About Us
AAOS 2027 will be held March 3–6 at the Venetian Convention & Expo Center in Las Vegas, continuing the Academy's tradition of comprehensive scientific programming, hands-on learning, and meaningful engagement for orthopaedic surgeons at every stage of their careers, from emerging research to insights that inform daily practice.
Founded in 1933 at Northwestern University in Chicago, and incorporated in Illinois in 1948, AAOS grew out of a committee formed by the American Orthopaedic Association to create a more broadly based professional organization for the growing number of orthopaedic surgeons in the United States.
Today, AAOS is the world's largest medical association of musculoskeletal specialists, serving more than 39,000 members internationally.
Members are orthopaedists concerned with the diagnosis, care, and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders, covering the body's bones, joints, ligaments, muscles, and tendons; Fellows must complete four years of medical school and at least five years of an approved orthopaedic residency, pass oral and written examinations, hold certification from the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, and pass a stringent membership review before admittance.
The Academy's mission is to serve the orthopaedic profession to provide the highest quality musculoskeletal care, with a vision of keeping the world in motion through the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal conditions.