Get involved
A wide range of opportunities
There are many ways to contribute to AO North America beyond teaching at live events and we encourage orthopedic surgeons of all professional and experience levels to get involved. http:AO Membership is required to participate.
Volunteer activities are split into four main categories:
- Community Development
- Research
- Education
- Fellowship
Read about the activities currently offered below and fill out the interest form to let us know what you'd like to get involved with.
Currently, these activities are only available to those in the Trauma division. Expansion to other divisions is currently underway.
Volunteer activities
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Community Development
Spreading the word about ex-fix collection
We need help getting the message to all AO surgeons and their partners who remove external fixators to save them and send them to us to be inspected and packaged and donated to overseas surgeons in areas of need
- Tasks: Social media messaging; creating fliers; getting word out through newsletters and other networks
AO Alliance in AfricaPartnership with volunteer faculty at AO Basic and pre-Basic courses held in English in Africa
- Tasks: Evaluating need and creating partnerships for AO NA faculty; opportunities to teach
DEI – Need full name- Motivated individuals are needed to help create monthly “Conversations” around topics relevant to AO surgeons
- Active discussion and opportunity to help plan events and shape recommendations around inclusion and representation at courses and leadership will flow from participation
- Tabulation of course participants and faculty through research is desired to help shape recommendations and assess inclusion
Ortho presentations to middle/high schoolsVolunteers who want to be active in their communities are asked to join this newly funded pilot to present in middle and high schools about orthopedic surgery and the role of the AO in their careers
- Special emphasis on encouraging people of color and women into STEM however ALL are welcome and establishing pilot sites
- Creating content and discussing feedback are needed
Recruiting medical students to AORecruiting medical students to the AO and describing what a career in trauma entails
- This includes outreach, social media planning and presentation of the benefits of early membership in the AO
Case-based discussion eventsRegional case-based discussions have been a popular way to generate camaraderie and help is needed in identifying communities and organization, identification of invitees and topics.
- Join us in creating and participating in these fun events!
Social media for membership- Social media savvy surgeons needed to help shape effective communication for outreach and community development event
Cross-discipline interactions—newsletter, virtual activities (CMF, Spine, VET)- Greater camaraderie and synergy between disciplines amongst AO NA driven by planned interactions and common goals (DEI, humanitarian and social) is the goal of getting new faculty in all disciplines together
Mentor/mentee activities- Understanding and involvement in the global mentor/mentee programs launched this year amongst NA surgeons and opportunities to promote and participate in programs are available
Newsletter content- Writers and creative individuals are needed to help get out the message, create content and ideas for the twice annual and monthly newsletter
Journal Club support and promotion
Other- Coaching survey and online activities (task force liaison?)
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Research
Grant progress review
- Reviewing progress in prior grants and documenting progress towards completion of goals described in application
- Timeline: The grant reviews would probably be 3-4 hours total 2-3 times/year
JOT supplement assistance
- Assisting publications subcommittee with JOT supplement processes biannually
- Timeline: The journal assistance would be 10-20 hours total every other year
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EducationActivities for education and fellowship are currently in development. We invite you to explore other opportunities listed above in Community Development and Research.
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FellowshipActivities for education and fellowship are currently in development. We invite you to explore other opportunities listed above in Community Development and Research.
Keep in mind, participation in volunteering activities is only one of a set of criteria that qualifies you for teaching assignments. The full criteria for eligibility as an AO Trauma North America faculty member are listed below.
- Attendance at an AO Principles of Operative Fracture Management Course, Part I: Basic Principles and Techniques of Operative Fracture Management
- Attendance at an AO Principles of Operative Fracture Management Course, Part II: Advanced Principles and Techniques of Operative Fracture Management
- Completion of an AO Fellowship of six weeks to three-month duration OR completion of a Trauma Fellowship of six-to-twelve month duration where there is a Fellowship Director
- Two letters of recommendation, one from your Fellowship Director and one from a Senior AO Trauma Musculoskeletal Faculty member
- A current Curriculum Vitae
- An AO Trauma membership
Participate in AO Access
Experience the AO's diversity, inclusion, and membership initiative