See You Soon — in San Francisco

Will you be there? You can still register for the world’s premiere orthopaedic event. Make your plans now to join your colleagues at the AAOS 2024 Annual Meeting in San Francisco Feb. 12 to 16, and engage in an unrivaled educational and professional experience.

The AAOS Annual Meeting is an opportunity for you to advance your skills and knowledge and network with your colleagues—but only if you are there. As AAOS President Kevin J. Bozic, MD, MBA, FAAOS, puts it, “You have to be there—live and in person—to experience it for yourself.”

Adds Rafael J. Sierra, MD, FAAOS, 2024 Annual Meeting Central Program Committee Chair: “The interaction that you get by being in person is something you’ll never get while you’re online.”

Register now and choose from a feast of educational options, whatever your learning style. More than 180 Instructional Course Lectures offer interactive sessions led by top instructors who share their expertise with you. Thirty symposia tackle top-of-mind topics and the newest techniques and trends. More than 500 paper presentations, presented in a concise, dynamic “VIPER” format (Video, Paper, Education, Research) feature a moderated video component and give you a leg up on the latest research.

In all, attendees can accrue up to 23 hours of CME credits while they enrich their knowledge and hone their skills. Of special interest to orthopaedic surgeons across the practice spectrum is the offering of education options that meet the one-time Drug Enforcement Administration requirement for training on opioid prescribing and the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders. This year’s meeting offers up to 7.5 hours of CME toward the 8-hour mandate.

Charles Hannon, MD, MBA, FAAOS, moderator of the symposium “Pain Management in Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty,” commented that after his session—as with the other opioid-centered programming—“You’ll be able to bring back to your team and your OR the most contemporary techniques to reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption for your patients and, most importantly, improve their outcomes.” He added: “The AAOS Annual Meeting is one of the few places where you can learn about the most cutting-edge research, the most contemporary, up-to-date, evidence-based medicine practices, and network with your colleagues across the world.” Scan the full education schedule, available via the Annual Meeting Mobile App, for details.

The latest and greatest, and fun and games
When it comes to innovative programming, the Annual Meeting never rests on its laurels. OrthoDome^® is back, and this year it is bigger and better—offering an immersive and comfortable video theater room showcasing orthopaedic surgical techniques and devices in 4K resolution, narrated live by experts. As one attendee put it: “It might as well be an IMAX screen. You’re in there, and you feel like you’re in the OR with these surgeons.”

AAOS expresses its thanks to sponsors for their generous support of OrthoDome in 2024. Contributions from Arthrex, Smith + Nephew, Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, and other valued industry leaders are vital to this event’s success and to further advancement of musculoskeletal education.

Once again, Your Academy, the marquee event where members hear from AAOS leadership and honor the achievements of their fellows, presents a Presidential Speaker sure to draw interest—Sanjay Gupta, MD, neurosurgeon and Emmy award–winning chief medical correspondent for CNN.

For an opportunity to engage with the Academy’s elected leaders on an important topic, consider attending the AAOS Diversity Town Hall (Symposium HH), which will be moderated by Dr. Bozic.

Fun and competition come together in a test of knowledge at the Resident Bowl, the always-popular event where residents are invited to compete on teams in a game-style setting, answering orthopaedic and non-orthopaedic trivia for grand and runner-up prizes. All Annual Meeting attendees are welcome to be in the audience.

This year’s Annual Meeting ushers in a new style of contest with the first OrthoPitch, a technology competition for early- and mid-stage companies with novel, innovative, and potentially disruptive product concepts or solutions for improving existing standards for orthopaedic care. Watch live as representatives from four selected finalists make their best pitches to a panel of industry experts and AAOS members, as well as the audience. OrthoPitch is presented by AAOS and foundational sponsor MCRA.

There is innovation and new technology galore in the Exhibit Hall, your go-to destination to discover innovative devices and solutions that will enhance your practice and transform patient care. There, on a dazzling scale, you can take advantage of unique opportunities to:

• explore innovative offerings from more than 500 companies under one sprawling roof
• engage with industry experts representing major orthopaedic and device manufacturers
• conduct critical product comparisons to plan purchases for your hospital or practice

The Exhibit Hall will host the return of an event that has been immensely popular since its debut 2 years ago: Happy Hour in the Hall, a chance to enjoy complimentary libations and connect with friends along with exhibitors and industry innovators.

Key dates to know, and Specialty Society Programming
When making your plans to attend, note that the AAOS 2024 Annual Meeting will be Monday through Friday (Feb. 12 to 16), rather than the traditional Tuesday through Saturday. AAOS programming runs Monday through Thursday, and, as in the past, the meeting culminates with Specialty Society Programs on Friday. Join your subspecialty peers in participating societies to take part in a day of learning in your focus area.

As you make your plan to attend and map out your schedule, your invaluable electronic companion is the Annual Meeting Mobile App. If you have not downloaded it yet, search “AAOS Annual Meeting” in the App Store or Google Play. The app is your go-to resource for:

• building your personal education and exhibits agenda
• connecting with fellow faculty and attendees across all specialties
• accessing handouts and submitting your session evaluations all in one place

When you register, extend the value of your participation by selecting the Gold Registration package. It offers the best rates on AAOS 2024 Annual Meeting OnDemand—anytime, anywhere access to the education that will be presented in San Francisco, with recordings available within 48 to 72 hours of presentation.

Take a moment to register today and ensure your place at the orthopaedic event of the year. If you have not yet secured your lodging, be sure to check in with the Academy’s housing partner, onPeak, for optimal rates at the remaining selection of San Francisco hotels. Everything you need can be found at aaos.org/annual. See you in San Francisco!

Terry Stanton is the senior medical writer at AAOS Now.

Prepare to enjoy spectacular San Francisco
San Francisco is regarded around the world as one of America’s most uniquely charming and enchanting cities. AAOS is excited to welcome the orthopaedic community to the City by the Bay for the 2024 Annual Meeting. As you attend, be sure to enjoy the sights and cuisine that make San Francisco so unique.

The safety and well-being of the orthopaedic community are the Academy’s top priorities. That is why part of the Academy’s Annual Meeting preparedness planning includes a robust approach to health and safety protocols.

As at every Annual Meeting, AAOS works closely with its longtime security consultant—as well as its partners at San Francisco Travel and the City of San Francisco, including Moscone Center, hotels, and the San Francisco Police Department—to ensure a safe and positive meeting experience for all attendees. Aspects of this plan include:

• the presence of additional San Francisco staff, security, and volunteer ambassadors (see below) to help direct attendees and answer questions or concerns
• street-cleaning measures in the areas surrounding the convention center and nearby hotels
• shuttle service between the convention center and 48 AAOS-associated hotels (the 10 hotels without shuttle service are within a four-block radius of the convention center.)

The San Francisco Welcome Ambassadors Program is a 2-year investment funded by the City and County of San Francisco and endorsed by San Francisco Mayor London Breed to help welcome visitors and workers to downtown and to several key tourism destinations. Look for the Welcome Ambassadors in orange jackets to answer any questions or point you in the right direction. For more travel information and tips, visit aaos.org/annual.