Hands-on orthopedic education across trauma, spine, joint reconstruction, sports medicine, and hand surgery.
✔ Hands-on surgical lab training
✔ CME-accredited orthopedic courses
✔ Global network and career development opportunities
AO North America is a leading provider of orthopedic surgery education, known for its AO principles, hands-on training model, and global faculty network. AO NA delivers hands-on, CME-accredited orthopaedic education across five clinical specialties. Programs serve residents, fellows, and practicing surgeons through expert-led lectures, interactive case discussions, and extensive lab-based training, offered both in person and online, with mentorship, networking, and research opportunities. Specialized courses support every career stage to advance surgical practice and patient outcomes worldwide. Participants benefit from:
Hands-on orthopedic surgery training in laboratory settings
Expert-led lectures and interactive case discussions
CME orthopedic courses and accredited continuing medical education
Online orthopedic education and surgical webinars for doctors
Mentorship, networking, and collaborative research opportunities
AO NA provides trainees and surgeons with orthopedic trauma courses, spine surgery training, hand surgery courses, sports medicine training, and joint reconstruction education designed to develop careers and enhance surgical outcomes.
Orthopedic Specialties We Cover
AO North America offers specialized orthopaedic surgery education across five clinical divisions.
For Residents
Build a strong surgical foundation with orthopedic trauma training and resident-focused courses that emphasize biomechanical principles, safe surgical approaches, and mentored skills development. Residents gain practical experience while learning proven techniques from experienced faculty.
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Course Highlights for Residents
For Fellows
Refine your subspecialty expertise through advanced education in spine surgery, joint reconstruction, sports medicine, trauma, and hand surgery. Fellows explore complex case studies, debate treatment strategies, and master specialized surgical techniques relevant to their career paths.
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Course Highlights for Fellows
AO Trauma Hand NA
Hand Fellows and Chief Resident Course: Preparing for Fellowship and Beyond
For Practicing Surgeons
Stay at the forefront of orthopedic innovation with CME orthopedic courses and advanced surgical training programs. Practicing surgeons engage in master-level education focused on new technologies, evolving treatment strategies, and collaborative problem-solving with peers.
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Course Highlights for Surgeons
Types of Orthopedic Surgery Training Offered
AO North America provides a wide range of orthopedic education formats, including:
- orthopedic trauma courses
- spine surgery training
- joint reconstruction training
- sports medicine surgery education
- hand surgery courses
- orthopedic CME programs
- surgical skills labs
- orthopedic webinars and online education
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Frequently Asked Questions
AO North America is part of the global AO network dedicated to advancing orthopedic surgery through education, research, and collaboration. The organization provides hands-on surgical training, CME-accredited courses, research initiatives, and professional development opportunities for orthopedic surgeons, residents, and fellows.
Orthopedic education spans five clinical divisions—trauma, spine, joint reconstruction, sports medicine, and hand surgery. Courses blend expert-led lectures, interactive case discussions, and extensive hands-on labs using anatomical models or human anatomical specimens and surgical technologies. Offerings are available in person and online.
Orthopedic surgery courses are specialized training programs that help surgeons and orthopedic trainees develop advanced skills in fracture management, joint reconstruction, spine surgery, sports medicine, and hand surgery. These programs typically combine lectures, case discussions, and hands-on lab training to improve surgical decision-making and patient outcomes.
Programs are tailored for residents, fellows, and practicing orthopedic surgeons. Residents focus on foundational principles and mentored skills development; fellows refine subspecialty expertise through complex cases and advanced techniques; practicing surgeons benefit from advanced and master-level, CME-accredited training to stay current with new technologies and evolving treatment strategies.
Hands-on lab work is central across all levels, with content tailored to your stage:
- Residents: Basic Principles of Fracture Management; Sports Principles: The Joint Is an Organ; Hand and Wrist Fracture Management.
- Fellows: Complex Total Hip & Knee Arthroplasty (with human anatomical specimens); Master Shoulder Course (tendon transfers, rotator cuff repairs); Fellows and Chief Resident Course: Preparing for Fellowship and Beyond.
- Practicing surgeons: Lower Extremity Posttraumatic Reconstruction with Ring Fixation; Advanced Principles of Fracture Management.
Yes. AO North America delivers accredited continuing medical education, and also offers online learning—including orthopedic webinars and online series—that complement in-person training. Most online options also provide CME credit.
Participants gain mentorship, networking, and collaborative research opportunities, as well as access to fellowships in Trauma and Spine at recognized centers with international collaborations. AO North America also supports research through grants and funding, and offers AO membership and pathways to get involved (faculty roles, committees, mentoring, volunteering). Backed by the global AO network, AO education has trained hundreds of thousands of surgeons across 100+ countries, advancing surgical practice and improving patient outcomes world
Yes. AO NA is a great resource for medical students exploring orthopedics. Two programs of note are:
AO NA LINK, an online educational experience designed for medical students exploring orthopedics and preparing for residency. Sessions include: The Residency Interview Sessions, Research as a Med Student: How Can I Succeed?, Implants and Instruments: From Adsons to Zirconium, among others.
Fracture Friday, a micro-case social media video series, in collaboration with the Medical Student Orthopedic Society (MSOS), features bite-sized orthopedic trauma cases and key insights to prepare for rotations and residency.
One More Question?
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Hear From Our Faculty
Get insights from AO North America’s expert faculty on surgical training, education, and what makes AO courses a trusted choice for orthopedic surgeons and trainees.
Diane Nam, MSc MD FRCSC, AO Trauma NA Faculty Member
Associate Professor, Orthopaedic Surgery
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
University of Toronto
Benjamin Geer, MD, AO Trauma NA Faculty Member
Division Chief, Orthopaedic Trauma Dignity Health Medical Group — AZ
Assistant Clinical Professor, Creighton University School of Medicine
John DeVine, MD, AO Spine NA Faculty Member
Professor and Chief of Spine Surgery
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Medical College of Georgia
Augusta University
What Past Participants Say About Our Courses
Here’s feedback pulled from evaluations by past course participants.
Course: Principles of Fracture Management
“As a resident, this course provided me with many useful tips, tools, and a much better understanding of key fracture management techniques. I also appreciated the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with fracture patterns I hadn’t previously encountered.”
Course: Advanced Principles of Fracture Management
“I picked up several valuable tips and tricks—such as using a femoral distractor, attaching to external fixation, and various application techniques—that I will soon incorporate into my practice.”
Course: Sports Principles: The Joint is an Organ.
“I gained valuable tips and tricks for shoulder arthroscopy and rotator cuff repair, as well as great insight into meniscal repair techniques, including when to use inside-out versus outside-in methods.”
Course: Advanced Course Knee—Injuries and Deformities
“The course was amazing, and I wish it were one day longer! It had great faculty, a great program, and was a great opportunity!”
Course: Principles of Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasty
“This was an excellent course. I recommend it to all residents who have just completed their junior rotation in arthroplasty and want to consolidate their knowledge from various sources into a comprehensive foundation for their arthroplasty careers.”
Course Managing Complications: Clinically, Ethically, and Legally
“I learned many strategies to avoid complications and plan to incorporate several improvements into my practice. I also found the case-based discussions engaging, especially hearing the differing opinions on optimal patient treatment.”
Past-Chair, AO NA Board of Directors
Milton L. “Chip” Routt Jr., MD
Join in the unmatched fun, collegiality, knowledge sharing, and career development that AO Trauma NA offers you.
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Continuing Education
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AO Membership
Join your community of peers and get access to a variety of resources and privileges as an AO member.
Get Involved
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Global Impact of AO Education
AO education programs have trained hundreds of thousands of surgeons worldwide, providing evidence-based orthopedic education across more than 100 countries since its founding in 1958. Founded in 1992, AO North America advances surgical education and improves patient care through international collaboration and rigorous scientific standards.