Awards of Excellence

AAOE Collaborate is an invaluable platform for members to communicate directly with peers, sharing experience and information to make each professional and the industry better. This award recognizes an AAOE member who has consistently contributed on Collaborate, highly visible on the platform providing valuable information in a positive and knowledgeable manner that benefits other members while supporting the AAOE mission and values. 

AAOE would not be the organization it is today without the efforts of many member volunteers. This award recognizes an AAOE member who has made exceptional contributions in a voluntary capacity to support the organization’s goals. 

Individuals in many positions and levels within a practice can positively affect the organization, in a matter of months or over the years. This award recognizes an AAOE member who is employed in a full-time position as a staff member (not the lead staff person or executive) of a practice or organization. Whether a rising star or a tenured professional, this person is dedicated to the mission and vision of the practice/organization and has made significant contributions. 

 Additional criteria for this award: 

• Actively involved in a full-time position as a professional (not the lead staff person or executive) for his or her practice/organization. 
• Staff of a member may nominate member. 

Strong leadership is vital to both the short-term and the long-term success of a practice. This award recognizes the commitment of an AAOE member who, as the lead staff person or executive, has consistently gone above and beyond at his or her practice. The award is granted based on the recipient’s ability to motivate others, stimulate positive activity, and serve as a catalyst for exceptional results. 

Additional criteria for this award: 

• Actively involved in a full-time position as the lead staff person or executive for his or her practice/organization. 
• Staff of a member may nominate member. 

Today, more than ever, innovation is a must for survival and long-term success in healthcare. Those who are able to identify opportunities, think creatively, solve problems, and take risks will elevate orthopaedic care. This award recognizes a practice/organization of an AAOE member for innovative solutions or improved quality of service that can be replicated to benefit the entire orthopaedic community. Innovation or improvement may be in areas including, but not limited to: delivery of care, patient satisfaction, physician/employee satisfaction, or quality service to their community or quality of work life for employees. 

Examples: 

• Developing an automation process to reduce wait times and staff errors 
• Holding a community service day when all employees help with a project 
• Creating a new business model that improves patient experience while lowering overhead 
• Having an employee recognition program to acknowledge those who excel at service 

Supplemental criteria for this award: 

• A practice/employer of an AAOE member in good standing. 
• Members encouraged to nominate own practice/organization or other practices/organizations.