AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting: A Global Hub for Orthopaedic Innovation and Education

The AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting, taking place Monday, March 10, to Friday, March 14, in San Diego, promises to deliver an unparalleled educational experience for orthopaedic professionals worldwide. Recognized as the premier event that brings together all orthopaedic specialties in one location, the Annual Meeting will showcase groundbreaking innovations, instructional course lectures (ICLs), and multidisciplinary education, offering attendees the opportunity to enhance their clinical expertise and improve patient outcomes.

Orthopaedic surgeons at every career stage, from seasoned specialists to residents and medical students, will gather to share cutting-edge know-ledge, best practices, and emerging trends. The Central Program Committee and Instructional Courses Committee chairs, Stephen Kottmeier, MD, FAAOS, and Xinning “Tiger” Li, MD, FAAOS, emphasized that the event theme—“It’s the Experience!”—reflects that this year’s meeting is quite literally an experience attendees cannot afford to miss.

“The level of knowledge that will be shared is outstanding, and members can expect a wide array of educational offerings, including a unique blend of interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, and symposia from a diverse group of presenters,” said Dr. Li. “With more than 8,000 applications submitted to present topics at the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting, renowned experts from around the world will present on topics such as robotics, orthobiologics, virtual or mixed-reality surgery, orthopaedic device creation, artificial intelligence [in collaboration with the FDA’s Office of Health Technology 6], and much more.”

The roster of presenters extends beyond established professionals, incorporating fellows, residents, and medical students whose research continues to advance orthopaedic knowledge and address critical gaps in understanding various orthopaedic conditions. Dr. Kottmeier underscored the significance of engaging this younger generation early in their careers. “Including fellows, residents, and medical students in presenting educational programs fosters the next generation of leadership,” he said. “Additionally, with an expanded medical student program accommodating 400 participants—up from 300 in 2024—more students will have the chance to network and gain valuable exposure with opportunities for mentorship.”

Attendees can experience the value of having the best of orthopaedics all in one place and create a personalized agenda, which is included with the cost of registration. Some educational highlights include:

• 585+ VIPER: Paper Presentations, each in a concise, dynamic format featuring a moderated video component
• 300 posters, including 12 moderated poster tours and more than 64 researcher-presented poster presentations
• 30+ symposia addressing the latest advancements and trends, including a special symposium on infections hosted by AAOS President Paul Tornetta III, MD, PhD, FAAOS
• 1,600+ Orthopaedic Video Theater selections
• four The Way I See It …^® sessions
• eight Ask an Expert sessions
• two Showdowns^® Debates
• 600+ industry exhibits
• 800 ePosters, available for self-guided learning during and after the meeting
• 68 OrthoDome^® presentations
• Your Academy event, featuring the Presidential Guest Speaker, Captain and U.S. Ambassador “Sully” Sullenberger

“While the program is expansive, we’ve curated every element to ensure a personalized, up-close experience,” said Matthew T. Provencher, MD, MBA, CAPT MC USNR, FAAOS, chair of the Annual Meeting Committee. “We’re here to satisfy your intellectual curiosity and provide an unforgettable learning journey where we create a VIP experience tailored to you—surgeons, allied health professionals, physician assistants, medical students, residents, and fellows. No matter your background or level of training, you’ll learn and grow alongside us.”

Dr. Kottmeier stressed the pivotal role symposia play in driving innovation and collaboration across the orthopaedic community. “This year, we’re focusing on multidisciplinary collaboration, with sessions like the oncology symposium that engages community physicians dealing with complex cases. This inclusive approach enriches the learning experience and fosters collaboration across disciplines, directly benefiting patient care,” he explained.

Symposia will also feature domestic and international contributors, providing a global perspective on the latest orthopaedic advancements. Additionally, multifaceted education modules will integrate video components to enrich course lectures, VIPER: Paper Presentations, and OrthoDome sessions, engaging participants in the learning experience. “We’re bringing you into the operating room, the clinic room, the MRI, and the X-ray with a truly immersive visual experience,” explained Dr. Provencher.

In its fourth year, OrthoDome will once again span 3 full days of the meeting, offering sessions that cover every major orthopaedic subspecialty. Attendees can further their education in the Exhibit Hall, where they can explore and engage with the latest innovations in the field. Various learning formats will be available, including the immersive OrthoDome, the Innovation Theater, Bioskills Workshops, and more. Be sure to catch in-booth presentations throughout the hall, especially during dedicated exhibit hours and Happy Hour in the Hall.

“We were excited that new presenters and subspecialty content were submitted for this year’s ICLs*,” added Dr. Li. “This will be one of the best years for ICLs, with numerous learning sessions featuring both the traditional ICL format with four faculty and case presentations with 10 faculty to share their clinical knowledge with the participants. This is one of the most highly rated components of the Annual Meeting, as participants get to spend time with the faculty, getting up close and personal during the ICL sessions that will impact them, their practice, surgical techniques, or indications and help their patients when they return from the Annual Meeting. Additionally, the ICLs will emphasize the inclusion of younger and mid-career faculty members to help lead the discussion.”

Attendees can fulfill their professional obligations and earn CME hours for their participation.

The full educational agenda will be available before the end of the year. Register today! Early-bird registration runs from Nov. 12 to Dec. 13, and advance registration runs from Dec. 14 to Jan. 31, 2025. Standard and onsite registration is available from Feb. 1 to Mar. 14, 2025.

*ICLs are not included in the cost of registration.

Jennifer Lefkowitz is a freelance writer for AAOS Now.