Grant Application

The AAOS IDEA Grant Program (AAOS IDEA Grant) was established to support educational, community service, or outreach projects or programs with a diversity focus that are related to the orthopaedic surgery specialty. Please ensure your application clearly outlines the connection your program, project or event (Program) will have with orthopaedic surgery and that it meets the eligibility and evaluation criteria detailed below.

Select a Pathway Track below. Additional information on Pathway Tracks is available at www.aaos.org/IDEA. A separate Grant Application must be submitted for each Pathway Track from which funding is being sought. No more than two applications may be submitted during the same grant cycle.

For additional information, email IDEAgrant@aaos.org.

A total of $300,000 is available for the 2025 grant cycle. Specific grant funding per project varies.

The Pathway examples below are intended to guide your thought process in selection of the appropriate Track. Applicants are encouraged to consider any of the four Grant Tracks, choosing the one or two that most closely fits your Program, and fully explain why your Program is a good fit and furthers the purpose of the AAOS IDEA Grant Program.

Track 1 - Pathway Touchpoints

Track 1 Grants are designed to support single event Programs. These funds may be used to expand opportunities for traditional or established pathway programs that attract diverse medical students and residents to orthopaedics. For example:

· Community engagement projects;

· Hands-on skills workshops for diverse student populations; Educational programs focused on equity, diversity, and inclusion;

· Programs for existing Orthopaedic Specialty Interest Groups (OSIGs) at medical schools or efforts to develop new OSIGs;

· Attendance at AAOS Medical Student Program for medical students from non-top 25/50 schools or those without home orthopaedic programs;

· Recruit and expand opportunities for international orthopaedic surgeons from eligible low-income countries to attend the AAOS Annual Meeting;

· DEI programs by orthopaedic specialty societies, e.g., programs that offer medical student scholarships to attend the AAOS Medical Student Program for those students who are not part of another pipeline program.

Track 2 - Pathway Retention

Track 2 Grants are intended to support organizations and Programs with a longitudinal focus. For example:

· Longitudinal mentorship programs;

· Sponsorship programs;

· Professional development for diverse trainees in orthopaedic surgery;

· Facilitate faculty development and/or grand rounds to expand bystander training to address harassment, bullying or discrimination;

· Funding for junior faculty to attend an AAOS course, such as the AAOS Educators Course;

· Support for leadership programs at medical schools struggling to attract and retain a diverse faculty.

Track 3 - Community Retention/Support

Track 3 Grants are intended to support Programs in the non-academic practice setting. For example:
· Support education/training offerings for those at-risk graduates seeking to pass the ABOS boards and obtain FAAOS status. Existing AAOS educational resources may also be beneficial to these Programs;
· Provide support for orthopaedic surgeons practicing in private settings or remote communities who may be without the resources available in the academic setting. Support may include grants to attend AAOS Annual Meeting or other AAOS programs, events or courses;
· Programs that focus on recruitment and retention of a diverse orthopaedic workforce;
· Support a surgeon with disabilities who wants to attend the AAOS Annual Meeting; and
· Support for educational or professional development programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion.

Track 4 - Academic Retention/Support

Track 4 Grants are intended to support Programs in an academic setting. For example:

· Academic medical center programs that seek to recruit and retain a diverse workforce;

· Educational or professional development programs focused on diversity, equity and inclusion;

· Research focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in orthopaedic surgery;
· Support academic departments' efforts to bring in speakers or visiting professors on DEI topics;

· Support U.S. academic medical center programs to recruit and expand opportunities for international orthopaedic surgeons from eligible low-income countries to participate in trainings/internships with academic centers.