Published 12/17/2025
In the latest episode of the AAOS Career Podcast, Rex Lutz, DO, chair of the Resident Assembly Executive Committee, along with special guests Membership Council Chair Valerae Lewis, MD, FAAOS, and hand and upper-extremity fellow Max McQuade, DO, talked about the immersive AAOS Launchpad — including the opportunity for near-peer mentorship, a curated Annual Meeting experience, and exclusive resources available via the Launchpad Dashboard.
Launchpad is a newly implemented 20-month program designed to help postgraduate year five (PGY5) members complete the journey from their last year of residency to their first job. The program addresses many of the common questions and pain points PGY5s have. Launchpad also helps participants prepare for Boards Part 1 and 2, with general and specialty-specific advice from surgeons at various career stages and comprehensive online resources.
Launchpad at the Annual Meeting
Dr. McQuade shared his experience attending the AAOS Annual Meeting for the first time as part of the first Launchpad cohort. He explained that the program helped make the meeting less daunting by recommending educational sessions and lectures geared toward his specialty and career stage. “I found, I would say, 99% of [the sessions I attended] really, really valuable. [And hearing] from folks that have gone through this and been in career for 20-plus years, [where they share] what I did, what I would’ve done, what I should’ve done — those are also really valuable.”
Dr. Lewis echoed that sentiment, explaining that this is precisely why Launchpad begins at the Annual Meeting: to help participants (called crew members) make the most of the experience and navigate what can be an otherwise daunting event. “There are so many different talks, but the Launchpad really helps its [cohort] members … concentrate on what’s specifically relevant to them.”
Dr. McQuade emphasized that being placed in a Launchpad sub-crew for his specialty with his peers was invaluable. He also appreciated the crew chiefs’ honesty and willingness to share their personal experiences — good and bad.
Dr. Lewis added that she had the pleasure of introducing crew members to members of the AAOS Board of Directors, whom she brought to the opening Launchpad event. She shared that Launchpad provided a great opportunity for crew members to meet new mentors, explaining that “you should never have [just] one mentor … someone truly savvy kind of collects mentors.”
Dr. McQuade had high praise for his sub-crew chief, hand surgeon Maureen O’Shaughnessy, MD, FAAOS, and another hand surgeon whose webinar he found particularly impactful, Eric Jora Sarkissian, MD, FAAOS. Dr. McQuade said he plans to reach out to both doctors for advice in the coming year.
Beyond the Annual Meeting
The conversation continued by exploring how the Launchpad program helps crew members beyond the Annual Meeting. Dr. Lewis explained that the crew members and crew chiefs stay connected throughout the 20-month process, with opportunities to attend virtual seminars and webinars. Crew members receive guidance for key milestones — most notably, Boards Parts 1 and 2. Dr. Lutz emphasized how valuable this guidance can be, especially for Part 2 because participants no longer have the support from their resident class that helped them get through Part 1. Launchpad helps fill this important gap.
Dr. McQuade shared how he used the Launchpad platform to gain easy access to Board prep materials. Because the resources are both comprehensive and easy to digest, he is able to listen to Board review videos during his commute or while running errands or doing household chores. Dr. McQuade added how valuable it is to have mentors in the program to answer questions as he moves through his fellowship and starts to ramp up his job search.
Dr. Lewis emphasized that easy access to all the resources relevant to these years in residents’ and young attendings’ lives is one of the main benefits of the Launchpad program.
Looking ahead to cohort 2
Changes are coming to the second Launchpad cohort based on feedback from the first cohort. Dr. Lewis mentioned expanding the crew size — which will enable larger sub-crews for most, if not all, subspecialties — and adding a wealth of new content to the online platform. She encouraged all cohort 1 participants to submit their feedback so AAOS can continue to refine the Launchpad experience.
Dr. McQuade highlighted the value of mentorship PGY5s can gain through Launchpad, especially from near-peer crew chiefs. Having recently transitioned from residency to fellowship, crew chiefs provide detailed guidance and insights that are truly invaluable. “That particular component to me was the most enticing,” he shared. “And that’s why I wanted to be part of this program.”
The podcast episode concluded with Dr. Lewis encouraging AAOS members to apply for cohort 2. She noted the qualities AAOS is looking for in crew members and crew chiefs: enthusiasm for learning and dedication. Applications close Dec. 31.