This Resident Roundup post comes from Mikalyn T. DeFoor, MD, an active duty PGY-3 resident with the Brooke Army Medical Center Orthopaedic Residency Program in San Antonio, Texas. Dr. DeFoor is also currently on the Executive Board of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) Resident Assembly and the Chair of the Resident Assembly Career Development Committee. This is the third in a 3-part Resident Roundup series on leadership and organizational involvement opportunities for trainees.
There are an endless number of reasons to get involved with a volunteer leadership position at the program level, subspecialty society level, and/or the Academy level: advocacy, networking and mentorship, career development, research and funding advancement, future job positions, and the list goes on! Whether you’re a brand-new PGY-1 or a PGY-5 soon off to fellowship, getting involved in the ortho community through volunteer leadership positions may be one of those tasks in the back of your mind, but getting started might seem overwhelming and daunting on top of the daily responsibilities of surviving residency.
While we are all resident members of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) through our program’s respective ACGME accreditation, the AAOS can still feel like an overwhelming society. If you’re interested in volunteering for a leadership position in the AAOS, where do you start?
AAOS Resident Assembly
The AAOS Resident Assembly (RA) is the place to start! The RA is an advisory body to the AAOS on all issues of importance to orthopaedic residents, allowing residents to begin embracing our roles as advocates for patients and as life-long learners. The RA comprises orthopaedic residents and fellows pursuing ABOS, AOBOS, and Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada certification in the U.S. and Canada. Check out this AAOS Now article to see the most recent updates and happenings of the RA.
Every residency program is encouraged to appoint a voting resident delegate member to the RA to represent their program on important issues, facilitate communication, and acquire relevant program-level information. Attendance at the annual meeting is a requirement for resident delegate members—which merely provides documentation for your GME program to support your travel and stay at the annual AAOS meeting for free! To see if your program has an opening for a delegate member position and to apply for an open position, go here: Become a Delegate.
The RA has six subject committees—career development; education; diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI); health policy; innovation; and research. This is a great way to get involved early with the AAOS. Members are encouraged to attend quarterly Zoom meetings and to assist with content creation and the development of webinars, expert panels, and podcasts as well as the development of future committee plans. More information on the individual committees and how to get involved can be found here: Resident Assembly Committees.
Committee Positions for Resident Members
In addition to the RA, there are several AAOS Council and Committee volunteer leadership positions that are specifically seeking resident-level members. This is a great way to get your foot in the door and continue to build your resume and professional development network. Check out the CAP webpage (login required) to peruse the current openings with further instructions on how to apply.
RA Advisory Opinion
The RA offers a unique avenue for residents to submit an Advisory Opinion for initiatives relevant to current resident issues. Requests may include any topic that encourages the AAOS to take action or addresses issues involving the RA only—including socioeconomic, membership, or certification-related issues. Any resident or delegate may submit an action item for consideration.
2023 AAOS Annual Meeting Resources
There are several opportunities/resources exclusively for residents worth exploring at the AAOS Annual Meeting in Las Vegas (March 7-11, 2023).
Orthopaedic Influencer Series
Tuesday, March 7, 11:00-12:00 PM
Wednesday, March 8, 11:00 AM-12:00 PM
Essential Coding and Reimbursement for Starting Practice
Wednesday, March 8, 8:00-9:30 AM
Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program
Wednesday, March 8, 10:00-11:00 AM
Sign up to be matched with a mentor or mentee based on interests and desired subspecialty.
Practice Management for Residents and Fellows-in-Training
Wednesday, March 8, 12:30-4:30 PM
Speed Mentoring for Residents
Thursday, March 9, 8:00-9:30 AM
Forum for Young Orthopaedic Surgeons with the ABOS
Thursday, March 9, 11:00 AM-12:30 PM
Resident Assembly Business Meeting
Thursday, March 9, 1:30-3:00 PM
Resident Bowl
Thursday, March 9, 3:30-5:00 PM
Sign up to either create a team with your fellow residents or be assigned to a team.
Annual Resident & Leadership Reception
Thursday, March 9, 7:00-10:00 PM
RSVP to the 7th annual reception for drink tickets.
Resident Assembly Education Forum
Friday, March 10, 10:00-11:30 AM
RSVP and sign-up for a role to discuss current hot topics in orthopaedic residency education.
On-site Career Center Resources
There are several Career Center resources for residents, including:
- In-person meetings regarding open job positions with >150 participating employers
- On-site interviews
- New professional headshot photobooth
- Free one-on-one CV review consultation
Hope to see you in Las Vegas at the AAOS 2023 Annual Meeting!
Whether looking for an opportunity to build your CV and network of mentors, further develop your leadership skills, prepare for the next chapter in your professional development, or attend your first annual meeting—the AAOS has many opportunities for resident involvement. It’s time to explore!
Mikalyn DeFoor, MD
Attending the Annual Conference? Stop by JBJS Booth 5434. See you in Las Vegas!
Previously from this series:
Hey, Fellow Residents, Don’t Leave These Opportunities on the Table!
Interested in submitting a post to OrthoBuzz? Please see our Resident Roundup blog post guidelines.
More Resident Roundup posts:
The Importance of Mentoring During Residency
Am I a Bad Resident? Facing Self-Doubt in Orthopaedic Training