24 provinces, 70 of whom are in the capital, Phnom Penh. The remaining 10 T&O surgeons are spread across some provinces. Cambodia has a population of 17 million people.
“Sixteen provinces have no T&O surgeons at all, forcing many of the injured to turn to traditional healers. Though, when patients are well informed, they are more likely to seek care in clinics and hospitals,” states Dr Tour Phot Sin, as he points out that the AO Alliance plays an important role in training healthcare workers who care for the injured.
In addition to his role as a trauma and orthopedic surgeon in Phnom Penh, Dr Sin holds three positions within the AO Alliance: AO Alliance representative in Cambodia, fellowship coordinator for Asia, and faculty. But that’s not all, he is also an assistant professor at the International University of Phnom Penh and vice-president of the Cambodian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology.
At the very beginning of his career, when the time came to choose his surgical specialty, Dr Sin opted for trauma and orthopedics. He became the first Cambodian T&O surgeon trained in Cambodia and went on to pursue a fellowship in South Korea.
In 2006, Dr Sin learned about the AO when he travelled to Switzerland for the AO Davos Courses. From then on, he aspired to spread the AO principles in his country. He has been with the AO Alliance since the beginning, in 2015.
“Sixteen provinces have no T&O surgeons at all, forcing many of the injured to turn to traditional healers. Though, when patients are well informed, they are more likely to seek care in clinics and hospitals,” states Dr Tour Phot Sin, as he points out that the AO Alliance plays an important role in training healthcare workers who care for the injured.
In addition to his role as a trauma and orthopedic surgeon in Phnom Penh, Dr Sin holds three positions within the AO Alliance: AO Alliance representative in Cambodia, fellowship coordinator for Asia, and faculty. But that’s not all, he is also an assistant professor at the International University of Phnom Penh and vice-president of the Cambodian Society of Orthopedics and Traumatology.
At the very beginning of his career, when the time came to choose his surgical specialty, Dr Sin opted for trauma and orthopedics. He became the first Cambodian T&O surgeon trained in Cambodia and went on to pursue a fellowship in South Korea.
In 2006, Dr Sin learned about the AO when he travelled to Switzerland for the AO Davos Courses. From then on, he aspired to spread the AO principles in his country. He has been with the AO Alliance since the beginning, in 2015.