The AAOS 2018 Annual Meeting took place March 6–10 in New Orleans and featured an abundance of premium educational, professional development and networking offerings designed to meet member needs.
The meeting offered 25 symposia on exciting and timely topics; 900 papers and more than 1,000 posters displaying the latest scientific and clinical studies; 243 instructional courses presented by world-renowned faculty across 13 classifications; more than 88 scientific exhibits on extended studies or complex procedures; and, to conclude the meeting on Saturday, the latest news and developments from more than 14 orthopaedic specialty societies.
The wide array of options at the meeting let attendees choose offerings in the formats that worked best for their educational goals. The “Flash Five” format, for example, entailed a surge of knowledge in five-minute bites by 10 leading orthopaedic experts within one hour. For “The Way I See It…,” they laid out the reasons behind what the experts do in their fields of expertise. “Showdowns” were intense and entertaining debates between leading experts about current hot topics, with the audience picking the winner.
One presentation not to be missed was “The Way I See It… Leveraging Digital Technology: Managing Patients from Afar,” which provided insight into the how’s and why’s and the ramifications of the ever-increasing use of technology in orthopaedic surgery.
Another hot event was the President’s Symposium: “The Use and Misuse of Biologics in Orthopaedic Surgery: Platelet-rich Plasma and Stem Cells.” I moderated a panel discussion with experts from across the country including James B. Bradley, MD; Constance R. Chu, MD; Jason L. Dragoo, MD; William M. Mihalko, MD, PhD; Scott A. Rodeo, MD; Kevin G. Shea, MD; and Theodore R. Stevens, MS, from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
The AAOS Annual Meeting also offered many opportunities for self-directed learning. Choices included the scientific exhibits and posters in both traditional and electronic formats; the peer-reviewed video and multimedia programs at the Orthopaedic Video Theater; and the latest technology and applications on display in the Technology Theater.
The true-to-its-name, the “Game Changers Paper” session included one hour of presentations on research that may affect the practice of orthopaedics, followed by “The Way I See It…Orthopaedists Changing the Game,” with presentations by Kevin J. Bozic, MD, MBA, on the “Future of Educating Orthopaedists in New Healthcare Delivery Model System,” Dr. Rodeo on “Biologics,” and Paul Tornetta III, MD, on “Most Treatment Choices Should Be Made by the Patient.”
The exhibit hall was not to be missed. Remarkable technological advances were on display from more than 650 exhibiting companies that help shape the future of our practice.
Enthusiastic and energetic volunteers took time out from the meeting to empower kids, teens and their parents from the Jefferson Parish community with an educational fitness and exercise program called Communities in Motion. The event, which offers our members the opportunity to “give back” to our Annual Meeting host city, featured more than 225 members of the community joining surgeons across seven interactive challenge stations to help build strong bones for life. Other highlights of Communities in Motion included appearances from the New Orleans Saints running back Trey Edmunds, mascot Gumbo, and the Saintsation cheerleaders.
At the “Your Academy 2018” session, AAOS leadership offered attendees a deep dive into the Academy priorities, honored Italy as the Guest Nation and recognized the outstanding achievements of several members with the Diversity, Tipton and Humanitarian awards, as well as the Kappa Delta and OREF Clinical Research awards. Wrapping up the meeting was presidential guest speaker David Gergen, Senior Political Analyst, CNN.
The third annual Resident Bowl took place on Thursday and was an opportunity for residents to compete in a trivia game-style event.
All meeting attendees had access to the My Academy mobile app, which provided access to all the meeting resources. Annual Meeting information is also available at www.aaos.org/amprograms.
Interested in joining us next year? Save the date for March 12–16, 2019 in Las Vegas!
William J. Maloney III previously served as an AAOS president. He is currently the Medical Director at Stanford Health Outpatient Center.
