Jack M. Ayres, MD
Published 2/25/2026
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Jack M. Ayres, MD
The 2026 AAOS Annual Meeting will be here before we know it, bringing members of the orthopaedic profession from across the country to New Orleans for a week dedicated to advancing our specialty. For resident attendees, the Annual Meeting provides particularly meaningful opportunities to maximize the experience by engaging in programming focused on advocacy and professional development, including the Resident Assembly’s Advocacy Forum (Thursday, March 5, 9-10 a.m.). From my own personal experience, participating in these activities supports personal growth and prepares residents to serve as effective advocates for their patients, colleagues, and the profession.
For many residents, professional meetings are a familiar venue for presenting research, attending instructional courses and lectures, and networking with colleagues. Subspecialty meetings allow for focused scientific discussion within specific clinical domains; regional and state society meetings emphasize local practice environments, regulatory considerations, and state-level advocacy priorities. While all these meetings are essential, their scope is necessarily limited.
The AAOS Annual Meeting occupies a unique role as the national convening of the profession, bringing together orthopaedic surgeons and trainees from every subspecialty and practice setting, along with Academy leadership, trainees, and industry partners. This breadth creates an environment and a focus that can build a strong foundation in advocacy for any resident.
The issues facing our profession, and ultimately, our patients, are ever present and increasingly affected by federal, state, and regulatory policy. Significant work remains with respect to prior authorization delays, payment reform to ensure long-term sustainability of our profession, and maintaining funding support for musculoskeletal research — to name a few. The Academy, alongside the Political Action Committee of the American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (OrthoPAC), has been an active part of discussions on these issues and others affecting our specialty. (Be sure to check out the Advocacy Action Center for more information and to prime yourself for the discussions to come in New Orleans!)
My own experience attending the AAOS Annual Meeting for the first time in 2025 underscored the value of engaging in this way. I was struck by the depth of discussion occurring across advocacy-focused forums and resident programming, as well as the many informal conversations that took place throughout the week. These discussions extended beyond specific policy topics to broader issues facing our profession. I found myself eager to attend as many sessions as possible and to engage in conversation with a wide range of attendees — residents, faculty, medical students, and industry partners alike — to better understand their perspectives. This immersion not only deepened my understanding of advocacy and professional leadership, but also proved to be highly motivating, ultimately leading to meaningful professional connections and reinforcing my interest in continued engagement within organized orthopaedics.
Annual Meeting features robust lineup of resident programming
The AAOS Resident Assembly Health Policy Committee is excited to host the Resident Advocacy Forum taking place during the Annual Meeting (Thursday, March 5, 9-10 a.m.). This event will include a high-level policy overview followed by a panel discussion with a select group of orthopedic leaders involved in advocacy; this will be a diverse group, spanning all practice settings and subspecialties. The forum will conclude with breakout, round-table style discussions with the panelists. It is our hope that resident attendees not only become more knowledgeable and encouraged by attending this forum but also connect with residents and attendings involved in this work across the country.
The Advocacy Forum is one of several programs planned by committees of the Resident Assembly. As residents, we all belong to the Resident Assembly, and each program appoints an official delegate to the assembly. Resident attendees are encouraged to attend the Resident Assembly Business Meeting (Wednesday, March 4, 12:30-1:30 p.m.), where updates on ongoing initiatives and opportunities for involvement will be shared, as well as the Resident Assembly Education Forum (Thursday, March 5, 10:30-11:30 a.m.), which highlights topics related to resident education, professional development, and engagement within the Academy. Together, these sessions provide residents with valuable insight into how the Resident Assembly functions and how trainees can play an active role in shaping the resident experience within AAOS.
Residents will find many options for mentorship and professional development
Finally, the AAOS Annual Meeting offers numerous opportunities for residents to cultivate mentorship. Residents should attend the structured sessions with the Resident Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program (Tuesday, March 3, 10:30-11:30 a.m.) and Speed Mentoring for Residents (Wednesday, March 4, 8-9 a.m.). Beyond those official sessions, though, the AAOS Annual Meeting offers countless informal opportunities for professional connection.
Conversations that take place between sessions, in hallways, and even at events often prove as valuable as scheduled programming. Engaging with residents, faculty, and leaders from across the country allows trainees to gain insight into diverse career paths, practice environments, and perspectives on the future of orthopaedic surgery. Taken together, these interactions help foster a sense of community within the profession and reinforce the value of early engagement in professional development and leadership.
The AAOS Annual Meeting offers orthopaedic surgery residents far more than a forum for education and research dissemination. It provides opportunities to engage with colleagues from across the country on the very issues that shape the future of our careers. By engaging with opportunities such as the Resident Assembly Advocacy Forum and other resident-focused programming, residents can further develop as advocates for their patients, colleagues, and the profession.
I look forward to seeing all of you in New Orleans.
Jack Ayres, MD, is a third-year orthopaedic surgery resident at Prisma Health/University of South Carolina School of Medicine–Columbia in South Carolina and serves on the AAOS Resident Assembly Health Policy Committee.