The AAOS IDEA Grant Program^®  is intended to provide resources for many types of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, such as those which: 

• Support a diverse pipeline of individuals who choose to go into orthopaedics as a profession
• Foster diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for community-based or academic orthopaedic surgeons
• Expand the availability of AAOS educational and networking opportunities to diverse students and practicing orthopaedic surgeons 

“Through the AAOS IDEA Grant program, we are making strides – one step at a time – to fundamentally address the gaps across gender, culture, and ethnicity in our field. It is going to take time to break down barriers, but we believe this program will inspire further action and change.”

Anthony Johnson, MD, FAAOS
AAOS Diversity Advisory Board (DAB) Chair

Application Timeline

The application period for 2025 IDEA grants opens April 1. Applications will be reviewed by the AAOS Diversity Advisory Board (DAB) with final approval of recipients by the AAOS Board of Directors.

See Grant Recipients Tab for list of the 2023 and 2024 IDEA grant recipients.

IDEA Grant Tracks

Program funds will be allocated between four tracks, each with a different DEI focus and target recipient.

Track 1 – Touchpoints: Grants are designed to support single event programs that promote DEI initiatives in the field of orthopaedic surgery. These funds may be used to expand opportunities for traditional or established pathway programs that attract diverse medical students and residents to orthopaedics.

Track 2 – Retention: Grants are intended to support organizations, programs and events with a longitudinal focus on recruiting and retaining a diverse workforce in orthopaedic surgery.

Track 3 – Community retention/support: Grants are intended to support programs and events with a focus on retaining and supporting a diverse workforce in orthopaedic surgery in a private, remote setting or outside of an academic institution.

Track 4 – Academic retention/support: Grants are intended to support programs and events with a focus on retaining and supporting a diverse workforce in orthopaedic surgery within U.S. academic centers.

Application Criteria

The proposed program must be focused upon the elimination of bias or the promotion of diversity, equity, and/or inclusion within the specialty of orthopaedic surgery.

Only U.S. not-for-profit corporations and state-owned entities, such as public medical schools, are eligible to apply for grant funds.

Supporters

Funding from industry partners helps extend the reach of this grant program.

General Terms

AAOS has designated a total of $200,000 per year for the AAOS IDEA Grant Program™. Additional funding may become available, depending on the level of commercial support received for the Grant Program. 

Applicants may apply for funding in no more than two tracks within the same grant cycle and funds must be used for the intended purpose. If your program does not receive funding, you may re-apply for the next grant cycle.