Join your colleagues in San Diego for the premier orthopaedic event
San Diego offers more than just sunny weather, Sea World, stunning views, and great food. AAOS will bring to this beautiful city leaders in orthopaedics with unparalleled knowledge during the 2017 AAOS Annual Meeting, to be held March 14 - 18. A wealth of opportunities awaits you, with many options that make it easier than ever before to focus your time and energy to best meet your professional and educational needs.

This year's meeting, which offers the opportunity to earn as many as 35.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM , provides an abundance of premium educational offerings, including the following:

• 914 paper presentations
• 576 posters
• 88 redesigned scientific exhibits
• 28 symposia
• Orthopaedic Video Theater, with more than 100 high-quality videos
• Specialty Day, featuring more than a dozen gatherings
• Technology Theater, with outstanding Electronic Skills Presentations

"The Academy's Annual Meeting promises impressive education through several methods of delivery," said chair of the Central Program Committee. "This comprehensive program provides something for all who work in the field of orthopaedic surgery.

"We are excited to debut the redesigned scientific exhibits that will showcase extended studies or complex procedures," he added. "This design promises to provide a visual and interactive experience."

At the Annual Meeting, Dr. Vaccaro continued, "We have a wide array of options to meet preferred learning styles. That means our tried and true lecture-based and didactic programs, such as symposia, Instructional Course Lectures [(ICLs); see article on page 36 for details], and paper presentations. Our meeting provides several opportunities for you to interact not only with your colleagues but with seasoned faculty as well—for example, we offer the Case Presentation courses, expert-guided poster tours, and our 'Ask an Expert' sessions in the Technical Exhibit Hall, where you can bring your own case challenges on a flash drive and present them for diagnosis and recommendation."

Showdowns, Neglected Trauma, and Poster Tours
For the second year, "Showdowns" will be offered—one focusing on Adult Reconstruction Knee and the other on Sports Medicine—with leaders in both specialties debating techniques and the audience picking the winner. "Flash Five: What's Coming Down the Pike" is a burst of knowledge given in 5 minutes by each presenter. In 1 hour, hear from 10 leading experts providing insight on critical points and what lies ahead. "The Way I See It" lays out the "whys" of what the experts do in their fields of expertise. "Benefit from the inside story—what each presenter wants you to know about a top-of-the-mind issue. Experts share their experience and views, just the way they see it," Dr. Vaccaro said.

Dr. Vaccaro also noted that the Academy has collaborated with India, the 2017 Guest Nation, on a symposium on Neglected Trauma on Wednesday, March 15, 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. The symposium will address the management of various neglected orthopaedic injuries.

You will also be able to take one of 21 Poster Tours, which provide a personal (electronic) tour of posters hand-picked by the experts for presentation at the Poster Stage in Academy Hall. Two tours will be given in Spanish. Come to the Poster Breakfast Ceremony on Friday, March 17, at 7:00 a.m., to meet and greet the poster winners.

Programming for residents
The second annual Resident Bowl will take place on Thursday, March 16, 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m., and is an opportunity for residents to compete against one another in a trivia game-style event. Residents will compete in teams for prizes. Registration for the Annual Meeting is required for this event; apply to participate by Feb. 1, 2017, at www.aaos.org/residentbowl. All residents are encouraged to attend and cheer for their colleagues.

Residents also can tweet faculty in the symposium "What Residents Need to Know and Core Competencies, Too" on Friday, March 17, 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m.; tweet with #AAOSPearls. Residents who can't attend the meeting in person can view the event as a webcast. Residency program directors and coordinators can sign up at 2017 Resident Symposium Webcast Registration (https://form.jotform.com/52643415344957); registration is required for viewing.

Game Changers, My Academy app, and more
The true-to-its-name Game Changers Paper session is on Friday, March 17, 1:30 p.m.–3:30 p.m., and will again include 1 hour of presentations on research that could affect how orthopaedics is practiced, followed by an hour of presentations in the format of  "The Way I See It: Orthopaedists Changing the Game," with clinicians explaining the cutting-edge procedures they are performing.

Make sure you download the My Academy mobile app, which provides access to many resources, including essential evaluation forms. You are encouraged to complete and submit these reviews; having your feedback is crucial in ensuring the AAOS continues to provide the very best educational offerings at the Annual Meeting. Evaluations are only available electronically.

Self-directed learning is available at your convenience. Choices include scientific exhibits and posters in both traditional and electronic formats, peer-reviewed video and multimedia programs at the Orthopaedic Video Theater, and the latest technology and applications on display in the Technology Theater. Finally, be sure to stop by the renowned Resource Center in Academy Hall to see what is new with a focus on you.

Terry Stanton is the senior science writer for AAOS Now. He can be reached at tstanton@aaos.org