Published 4/24/2025
The AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego reaffirmed its status as the premier event for the orthopaedic community. It remains the only gathering where the entire field of orthopaedics comes together to innovate, learn, and connect, creating an experience that is simply unmatched. This year the event experienced significant growth in attendance compared with 2024, as the meeting continued its post-COVID resurgence. From enhanced educational content to exciting new features, the AAOS Annual Meeting once again proved why it is a must-attend event for all professionals in the field of orthopaedics.
Notable growth and engagement
The Annual Meeting experienced remarkable growth across key segments, underscoring its relevance and expanding appeal:
- Fellows: An 11 percent increase in Fellow attendance underscores the meeting’s importance for established professionals seeking continued education and networking opportunities.
- Emeritus Fellows: A 38 percent increase in Emeritus Fellow participation highlights the ongoing engagement of veteran professionals in the field.
- Residents: A 9 percent increase in resident attendance reinforces the AAOS Annual Meeting as the go-to event for the next generation of surgeons.
- Physician assistants (PAs): A 50 percent growth in registrations among this group points to the expanding role of PAs in orthopaedic practices and the increasing scope of the meeting.
- Allied health: Attendance of allied health professionals surged by 25 percent, emphasizing AAOS’ growing influence across all disciplines within orthopaedics.
- Medical Student Program: This program sold out, with 400 participants, up from 300 in 2024. Plans are already underway to expand to 500 for 2026, reflecting the rising interest in orthopaedic surgery among emerging talent.
This growth is a direct reflection of the intentional effort to expand the meeting’s reach and ensure it meets the evolving needs of the profession’s diverse stakeholders.
Unmatched educational experiences
Education remains at the heart of the AAOS Annual Meeting, with record attendance at key sessions. The Your Academy event and the President’s Symposium (Symposium W: Orthopaedic Infections: The Last Frontier) were standing room only, underscoring their critical role in professional development.
Faculty members enjoyed an upgraded VIP experience with a new speaker AV setup and a revamped speaker-ready room, ensuring seamless and professional presentations.
“I was really impressed with the new speaker AV setup and the speaker-ready room,” said Matthew P. Abdel, MD, FAAOS, one of AAOS’ most prominent faculty members. “It set a fantastic tone from the start and made everything run so smoothly. It’s these kinds of details that really make the experience special for both the speakers and the attendees.”
This VIP experience for faculty is part of AAOS’ broader effort to enhance the overall attendee experience. The quality of educational offerings, combined with seamless delivery, ensured that the AAOS Annual Meeting is the only place where orthopaedic professionals can access the highest caliber of learning and engagement.
Innovations and new features
This year, AAOS introduced several new features aimed at enhancing the meeting experience:
- PeerConnect, a new feature in the Annual Meeting Mobile App, allowed attendees to connect with one another organically, facilitating valuable networking opportunities throughout the event—an example of how AAOS continues to leverage technology to foster collaboration among professionals.
- The 360 photo booth was another hit, offering attendees a fun way to capture memories while engaging with one another. The popularity of this feature has already prompted plans for an even more engaging setup in New Orleans for AAOS 2026.
Far-reaching economic impact
The economic impact of the meeting was felt not only by the attendees at the event but also by the local San Diego economy. With an estimated regional impact of $67.4 million and direct attendee spending of $39.6 million, the meeting proved to be a key economic driver. The total taxes generated for the city were $1.9 million, further demonstrating the significance of the meeting beyond the professional and educational realms.
Looking ahead: AAOS 2026 in New Orleans
The AAOS Annual Meeting strategic plan’s focus on growth, engagement, and content enhancement is evident in the positive results from this year’s meeting, such as the increase in attendance among key stakeholders and the addition of new features and programs. AAOS is continuing to expand its reach, offering new ways for attendees to connect and building a meeting that addresses the needs of all professionals within orthopaedics.
“Looking forward to AAOS 2026 in New Orleans, we’re excited to build on this year’s success. There’s no question that the AAOS Annual Meeting remains the only place where the orthopaedic community comes together to innovate, learn, and socialize,” said Matthew Provencher, MD, MBA, Capt. MC USNR (Ret.), FAAOS, chair of the AAOS Annual Meeting Oversight Committee. “Don’t miss out on this essential experience that continues to shape the future of our profession.”
Join AAOS in New Orleans for the next chapter of the AAOS Annual Meeting—where the entire orthopaedic community comes together to make lasting connections, advance education, and explore the newest innovations.