Founded in 1887, the AOA is the oldest, most distinguished orthopaedic association in the world. It is the only national, multi-specialty orthopaedic association in North America solely focused on orthopaedic leadership issues. MEMBERS The AOA's 1,500+ members have made a significant and outstanding contributions to education, research, and the practice of orthopaedic surgery. Members are considered a Fellow of The American Orthopaedic Association (FAOA) and use the designation in their credentials. MISSION To identify, develop, engage and recognize leadership to further the art and science of orthopaedics PROGRAMS - Leadership Education - Five Traveling Fellowships - Council of Orthopaedic Residency Directors (CORD) - Annual C. McCollister Evarts Resident Leadership Forum for PGY4 orthopaedic residents - Emerging Leaders Program/Forum for orthopaedists between PGY5 and 13th year of Clinical Practice - Own the Bone quality improvement program HISTORY The AOA's founders were instrumental in developing orthopaedics as a discipline in the United States, and the organization has parented several of the orthopaedic community's most prominent institutions, including: - The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery (1889) - The Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) in 1933 - The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons (ABOS) in 1934 - The Orthopaedic Research & Education Foundation (OREF) in 1954 - OMeGA Medical Grants Association in 2008