AAOE and AAOS Announce Major 2026 Educational Events as Orthopedic Leaders Navigate Margin Pressure, Workforce Strain, and Rapid Innovation
Orthopedic and musculoskeletal (MSK) practices will head into 2026 with two major industry gatherings aimed at strengthening business performance, elevating clinical expertise, and preparing organizations for a fast-evolving healthcare landscape. The American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE) and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) both unveiled expansive plans for next year’s events, reflecting mounting demand for practical strategies, trusted education, and technology-driven innovation.
AAOE 2026 Annual Conference: Business-Centered Strategies for MSK Practices
Dates: April 20–22, 2026
Location: Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville, KY
The American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives will convene more than 450 orthopedic and spine practice leaders and over 200 industry partners for its 2026 Annual Conference, a gathering designed to help practices protect margins, strengthen operations, and adapt to payer and staffing pressures.
A Program Built for Today’s Realities
AAOE President Andrea Allyn, MBA, ATC, emphasized that MSK practices are navigating a uniquely challenging environment—declining margins, tougher payer rules, rising denials, and workforce shortages.
“AAOE 2026 is built to help you win today—practical sessions, real benchmarks, and tools you can use immediately to protect revenue and strengthen your team,” said Allyn.
The program offers deep coverage across financial performance, revenue cycle optimization, AI-driven automation, HR and workforce development, operations, business development, and expansion into ancillary services including imaging, therapy, DME, and rheumatology.
New masterclasses will provide hands-on frameworks for improving throughput, reducing denials, expanding service lines, and maximizing reimbursement without adding headcount.
Leadership Keynotes Tailored to Industry Turbulence
- Opening Keynote: The Resilience Reset with Rachel Druckenmiller
- Closing Keynote: Be the One with Ted Ma
Both sessions will focus on leading teams through payer friction, burnout, uncertainty, and accelerated change.
Program Overview
- April 20: Masterclasses, speed networking, practice-size roundtables, opening keynote, exhibit hall reception
- April 21: Education tracks + discussions, exhibit hall
- April 22: Final sessions, prize program, closing keynote
Annual Conference Council Chair Joseph Mathews, PT, DPT, noted that practices will leave with “playbooks, scorecards, and an action plan to drive results without adding headcount.”
AAOS 2026 Annual Meeting: Expanding Global Access to Orthopedic Education
Dates: March 2–6, 2026
Location: Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA
Ahead of the AAOE meeting, orthopaedic surgeons and clinical teams will gather in New Orleans for the AAOS 2026 Annual Meeting—one of the world’s largest orthopaedic education events.
Instructional Course Lectures Included for All Attendees
New for 2026, AAOS will include Instructional Course Lectures (ICLs) in all base registrations, expanding access to the organization’s most trusted clinical education. The shift ensures that every surgeon, regardless of practice setting or budget, can benefit from these highly regarded sessions.
ICLs are designed to provide:
- Actionable clinical insights
- Skills updates across MSK subspecialties
- Evidence-based approaches to improving patient outcomes
- Practical tools to remain at the forefront of advancing orthopaedic medicine
A Meeting Designed for Clinical Depth, Technology, and Collaboration
Attendees will engage with global orthopaedic leaders, review complex cases, and participate in interactive sessions highlighting:
- Robotic-assisted surgery advancements
- Evolving techniques across all MSK subspecialties
- Emerging biologics and regenerative therapies
- Next-generation digital health tools
Highlighted 2026 Sessions and Programs
- AAOS & FDA Town Hall: The role of AI, digital health, and device innovation in orthopaedic surgery
- OrthoDome®: High-definition surgical case videos offering immersive technical education
- Orthobiologics Symposium: Evidence-based updates and cross-industry research insights
- OrthoPitch: A competition showcasing early-stage technologies shaping orthopaedic innovation
- Industry Investment Session: Funding trends and commercial opportunities across the MSK innovation ecosystem
Media & Registration
The AAOS Annual Meeting is open to medical professionals only. Media can request credentials via the AAOS Newsroom or at media@aaos.org.
A Year Defined by Innovation, Education, and Practical Strategy
Together, the AAOE and AAOS 2026 events reflect two converging priorities for today’s orthopedic organizations:
- Strengthen the business of MSK care amid rising costs and operational pressure
- Advance clinical excellence through global learning, innovation, and evidence-based practice
As orthopedic care continues to evolve—shaped by technology, reimbursement changes, and shifting patient expectations—these conferences will provide leaders with the knowledge, tools, and playbooks they need to navigate the year ahead.
