AAOS Uses New Data Insights to Drive Innovation and Transform Attendee Experience at the Annual Meeting

From the symposia and Instructional Course Lectures (ICLs) presented by orthopaedic thought leaders to cutting-edge surgical devices and connections made in the Exhibit Hall, the AAOS Annual Meeting is one of the largest orthopaedic meetings in the world and offers myriad opportunities for surgeons to advance knowledge and improve practice. But even a great event can be made better. Just as data inform the best surgical practices, AAOS is using data to improve the Annual Meeting experience and drive innovation.

In an interview for AAOS Now, Matthew Provencher, MD, MBA, Capt. MC USNR (Ret.), FAAOS, chair of the AAOS Annual Meeting Oversight Committee, and Andrew Schmidt, MD, FAAOS, chair of the AAOS Education Council, discussed how their respective committees are utilizing data from members and past meetings to enhance the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting and offer attendees elevated opportunities for education and connection. Dr. Provencher is a shoulder, knee, and sports medicine specialist at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colorado, and a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserves after a distinguished active-duty career. Dr. Schmidt practices at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis, where he is an orthopaedic trauma-tologist and also practices as an adult reconstruction surgeon.

Data-driven approach
Dr. Provencher explained how the Annual Meeting Oversight Committee has evolved its approach to meeting planning. “The use of data creates the best possible meeting for … the attendee,” he said. “We want to create a very curated experience through the extensive offerings at the AAOS Annual Meeting.” Details contributing to the ideal meeting include data on when attendees arrive at and leave the meeting, as well as how long they stay at an ICL or symposium. Reflecting that meeting optimization has become a science, he observed that planning the meeting using a data-driven approach requires “study of basically human behavior. … What we found is orthopaedic surgeons are kind of creatures of habit. The numbers are very consistent in terms of how we behave and what we do.”

Historically, planning has been based on analyses of registration and actual attendance. For example, ICL ticket sales could be tracked, Dr. Schmidt noted, but with only a vague sense of participant engagement and demographics. Despite focus groups and surveys, limited data meant limited actionable information to inform change year to year. The chairs of the Education Council and Annual Meeting Oversight Committee can have synergistic roles, but for the Schmidt-Provencher duo, using the data for significant change and improvement came naturally. As Dr. Schmidt observed, “Matt [Provencher] and I were both electrical engineers back in the day, so we like to get this signal out of the noise. We can use this information to really plan the meeting, even just things like eliminating redundant offerings. We used to have ICLs and symposia on the same day, on the same topic. We don’t need to do that anymore.”

Innovating the meeting experience
Dr. Schmidt noted, “The Annual Meeting has been the flagship of the Academy’s educational offerings for years.” Increasingly, the meeting utilizes technological advances to create innovative, immersive experiences. For example, the Annual Meeting Oversight Committee unveiled OrthoDome® at the 2022 Annual Meeting and it quickly evolved into a premiere educational opportunity, providing a comfortable environment in which attendees could watch 4K surgical videos. Recognizing the value of visuals for orthopaedic professionals, the Annual Meeting Oversight Committee has prioritized keeping pace with new presentation trends and continues to reimagine the experience with stateof- the-art video simulations. The OrthoDome experience will feature high-fidelity 8k+ systems to guide attendees through more realistic clinical scenarios and real-world cases. Dr. Provencher shared, “Presenters are bringing videos that are 3, 4, 5 gigabytes. [You will] be able to see … the scratch on a retractor, you’re so immersed in that surgery.” In the OrthoDome, time stands still as orthopaedic leaders turn the entire room into a masterclass.

OrthoPitch offers another opportunity to shape the future of musculoskeletal care. Following the model of the Shark Tank television show, surgeon-entrepreneurs can present ideas for groundbreaking orthopaedic products in the OrthoDome space. A panel of fellow surgeons and experts on industry and business offer critiques, creating a dynamic, interactive experience that challenges presenters to think on their feet while sparking valuable discussions. With standing-room only, the moments created during last year’s inaugural event became memories with promising opportunities for the future.

Connecting in person
Many challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic cast long shadows, including the loss of in-person education and connection with colleagues. However, the novelty of attending meetings in one’s pajamas faded with the recognition that shared experiences have deep value. Dr. Provencher acknowledged that Annual Meeting content is available in video format, but orthopaedic surgeons in particular crave that interpersonal connection. The in-person moments make it more than just a meeting. “There’s nothing like it, especially for the work we’re in. We need to be able to socialize with our colleagues,” Dr. Provencher said. “When we look at how we interact, not just among ourselves but also with our industry partners, we know that it is also important to have hands-on [experiences with] the implants we use to help our patients get better. You can’t have that tactile feel with the exhibitors on Zoom.” Back to data, consistent feedback from participants confirms that the most highly valued aspects of the Annual Meeting are the education, the interaction, and the social connection of attending in person. For example, Exhibit Hall educational events such as Ask and Expert and Bioskills Workshops provide expert-led product demonstrations and hands-on opportunities that showcase the latest orthopaedic solutions, so attendees can interact with innovations and learn from industry leaders.

Bridging all specialties, the Annual Meeting and associated alumni events offer connections with friends and colleagues across the profession. Dr. Schmidt shared, “Running into the people you trained with is like seeing someone in your own family. [At the Annual Meeting], you have those experiences. You’ll meet old colleagues, you’ll meet research partners, you’ll meet like-minded surgeons, you’ll meet people you didn’t expect to meet. And when you’re on Zoom, well, you’re just not as engaged.”

For Drs. Provencher and Schmidt, the Annual Meeting is more than the premier educational orthopaedic event, offering unique value that fulfills both personal and professional needs while providing real opportunities for growth and meaningful connections. Dr. Provencher recognized that, in the end, it is also about “going back on Monday and [using] that impactful experience, so you can help your patients do better.”

Alexandra E. Page, MD, FAAOS, is a foot and ankle specialist in private practice in San Diego, California, and the deputy editor of AAOS Now.