A professional association that has brought together Serbia's orthopaedists and traumatologists since 2007 to advance the profession, education, and international cooperation.
The Serbian Orthopaedic Trauma Association (SOTA) was founded on 28 June 2007 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Belgrade, with the goal of bringing together experts in orthopaedics and traumatology and contributing to the advancement of professional, scientific, and educational work in these medical disciplines.
At the Founding Assembly, Academician Prof. Dr. Marko Bumbaširević was elected as the Association's first president — one of the most distinguished Serbian orthopaedic surgeons and traumatologists, a full professor at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, and a member of the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts (SASA). His vision, professional authority, and dedication to the advancement of the profession laid the foundations for the Association's successful work and international recognition.
Since its founding, SOTA has built a rich tradition of professional gatherings, continuous education, and international cooperation. Over the years, the Association has organized numerous congresses that have become an important platform for exchanging knowledge, experience, and the latest achievements in orthopaedics and traumatology. A special place in the Association's history belongs to the meeting held in 2024 as part of the SICOT (Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie) congress in Belgrade, one of the world's most significant orthopaedic and traumatology associations.
SOTA is an active member of EFORT (European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology), the umbrella European organization that brings together national orthopaedic and traumatology associations. Membership in EFORT enables intensive international cooperation and the exchange of professional and scientific experience, as well as the active participation of Serbian orthopaedists and traumatologists in creating and applying modern European treatment standards.
SOTA nurtures a tradition of professional excellence, integrity, and collegiality. Over nearly two decades of work, the Association's meetings have grown into the most significant professional event in Serbian orthopaedics and a central, recognizable gathering place for orthopaedists and traumatologists of all generations. They bring together young physicians and residents alongside experienced experts with extensive clinical and academic backgrounds, creating a unique space for exchanging knowledge, experience, and ideas.
Through continuous work and the cultivation of the highest professional and ethical standards, SOTA has become a symbol of professional unity and a representative forum for Serbian orthopaedics, where the latest scientific achievements, contemporary surgical approaches, and innovations shaping the future of the profession are presented. As a meeting point of tradition and contemporary trends, the Association actively contributes to the development of orthopaedics and traumatology in Serbia and to strengthening its reputation within the European and global professional community.
International, regional, and domestic cooperation represent one of the most important pillars of SOTA's work. The Association develops partnerships with leading professional societies, universities, clinical centers, and research institutions in Serbia and abroad. Through joint projects, professional gatherings, and the exchange of experience, SOTA contributes to strengthening professional ties and advancing orthopaedic and traumatology practice.
SOTA places special importance on cooperation with associations and experts from countries in the region, recognizing shared professional challenges, similarities among healthcare systems, and the need for the continuous exchange of knowledge and experience. Through regional congresses, joint educational programs, guest lectures, and scientific collaboration, the Association actively contributes to strengthening professional ties among orthopaedists and traumatologists in Southeast Europe. Such cooperation enables faster adoption of modern therapeutic and surgical standards, encourages research work, and contributes to building a strong regional network of experts.
Continuous medical education lies at the heart of the Association's activities. By organizing scientific and professional gatherings, SOTA provides its members with opportunities for ongoing professional development and the exchange of experience with domestic and international experts.
Special attention is devoted to young physicians and residents, who represent the future of the profession. SOTA is committed to following contemporary trends and achievements in orthopaedics and traumatology, with the goal of bringing the most valuable knowledge, experience, and innovative approaches — within our professional and organizational capacity — closer to young colleagues. In this way, the Association strives to encourage their professional development, improve the quality of education, and enable the application of current knowledge in everyday clinical practice.
Through this approach, SOTA not only contributes to the continuous development of its members but also actively participates in shaping new generations of orthopaedists and traumatologists ready to meet the challenges of modern medicine and improve the quality of healthcare in Serbia.
Prof. Nemanja Slavković, MD
Tomislav Palibrk, MD
Nikola Bogosavljević, MD
The mission of the Serbian Orthopaedic Trauma Association (SOTA) is to advance orthopaedics and traumatology through the promotion of professional excellence, scientific research, continuous medical education, and international cooperation, with the goal of improving the quality of treatment and patient healthcare.
SOTA's vision is to be the leading national professional association and a recognized partner of European and international orthopaedic organizations — one that, through innovation, scientific work, education, and international networking, actively contributes to the development of orthopaedics and traumatology in Serbia, the region, and Europe.
Guided by tradition, knowledge, and a sense of responsibility toward patients and future generations of physicians, SOTA's members continue to advance the profession, develop international cooperation, and promote the highest standards of orthopaedic and traumatology care.
