Wayne Johnson, MD, FAAOS, FACS (center), chair of the Political Action Committee of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoPAC) Executive Committee, talks to an attendee at the OrthoPAC booth during the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego.
Published 4/17/2025
The Political Action Committee of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoPAC) had a strong presence at the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego. The OrthoPAC and AAOS Office of Government Relations team came to San Diego ready and eager to execute a strong showing of events and programming.
As is tradition, the OrthoPAC booth was open to all members to stop by and engage with the team and discuss critical issues in the orthopaedic community. This year’s meeting also included several new giveaways for various OrthoPAC donor levels, including OrthoPAC-branded Apple AirTags and stylish new vests. Inside the booth was the special Donor Lounge, which was open to OrthoPAC contributors at the Capitol Club level and above. Members could drop by the lounge for a quick snack and a break when needed.
Wayne Johnson, MD, FAAOS, FACS (center), chair of the Political Action Committee of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoPAC) Executive Committee, talks to an attendee at the OrthoPAC booth during the AAOS 2025 Annual Meeting in San Diego.
OrthoPAC hosted several events throughout the Annual Meeting, including the standing Donor Appreciation Luncheon. This year’s luncheon featured returning guest speaker Will Flanary, MD—more commonly known as Dr. Glaucomflecken. Dr. Glaucomflecken is a comedian and ophthalmologist who uses social media to blend humor and healthcare advocacy. During the luncheon, he shared his compelling story of struggle and perseverance, utilizing humor as a positive path forward in his battle with cancer and work as a practicing physician. He emphasized the critical role of advocacy in advancing patient care and the importance of adding one’s voices to the national conversations that impact the orthopaedic profession. Given the current divisiveness in the national political landscape, his presentation offered a positive vision of how to articulate the issues that impact healthcare and find common ground through optimism. After the luncheon, Dr. Glaucomflecken graciously made himself available for pictures with attendees, stopped by the OrthoPAC booth, and even managed to squeeze in a couple rounds of pickleball.
Another highlight of the meeting was the OrthoPAC Resident and Capitol Club Reception at the Bay City Brewing Company. The event was open to all residents who contributed in 2025 as well as donors at the Capitol Club level and higher. The reception was a chance for donors to celebrate a successful 2024 campaign cycle, which saw a 97 percent success rate in campaigns for office of OrthoPAC-endorsed candidates. It was also an opportunity for OrthoPAC donors to let their hair down and enjoy a few beverages and snacks while networking with colleagues and talking about the road ahead.
As OrthoPAC prepares for the next 25 years, the team is already reviewing feedback from this Annual Meeting to begin preparing for the next meeting and the next election cycle. The team would like to thank everyone who took the time to stop by the booth, attend events, and share their thoughts about how the OrthoPAC can continue to position itself for success.
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.