AAOS Launchpad Prepares PGY5 Residents for Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

AAOS kicked off a new initiative called AAOS Launchpad at the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting in March. The program is tailored to support postgraduate year 5 (PGY5) members with tools to tackle challenges early-career surgeons face, guiding them through fellowship and into practice. Additionally, the program will prepare participants for Parts I and II of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery examination. Spanning 20 months, the program is designed to equip orthopaedic surgery residents with a guided path to success.

“AAOS Launchpad’s guiding principle is to serve as a one-stop shop for members at a pivotal stage in their careers,” said Valerae O. Lewis, MD, FAAOS, chair of the AAOS Membership Council. “We have heard from PGY5 residents that they can feel lost when it comes to finding a job, negotiating contracts, building a clinical team, and preparing for board exams. We wanted to help answer this need, and AAOS is the ideal organization to provide this type of service.”

AAOS Launchpad was released as a pilot program, and there will be three cohorts of PGY5 resident member participants over the next 3 and a half years, supported by a team of early- and mid-career orthopaedic surgeon coaches who will serve as mentors throughout the program. The next two cohorts will launch at the AAOS 2026 and 2027 Annual Meetings.

Participants will benefit from:

• one-on-one coaching and networking: mentorship from near-peer orthopaedic surgeons who have recently started their practices
• board exam preparation: tailored resources for Parts I and II to ensure that certification trajectory is on track
• personalized dashboards: tools to monitor progress across milestones, such as fellowship, job search, and transition into practice

Dr. Lewis emphasized that the program represents more than just professional development; it supports and underscores the lifelong relationship between members and AAOS. “The Academy’s partnership extends beyond residency and into every stage of a surgeon’s career,” she noted. “The coaching aspect is particularly valuable, offering support for both professional and personal challenges in order to help young surgeons manage the complexities of their evolving lives.”

Launchpad is designed with scalability in mind. Following the pilot phase, AAOS envisions expanding the program to include all PGY5 residents and potentially PGY4 residents. Continuous evaluation and participant feedback will play a critical role in refining the program.

“It is always important to evaluate new programs,” Dr. Lewis said. “We want to ensure that we are not only hitting benchmarks but that participants find the program valuable, engaging, and that it truly meets their needs.”

As AAOS continues to champion initiatives that engage members at every career stage, AAOS Launchpad stands out as a transformative opportunity for the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons. By providing tailored support and fostering lifelong connections, AAOS reaffirms its commitment to shaping the future of orthopaedics.

Application requirements for 2026

AAOS Launchpad is open to:

• PGY5 residents enrolled in U.S.-based residency programs
• active AAOS members who commit to maintaining membership throughout the program
• candidates available to participate fully from January 2026 to August 2027, including attendance at the AAOS 2026 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, March 2 to 6, 2026

For more information or to apply for the next cohort when registration opens in November 2025, visit aaos.org/launchpad.

Jennifer Lefkowitz is a freelance writer for AAOS Now.