Our community

The AO’s clinical specialties for trauma, spine, craniomaxillofacial, veterinary, reconstructive, and sports surgery continually redefine the state of the art in their fields, maintaining activities in research, development, clinical investigation, innovation, and education.

At the AO, we adhere to the highest quality standards. Our core values have been endorsed by our members:

Sharing best practices and knowledge: Members exchange valuable insights and experiences, fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Professional growth: The AO promotes networking and collaboration, facilitating both personal and career development for all members.
Global reach: The AO community is international, connecting individuals from diverse backgrounds and specialties, thereby enriching the exchange of ideas and innovations.
Innovative research and education: The AO is dedicated to delivering top- notch research and lifelong education, empowering our members to excel in their fields. Our commitment to research is a distinct advantage that sets the AO apart from other organizations.
Camaraderie: Beyond professional networking, the AO community fosters friendships and mutual support among peers.

500,000+

Global community

1000+

Educational events per year

80,000+

Educational event participants

9,000+

Educational event faculty

Community zones

AO Trauma

AO Trauma creates a dynamic environment fostering change through its state-of-the-art research and education and an interactive community, empowering the next generation of surgeons.

AO Spine

AO Spine is composed of surgeons, researchers, ORP, and health care professionals from all continents providing educational, research, consulting and networking opportunities

AO CMF

AO CMF is a driving force in education and research using modern techniques to achieve successful patient rehabilitation for a global community of surgeons.

AO VET

AO VET's mission is to advance the practice of veterinary surgery to improve patient outcomes by promoting clinical and experimental research, education and development.

AO Recon

AO Recon is a global network of orthopedic surgeons delivering best-in-class education in joint preservation and replacement.

AO Sports

AO Sports provides gold-standard AO education on the surgical treatment of sports injuries and other soft-tissue conditions around the joint.

Memberships

To join our community, click on the links below to sign up for a membership and start enjoying the privileges!

Resources

Whatever your specialist area, the AO's resources offer you valuable support in enhancing your abilities, learning new skills, and responding to changing clinical needs.

ARI activity reports

Get the latest on AO research innovation from the AO Research Institute Davos (ARI).

Experts Symposia

Where outstanding minds come together in a robust process to improve available treatments.

AO Spine RECODE DCM

Our study is a consensus process to improve research efficiency in Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy (DCM)

Build your AO Davos Courses experience!

Join us in Davos for the AO's flagship educational event.

AO Davos Courses: The future of medical education—register today

Join us in Davos from November 29 to December 11, 2026 for the AO's flagship educational event, offering courses from AO Trauma, AO Spine, AO CMF, AO VET, AO Recon, and AO Sports.
Seats are limited, so claim yours now!

Learn more