Published 3/8/2024
In 2023, AAOS continued supporting its members by providing resources, education, advocacy, and innovation to aid them in delivering the highest-quality musculoskeletal care for their patients. The 2023 Annual Report, available on the AAOS website, highlights the extensive accomplishments the Academy made through the collaboration of our volunteers and staff.
Educational opportunities increased in 2023, both in person and virtually. The Resident Orthopaedic Core Knowledge (ROCK) curriculum expanded its platform capabilities and experienced a high level of adoption, with use by 50 percent of residents in the United States. AAOS hosted more than 20 courses throughout the year; awarded more than 180,000 CME credits via the online learning platform; introduced the Learning Innovation Lab; and more.
The AAOS 2023 Annual Meeting welcomed orthopaedic surgeons from across the globe to Las Vegas. The conference united more than 20,000 orthopaedic professionals, exceeding attendance from previous years. Five days of comprehensive education, networking opportunities, and technological innovations included events such as the second year of OrthoDome®, an expanded medical student program, the first educational track for Spanish speakers, and an expansive Exhibit Hall showcasing the latest and greatest in the orthopaedic industry.
Membership increased in 2023, with the highest number of AAOS Active Fellow applications in more than 5 years. New membership categories were introduced, and a program supporting international surgeons in low-income countries was piloted, making membership benefits more accessible to the entire musculoskeletal care team. The AAOS Membership App also launched a new Communities group chat feature, allowing members to more easily interact and network with each other.
Continuing to lead the way with resources for quality and practice management, AAOS worked to facilitate the transition to value-based healthcare by launching the Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) in Practice portfolio in 2023. Meanwhile, the AAOS Registry Program focused on enhancing the user experience and further exploring the power of data in evidence-based decision making across all five registries. Volunteers on the Health Care Systems Committee committed to research facilitation, payer engagement, value-based healthcare education, and advocacy.
In Washington, D.C., the AAOS advocacy team achieved significant progress across several political initiatives surrounding the field of orthopaedics and the medical profession in general. During the 2023 Orthopaedic Advocacy Week, they focused on key issues related to improving timely access to care, repealing the moratorium on physician-owned hospitals, protecting healthcare professionals against assault and intimidation, and safeguarding healthcare where it is needed most. The Political Action Committee of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoPAC) also raised nearly $1.6 million in the first year of the 2-year election cycle.
In continued efforts to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion in orthopaedics, AAOS awarded $300,000 to 20 recipients of the AAOS IDEA (Inspiring Diversity, Equity, and Access) Grant program. Volunteer leaders met at the combined National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference and Fall Meeting to shape policies and discuss the future of AAOS, including the guidance of recent graduates of the AAOS Leadership Institute.
Looking forward, AAOS will lean on the Board of Directors to be the champions and stewards of the organization’s future as they work on behalf of the membership to develop the next iteration of the Strategic Plan. This new roadmap will ensure that the organization remains steadfast in its mission and continues listening and responding to member feedback that addresses their evolving needs and preferences.
The AAOS 2023 Annual Report details all these achievements and more. Visit aaos.org/annualreport to download the full report.