Results from AAOS 2024 Membership Survey Show Areas of Approval, Improvement

The annual AAOS Member Value and Satisfaction Survey is a key opportunity for members’ voices to be heard, helping drive improvements and innovations within the Academy to meet the needs of the orthopaedic community. With almost 5,000 responding to the 2024 survey (a 13 percent response rate), members provided feedback on education, member relevance, and advocacy.

The survey results help AAOS leaders understand how well members are being served and where AAOS can add value to their experience. In the seven-question survey, 58.7 percent of members said they were satisfied with the Academy and the services it provides, which is on par with survey results from previous years.

“Our members are at the heart of everything AAOS does, and their feedback is crucial to ensure the resources and tools we develop advance their practice and patient care,” said Valerae O. Lewis, MD, FAAOS, chair of the AAOS Membership Council. “Based on the responses to the 2024 survey, we have implemented changes to enhance our offerings, including creating more hybrid and virtual learning models, expanding the Membership App features, and advocacy efforts to bring legislators’ attention to issues affecting musculoskeletal health. The input helps to form a more personalized experience for our members.”

Educational enhancements
Members expressed great satisfaction with the available educational resources, such as journal access, online learning, and CME. Positive comments most often addressed education and information. Based on member feedback, AAOS has made several improvements, including the following:

• Live course offerings continue to grow and improve, delivering more impactful learning experiences both online and in person. Orthopaedic Video Theater also launched a new channel in partnership with Geisinger to complement the existing library of hundreds of peer-reviewed videos providing CME credits.
• Several strategic initiatives were employed to reimagine the Annual Meeting experience, including the development of a new event website and enhancements to the meeting’s mobile app. Customized learning paths at AAOS 2025 allowed attendees to select from a variety of learning formats—such as lectures, panels, self-directed modules, and collaborative sessions—that best matched their needs.
• The Learning Innovation Lab remains the pinnacle of orthopaedic education, with hybrid learning and virtual models to maximize engagement and retention. Based on ideas submitted in 2024, several new products were introduced, including ICL360, Diagnosis Spotlight, Orthopaedic Care for Physician Assistants, and Recert Ready.

“Education is one of the most important aspects of AAOS,” Dr. Lewis said. “Members have expressed the need for greater accessibility and educational courses that directly benefit them. Utilizing this feedback, we’ve taken tremendous strides to make these improvements and to provide even greater educational opportunities for our members.”

Member relevance
Many respondents voiced a desire for greater personalization and tailoring of information to meet their needs, as well as information geared toward those in various settings, from academia to private practice. Over the past year, AAOS has made numerous enhancements to membership offerings and benefits, including the following:

• Expanded features and offerings were added to the AAOS Membership App for more impactful user and networking experiences, including the ability to tag members in relevant discussions and receive notifications when tagged.
• A redesigned MyAccount portal was launched in September 2024 that includes new, comprehensive features and an easier-to-use interface for directory listings, profile updates, educational activities, and CME tracking.
• Membership rates were reduced for orthopaedic surgeons and residents in low-income countries, continuing a successful program that was piloted in 2023.
• Collaborating with global orthopaedic societies, the International Committee worked with more than 30 AAOS faculty to host eight programs for 4,500 attendees.
• The AAOS Launchpad program was set into motion in February 2025. It provides a bridge from Resident to Candidate membership. This program aims to deliver a high-value, time-bound experience to postgraduate year 5 Resident members.

Advocacy
AAOS is aware that members want improved communications regarding the organization’s advocacy efforts; however, survey respondents expressed satisfaction (52.3 percent) with AAOS’ advocacy initiatives overall, including lobbying, representing member interests, and addressing healthcare policy issues. Members in small practices appreciate the Political Action Committee of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoPAC), which advocates on their behalf regarding national issues that affect the musculoskeletal community.

Respondents conveyed the need for enhanced advocacy efforts, especially when it comes to Medicare cuts, insurance reimbursement, and prior authorization. Based on that feedback, the AAOS Office of Government Relations has continued to meet with federal and state lawmakers to address critical health policy issues that impact members, patients, and the musculoskeletal community. Some of the advocacy efforts AAOS has implemented include the following:

• AAOS has built substantial momentum in Medicare payment reform through multiple legislative initiatives that have gained strong congressional support.
• Three AAOS champions on Capitol Hill introduced the Access to Claims Data Act (H.R. 9805) in September 2024. The bill would require the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to establish a program allowing the addition of clinician-led data registries to Medicare claims data. These registries collect crucial data on quality indicators and clinical outcomes.
• Detrimental Blue Cross Blue Shield policy changes related to Modifier 25—which would have reduced reimbursement by 50 percent for certain codes associated with same-day surgical procedures—were not implemented because of AAOS advocacy efforts.

The 2025 Member Value and Satisfaction Survey will open in September and will be available for all AAOS members to provide feedback and thoughts on AAOS’ activities and programs. For more information on the 2024 survey results, please visit aaos.org/weheardyou.

OrthoPAC is affiliated with and connected to the 501(c)(6) Association. OrthoPAC is not connected to or affiliated with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, which is a 501(c)(3) organization.

Molly Todd Rudy is a freelance writer for AAOS Now.