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
    • Scholarships and research
    • Leadership in orthopaedics
    • Significant leadership within non-orthopaedic organizations
    • 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.
  • In practice no less than five years at the time membership is approved (no later than June 1).

Considered Domains

Professional Positions Held / Professional Employment

When providing this information, please indicate position title and length of time (include dates) in that position. Military service should be included here, as well as any special training. Special training includes: residencies and fellowships (Candidate should have noted the institutions and dates.)

Scholarships and Research

A. Research support

(give titles, sources, amounts, investigators [specifically state whether you are a named principal investigator or a named co-investigator] and dates.)

  1. Institutional
  2. Industrial
  3. Federal grant as PI or Co-PI (NIH, CDC, VA, etc.)
  4. National peer reviewed grants

B. Peer Reviewed Publications, Book Chapters, and Other (e.g. presentations and exhibits)

  1. Refereed Articles
  2. Book chapters
  3. Book editor
  4. Journal editor
  5. Associate editor
  6. National presentations and exhibits
  7. Scholarly or other academic honors

(include only those honors received after medical school; do not include “best doctor” awards) – Examples include:

  1. National or International awards or honors
  2. Other non-AOA traveling fellowship
  3. Institutional award
  4. Presenter of Best Paper at regional or national meeting
  5. Teaching award

Leadership in Orthopaedics

A. Significant leadership positions held in orthopaedic related entities.

  1. Officer (i.e., president, vice president, secretary, treasurer)
  2. Board Member
  3. Committee Chair/Program Lead
  4. Committee Member

B. Group Orthopaedic Leadership

  1. CEO
  2. Officer
  3. Senior Management or Leadership Position

Significant Leadership in Non-Orthopaedic Organizations

A. Non-Orthopaedic Medical/Institutional Leadership Experience

  1. Officer (hospital or medical organization)
  2. Board Member
  3. Committee Chair
  4. Committee Member
  5. President of a county medical society
  6. Chief of Staff of a community hospital
  7. Chairman of a citywide medical study group
  8. Organizer or founder of a formal medical program of regional interest
  9. Chairman of a state council or commission or governor’s council with medical-health purpose.

B. Non-Medical Leadership Experience

  1. Officer (president, vice president, secretary, treasurer)
  2. Board Member
  3. Committee Chair
  4. Committee Member
  5. Officer in a local or regional organization
  6. Member of a campaign committee or finance committee for candidate for public office
  7. Held public office

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 Affiliate
  • 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