The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) promotes sports medicine education, research, communication, and fellowship and includes national and international orthopaedic sports medicine leaders. The Society works closely with many other sports medicine specialists, including athletic trainers, physical therapists, family physicians, and others to improve the identification, prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of sports injuries. Formed in 1972 as a forum for education and research with 100 members, the AOSSM today has to more than 2,000 members."About the AOSSM." 1 Jan 2008. The American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. 20 Aug 2008. http://www.sportsmed.org/tabs/membership/about.aspx
AOSSM History The AOSSM developed out of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ (AAOS) Committee on Sports Medicine. The committee was organized in 1964 with Jack Hughston as Chairman. Throughout the next seven years, interest in sports medicine among orthopaedists increased greatly. Don O’Donoghue, MD, approached the AAOS concerning the committee branching off and forming an affiliated, yet separate, society."Board of Speciality Societies." 2008. American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 27 Aug 2008. http://www3.aaos.org/member/bos/bossoc.cfm On January 30, 1972, at the invitation of Dr. Donoghue, 58 orthopaedic surgeons involved in sports medicine gathered to discuss the creation of the new society. A total of 75 orthopaedists were invited, and these physicians make up the list of founding members of the society.Stewart, Marcus J. “The History of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine.” AOSSM Archives. July 1982.
The founding members developed the mission of AOSSM: to hold a scientific meeting that would serve as a forum for presentation and publication of new ideas; to provide opportunities for physicians to meet and exchange ideas concerning research and the future of sports medicine; as well as to develop a high-quality publication controlled by the Society.
In 2013, Jo A. Hannafin, M.D., Ph.D., an orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City, was named the first female president of AOSSM.
AOSSM Members AOSSM members are physicians and allied health professionals who demonstrate scientific leadership, involvement, and dedication in the daily practice of sports medicine. Members must demonstrate continuing active research and educational activities in the field of sports medicine. Such activities may include service as a team physician at any level of competition, involvement in the health of athletes, service to local, regional, national, and international competitions, and the presentation of scientific research papers at sports medicine meetings.
Members focus on the effects of exercise and the monitoring of its impact on active individuals of all ages, abilities, and levels of fitness. While many members treat high-profile athletes who play on professional teams, many also devote their practices to helping their community by treating players on the local high school or junior college team. Through research and advances in surgical and rehabilitation techniques, orthopaedic sports medicine specialists have been able to treat and rehabilitate athletes whose injuries were once career-ending and put them back in the game sooner.
Members are broken down into seven different groups: active members, associate members, candidate members, affiliate members, honorary members, emeritus members, and inactive members.
Active members Active members are: U.S. or Canadian citizens who are orthopaedic surgeons specializing in sports medicine. They must: Hold membership in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons or Canadian Orthopaedic Association or they must be eligible for certification by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Candidate applicants for active membership must be members for two (2) years. Noncandidate applicants must practice exclusively in orthopaedic surgery for at least two (2) years in their current location of practice. Must have attended an AOSSM Annual Meeting in the past five (5) years. Demonstrate a significant contribution and commitment to sports medicine through the following criteria as it relates to their practice: Research and publication Submission and presentation of papers at sports medicine functions Education of persons providing healthcare to athletes Service as a team physician at any level of competition Continuing medical education in sports medicine Service to local, regional, national, and international athletic competitions Capacity to work with other members and contribute to the work of the Society Compliance with other uniform rules and criteria as established by the Board of Directors or Membership Committee
Active members are eligible to vote, and unless specified otherwise, hold office in the Society.
Associate Members Associate members are: international orthopaedic surgeons practicing outside of the United States or Canada who are certified in orthopaedic surgery and members of their country's national orthopaedic organization, or osteopathic physicians not qualified to be Active Members but certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery. They must: Practice exclusively in orthopaedic surgery for at least two (2) years in their current location of practice. Must have attended an AOSSM Annual Meeting in the past five (5) years. Demonstrate a significant contribution and commitment to sports medicine as required of active members and as otherwise established by the Board of Directors and Membership Committee
Associate members are not eligible to vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Directors. They may act in an advisory capacity and unless specified otherwise, may serve on committees with vote.
Candidate Members Candidate members are physicians who are enrolled in or have completed an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) approved orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship in the United States or Canada. They must: Submit an application within the year of the fellowship or within one year of completion of an ACGME approved orthopaedic sports medicine fellowship program. Demonstrate a significant contribution and commitment to sports medicine as required of active members and as otherwise established by the Board of Directors and Membership Committee.
Candidate members are not eligible to vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Directors. They may act in an advisory capacity and, unless specified otherwise, serve on committees with vote.
Affiliate Members Affiliate members are physicians, surgeons, or allied health professionals not qualifying for other membership categories who are interested in or contributing to the knowledge of sports medicine. They must: Be practicing in their current location for at least two years; Must have attended an AOSSM Annual Meeting in the past five (5) years.
Affiliate members are not eligible to vote, hold office in the Society, or serve on the Board of Directors. They may act in an advisory capacity and unless specified otherwise may serve on committees with vote.
Honorary Members Honorary members are those who do not meet the qualifications of Active, Associate, or Affiliate membership, but who have made special contributions to sports medicine. They are not eligible to vote, hold office in the Society, or serve as a member of the Board of Directors, but may act in an advisory capacity and, unless specified otherwise, may serve on committees with vote.
Nominees for honorary membership are submitted to the Board of Directors for consideration. A limited number of honorary members is determined by the Board of Directors.
Emeritus Members Emeritus members are an active member or affiliate member who has reached the age of 65 and is no longer engaged in active medical practice due to age or health. Emeritus Members are not eligible to vote, hold office, or serve as a member of the Board of Directors but may act in an advisory capacity and unless specified otherwise serve on committees with vote.
Inactive Member Inactive members are members or an allied health professional who have met the qualifications for any category of membership but are currently unable to practice medicine due to physical disability or such other reason acceptable to the Board of Directors. Inactive members are not eligible to vote, hold office, or serve as a member of the Board of Directors but may act in an advisory capacity and, unless specified otherwise, serve on committee with vote.
AOSSM Meetings The AOSSM Annual Meeting and AOSSM Specialty Day are two of the AOSSM’s main meetings. The AOSSM Annual Meeting is held once a year (usually at the end of June or beginning of July) and is a place for the Society’s members and Board of Directors to meet, as well as for educational courses and research to be presented."2008 Annual Meeting Preview." Sports Medicine Update March/April 2008. AOSSM Specialty Day is held during the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ annual meeting. It is a one-day meeting that provides educational courses and presentations focused on sports medicine. The Society also hosts other meetings throughout the year focusing on particular injuries or sports specifics areas, such as football or hockey.
AOSSM Publications The AOSSM Web site houses a full Online Library of scientific and patient education materials. The AOSSM also has five print publications.
American Journal of Sports Medicine (AJSM) American Journal of Sports Medicine is a monthly, peer-reviewed scientific journal, first published in 1974. It is the official publication of AOSSM, and is ranked 1st out of 63 journals in Orthopaedics and 5th out of 84 journals in Sport Sciences in Thomson Reuters’s 2012 Journal Citation Reports, with an Impact Factor of 4.439."About Title: AJSM." SAGE Publishers. 20 Jan 2012. http://www.sagepub.com/journalsProdDesc.nav?prodId=Journal201672& The journal is published by SAGE Publishers.
Sports Health: A Multidisciplinary Approach Sports Health (January 2009) is published bimonthly and is a collaborative publication from AOSSM, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM), the National Athletic Trainers' Association (NATA), and the Sports Physical Therapy Section (SPTS). Sports Health is a resource for all medical professionals involved in the training and care of the competitive or recreational athlete. The journal is published by SAGE Publishers."About the Title: Sports Health." Jul 2008. SAGE Publishers. 20 Aug 2008. http://www.sagepub.com/journalsProdDesc.nav?prodId=Journal201905
Sports Medicine Update Sports Medicine Update is AOSSM's bimonthly publication and includes educational articles, Society news and research updates, resources, and new developments within the orthopaedic sports medicine community."Sports Medicine Update." 1 Jan 2008. American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. 27 Aug 2008. http://www.sportsmed.org/tabs/resources/smupdate.aspx
Sports Tips and In Motion: Active Living for All Ages Both Sports Tips and In Motion are patient education publications. Sports Tips are one-page fact sheets on athletic related conditions and injuries. In Motion is a quarterly newsletter and features short articles focusing on sports medicine, fitness, and musculoskeletal issues for people of all ages."Patient Education." 1 Jan 2008. American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. 20 Aug 2008. http://www.sportsmed.org/tabs/patienteducation/index.aspx
AOSSM Research Programs and Grants AOSSM awards grants to researchers working on break-through treatments and investigations in sports medicine."AOSSM Grants." 1 Jan 2008. American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine. 20 Aug 2008. http://www.sportsmed.org/tabs/research/aossmgrants.aspx
Young Investigators Grant