About                

The Universal Anatomical Organization is a consortium dedicated to fostering collaboration between international associations with Anatomy at their core

Our Goals

  • The Advancement of Anatomical Science: The UAO promotes research, discovery, and engagement in the field of human anatomy.

  • Global Collaboration: The UAO encourages equitable scientific exchange between groups that have anatomy at their core. Our organization strives to foster a collaborative international research community.

DACS -Our core values

Development 

　– growing our members and impact

Autonomy 

　– empowering individuals to lead

Collaboration 

　– working together across borders

Sustainability 

　– creating something that lasts

Founding member groups

  • Southern Cone Morphology Society (Sociedad de Morfología del Cono Sur) 

  • Chinese Society of Anatomical Sciences (CSAS), Clinical Anatomy Branch (中国解剖学会临床解剖学分会)

  • Kurume Research Society of Clinical Anatomy, Japan　(久留米臨床解剖研究会)

  • Department of Anatomical Sciences, St. George’s University, Grenada  

  • The Department of Anatomy and Anthropology, School of Medicine, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tel-Aviv University, Israel 

  • Clinical Anatomy Research Association in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (CARE-OMS), Fukuoka, Japan (口腔顎顔面外科解剖研究会)

  • Department of Neuroscience, Institute of Human Anatomy, University of Padova, Padova, Italy (Dipartimento di Neuroscienze, Istituto di Anatomia Umana, Università di Padova, Padova, Italia)

  • Mauritanian Association of Clinical Anatomy (Association Mauritanienne d’Anatomie Clinique). Anatomy Lab. Faculty of Medicine, Nouakchott-Mauritania

  • Tulane Clinical Anatomy Research Lab (TCARL), New Orleans, LA, USA

  • Department of Anatomy, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland (Katedra Anatomii Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego Collegium Medicum w Krakowie)

  • Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Science, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand (ภาควิชากายวิภาคศาสตร์  คณะวิทยาศาสตร์ มหาวิทยาลัยมหิดล)

  • Clinical Anatomy, Embryology and Neuroscience Research Group, Medical Sciences Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Girona, Girona, Spain (Grupo de Investigación en Anatomía Clínica, Embriología y Neurociencia: NEOMA)

  • Macedonian Association of Anatomists (Makedonsko zdruzenie na anatomi)

  • Division of Anatomy, Department of Radiology, Weill Cornell Medicine, NY, USA 

  • Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan (岡山大学学術研究院 医歯薬学域 口腔顎顔面外科学分野)

  • International Evidence-Based Anatomy Working Group, Krakow, Poland

  • Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen, Thailand (สาขาวิชากายวิภาคศาสตร์ คณะแพทยศาสตร์  มหาวิทยาลัยขอนแก่น)

  • Open Anatomy Project, Department of Radiology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA 

  • Department of Anatomy, Weill Bugando School of Medicine, Catholic University of Health and Allied Science, Mwanza, Tanzania

  • Argentine Society of Applied Morphological Sciences (Sociedad Argentina de Ciencias Morfológicas Aplicadas)

  • American Association of Clinical Anatomists (AACA)

  • Department of Anatomy, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan　(久留米大学医学部解剖学講座 肉眼・臨床解剖部門)

  • British Association of Clinical Anatomists (BACA)

  • Society of Medical Anatomists (SOMA), India

  • World Anatomical Association (WAA) 

  • International Fascia Research Society (FRS), USA

  • Human Anatomy and Physiology Society (HAPS), USA

  • Neurosurgical Department, Cremona, Italy (Dipartimento Neurochirurgico di Cremona, Italia)

  • Division in Anatomy & Developmental Biology, Department of Oral Biology, Yonsei University College of Dentistry (연세대학교 치과대학 구강생물학교실 해부 및 발생생물학 연구실)

  • Korean Association of Oral Anatomists (KAOA) (대한구강해부학회 )

  • Department of Anatomy, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, Republic of Korea (대구가톨릭대학교 의과대학 해부학교실)

  • Algerian Association of Clinical Anatomy (Association Algérienne d'Anatomie Clinique)

Meet Our New Member Group

  • Department of Human Morphology of Belarusian State Medical University (Кафедра морфологии человека Белорусского государственного медицинского университета)

  • Institute of Clinical Anatomy (ICA)

  • The Japanese Society of Bone and Muscle Ultrasound (JSBM) 一般社団法人 日本超音波骨軟組織学会

  • Pan-American Association of Anatomy (Asociación Panamericana de Anatomía: APA)

  • Anatomical Society of Sri Lanka

  • Waxmodelling London (Ceroplastics - International Congress on Wax Modelling)

  • World Federation of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (WFITN)

Board of Directors

  • Prof. Heejin Kim

    President

  • Prof. Mahindra Anand

  • Prof. Arada Chaiyamoon

  • Prof. Jerzy Walocha

  • Prof. Anna Carrera

  • Prof. Nicolás Ottone

  • Prof. Yoko Tabira

    Section Secretary

  • DR. Mary Ndibalema

  • Prof. Marios loukas

  • Prof. Joe Iwanaga

    Executive Secretary

  • Prof. Shane Tubbs

  • prof. Mi-Sun Hur

    Section Secretary

  • prof. Norio Kitagawa

    Section Secretary

Bylaws

Article I: Name and Purpose

  1. Name

    • The organization is known as the Universal Anatomical Organization (UAO)

  2. Purpose

    • The UAO aims to advance the study and discussion of human anatomy. It achieves this by championing research, collaboration, and education in the anatomical sciences.

Article II: Membership

  1. Eligibility

    • Membership is open to professional organizations, educational institutions, research centers/institutes, and other groups interested in anatomical science (Member Group). Membership is granted to groups, not individuals.

  2. Application and Admission

    • Prospective member groups must submit an application for review and approval by the Board of Directors.

  3. Rights and Responsibilities

    • Member groups can participate in meetings, attend events, and receive awards.

    • Member Groups are expected to uphold the mission of the UAO and contribute to its activities when possible.

    • Each Member Group has one vote; only one person can represent the group/society.

  4. Termination of Membership

    • Membership may be terminated for conduct detrimental to the organization.

Article III: Governance

  • Board of Directors

    • The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, Secretaries, and up to nine additional members.

    • The Board is responsible for the strategic direction and oversight to UAO.

  • Positions

    • President: Presides over board meetings, represents UAO in official matters, and serves as the leader of the organization.

    • Secretaries: Consist of one Executive Secretary and two to three Section Secretaries. They assist the President, assumes duties in their absence, and manages the administrative functions of UAO.

  • Appointments and Terms

    • The President shall be elected by a majority vote of the Board of Directors and shall serve a term of two years. 

    • Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by a majority vote of the Group Members and shall serve a term of three years. Only one representative from each Member Group may serve on the board of Directors at any given time. Board members may serve up to two consecutive terms.

    • Section Secretaries shall be appointed by the Executive Secretary, rather than elected, in order to ensure effective collaboration. Appointed Section Secretaries shall also serve as members of the Board of Directors with full rights and responsibilities thereof. The term of office for Section Secretaries shall coincide with that of the Executive Secretary.

  • Commissions and Committees

    • A new Commission or Committee can be established after receiving approval from the Board. 

    • The Board must approve a Commission or Committee’s decision before it can be presented as the UAO’s official decision.

Article IV: Meetings

  1. Board Meetings

    • Board meetings are held monthly and as needed to manage the organization’s affairs.

Article V: Activities

  1. Collaborative Research

    • The UAO facilitates joint research projects and partnerships among members to advance the anatomical sciences.

  2. Educational Programs

    • The UAO organizes workshops, seminars, and courses to promote anatomical education and professional development.

  3. Publications

    • The UAO supports the publication of research, educational materials, and other documents related to the anatomical sciences.

Article VI: Finances

  1. Fiscal Year

    • The fiscal year of UAO shall begin on January 1 and end on December 31.

  2. Financial Management

    • The Organizational Managing Group manages the organization's finances, including budgeting, accounting, and reporting.

  3. Audits

    • Financial records shall be audited annually by an independent auditor or audit committee.

Article VII: Amendments

  1. Amendment Process

    • Proposed amendments to the bylaws must be submitted in writing to the Board

    • Amendments require approval by a majority vote of board members

Article VIII: Dissolution

  1. Dissolution Procedure

    • In the event of dissolution, UAO’s assets shall be distributed to organizations with similar purposes, as determined by the Board.

  2. Notice of Dissolution

    • Members shall be notified of the proposed dissolution at least 60 days in advance.

Amended on September 8, 2025

“You begin with anatomy and end with anatomy”

- Andrew Taylor Still (1828 - 1917)