The AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego, March 10 to 14, 2025, will provide a hands-on educational experience featuring innovation, evidence-based research, and global knowledge sharing from every aspect of orthopaedics, with session topics spanning each specialty area. Offering the latest technological advancements, the Annual Meeting will feature four dynamic, interactive learning styles that allow attendees to create their ideal educational experience from lecture-based sessions to panels to collaboration to self-directed learning.

“The goal of the 2025 Annual Meeting centers around one key aspect of orthopaedics—improving patient care,” said AAOS President Paul Tornetta III, MD, PhD, FAAOS. “In-person education is one of the best ways to do that, providing innovative learning opportunities that advance treatment for our patients. The Annual Meeting features a comprehensive education program that will help propel the field of orthopaedics forward. It is a truly unique and elevated experience that cannot be found anywhere else.”

Chaired by Matthew T. Provencher, MD, CAPT MC USNR, MBA, FAAOS, the AAOS Annual Meeting Committee took feedback from last year’s meeting to enhance and enrich the 2025 program. The committee carefully selected abstracts and applications from thousands of submissions to showcase the latest breakthroughs and trending topics in the field. Led by Stephen Kottmeier, MD, FAAOS, and Xinning Li, MD, FAAOS, the Central Program Committee and Instructional Course Committee developed an education program that will feature sessions, interactive lectures, courses, and workshops. Whatever your specialty areas of interest or career phase, this meeting is for you. The Annual Meeting is bringing back several popular programs and adding newly refined educational opportunities that were driven by direct feedback from past attendees and AAOS members.

An elevated learning journey
Central to the 2025 Annual Meeting will be innovative programming, including OrthoLive and the Exhibit Hall. Launched in 2024, OrthoLive is a dedicated hub for learning, networking, and collaboration. One key opportunity is the OrthoDome® video theater, which offers an immersive learning experience highlighting the latest surgical techniques and devices in 4K-resolution video. Attendees can advance their education and skills through the OrthoLive offerings, including the Bioskills Workshops featuring hands-on practice. Research posters will highlight the latest clinical findings. Additionally, OrthoPitch will take place on March 11. This technology competition will feature novel and innovative orthopaedic products and will allow attendees to see the latest solutions from industry experts.

“I first attended the Annual Meeting in 2024 and had a great experience meeting other resident delegates from across the country,” said Kylie Shaw, MD, fourth-year orthopaedic surgery resident at the University of Colorado. “I am particularly looking forward to the pediatric-specific educational sessions, as I will be applying for a pediatric fellowship this year. The hands-on education and labs are invaluable as a resident to learn from experts in the field outside of our home programs.”

With more than 600 companies, the Exhibit Hall features the latest techniques and tools to transform patient care. Attendees can connect with industry experts through interactive education demonstrations and experiences during expanded Exhibit Hall hours. With 10 hours of dedicated exhibit time in the schedule, attendees will be able to explore groundbreaking research and innovative treatments.

Non-CME learning opportunities are endless in the Exhibit Hall and include Ask an Expert sessions and Industry Lunch and Learns. The popular Happy Hour in the Hall will be back on March 13 from 3 to 5 p.m. with exclusive inbooth presentations and cocktails.

Presidential Guest Speaker
The education program runs from Monday to Thursday (March 10 to 13), with the Exhibit Hall open Tuesday to Thursday (March 11 to 13) and Specialty Society Programs on Friday (March 14). During the Your Academy event on March 12, Captain and U.S. Ambassador “Sully” Sullenberger, speaker, safety advocate, author, and pilot, will be the Presidential Guest Speaker. Ambassador Sullenberger has been an active safety advocate, contributing to accident investigations and safety committees.

“Ambassador Sullenberger’s message will resonate with our members, as pilots and surgeons have a lot in common,” explained Dr. Tornetta. “While there are many systems in place to protect those in our charge at 35,000 feet or on an operating table, in the end, it is the pilot or surgeon who bears the ultimate responsibility.”

Mobile app provides critical resources
With new features for 2025, the Annual Meeting Mobile App provides session recommendations driven by artificial intelligence to help expand and personalize each attendee’s professional development. Attendees can browse the full, detailed program with advanced filtering by the content areas and learning formats that are of most interest. The app allows attendees to build a personalized agenda and view interactive 3D maps. Attendees can add Instructional Course Lecture and Specialty Society Program tickets to their existing registration. Beginning in January 2025, you can also use the app to plan your time on the exhibit floor by exploring and starring the exhibits you want to visit.

Key dates
The newly launched Annual Meeting website allows attendees to explore the offerings and build a customized experience. Early-bird registration ends Dec. 13, 2024. Registration and the full education lineup will become available in the fall at aaos.org/annual. San Diego hotels can be booked on the site now, and discounted hotel room rates will end on Feb. 18, 2025.

Join AAOS in San Diego for the orthopaedic educational event of the year!

Molly Todd Rudy is a freelance writer for AAOS Now.