Each year, the AOA Membership Committee and AOA membership body thoroughly considers a pool of candidates for induction into the AOA.

Membership Criteria

  • Demonstrated accomplishments and experience within five crucial domains
    • Professional positions held/professional employment
    • Leadership in orthopaedics
    • Significant leadership within non-orthopaedic organizations
    • Scholarships/education, mentorship, and research
    • AOA leadership activities and program participation
  • Certification by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, American Osteopathic Board of Orthopaedic Surgery or American Osteopathic Board of Surgery or be a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada in Orthopaedic Medicine.
  • Be in practice no less than four years as of December 31 of the nomination year (by December 31, 2025, for Class of 2026).

Considered Domains

Professional Positions Held / Professional Employment

When providing the following information, please include job title and dates the position was held. Examples include Instructor/Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Associate Program Director, Fellowship Director, Residency Program Director, Division Chief, Hospital based leadership, Professor, Vice chair, Managing Partner/Leader of Private Practice Group or Service Line, Department Chair, CEO, Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery for large group practice. Military service should be included as well. For non-academic orthopaedic surgeons consider the role in group or health care system.

Leadership in Orthopaedics

A. Significant leadership positions held in orthopaedic related entities such as regional, state or national orthopaedic or medical society leadership, such as non-compensated and/or elected roles at Officer (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer), Board or Committee level

B. Group Orthopaedic Leadership such as CEO, Officer, senior management or leadership position

Significant Leadership in Non-Orthopaedic Organizations

A. Non-Orthopaedic Medical/Institutional/Community Leadership Experience

Significant participation/leadership positions held in non-orthopaedic medical organizations. Examples include Hospital committees, medical boards, chief medical officer, chief quality officer, county medical societies, medical mission work, and chair of state council or commission or governor’s council with medical-health purpose, medical school and university committees and engagement, sports team coverage.

B. Non-Medical Community Leadership Experience

Non-medical community and institutional leadership roles such as non-medical military, civic service, school, and religious groups (church leadership, school board, rotary, PTA, etc.). Or service, for example, on committees, curriculum committees, civic organizations, or public office.

Scholarship/Education, Mentorship and Research

A. Education. Include courses taught, curriculum developed, creation of patient educational materials, journals reviewed, podcasts developed/hosted.

B. Peer Reviewed Publications, Book Chapters, and Other. Consider refereed articles, book chapters, book editor, journal editor, journal reviewer, national podium presentations, and poster exhibits.

C. Honors and Awards. Only include those honors received after medical school; do not include “best doctor” or other marketing/promotional awards. Examples include National or International awards or honors, other non-AOA traveling fellowship, departmental awards, institutional or society awards, humanitarian, mentorship and education awards.

D. Mentorship. Include mentorship or onboarding of younger partners; pipeline programs such as improving diversity; advising high school, college, medical or health profession students; participation on mentorship committees.

E. Research Support/Grant. Principal investigator or named co-investigator should be stated.  Titles, sources, amounts, and dates should be included. Types of support considered include Institutional, Industrial, Federal grant as PI or CO-PI (NIH, CDC, VA, etc.), National peer reviewed grants.

AOA Leadership Activities and Program Participation

  • Traveling Fellowship — selection and participation as a fellow in ABC, NATF, ASG, and/or JOA Traveling Fellowship Program
  • AOA Annual Leadership Meeting Attendee
  • Leadership Education module participant (i.e. AOA | USC APEX Leadership Certificate Program, AOA-Kellogg series, Leadership Immersion Series, and/or AOA Regional Leadership Meetings)
  • Resident Leadership Forum attendee
  • Emerging Leaders Program member
  • Scott D. Boden Emerging Leaders Forum attendee
  • AOA Committee Member
  • Active Participant in institution’s CORD membership or conferences
  • Program champion/key contributor in institution’s implementation of Own the Bone Program