Many orthopaedic surgeons belong to specialty groups or societies at the local, state, and national levels. We sought to understand costs and benefits of orthopaedic society memberships.

We collected data on the cost of membership and benefits for 32 different orthopaedic societies in 2020 and 2021 by using website information and contacting the society’s administration. We grouped benefits into distinct categories: annual conference, continuing education, educational resources, leadership opportunities, career job listings, research grants, mentorship program, resident/fellow resources, medical student resources, and journal affiliation.

On average, attending surgeons pay $460 and residents/fellows pay $300 for a single annual membership. However, some organizations, such as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA), and the Hip Society have higher annual dues ($1,115, $1,100, and $1,500, respectfully). Over 20 years, a physician belonging to both the AOA and the AAOS pay $44,300 in fees at the current cost. All 32 societies offer an annual conference, continuing education credit opportunities, other educational resources, leadership opportunities, and journal affiliations.

Membership fees vary and benefits are often difficult to assess without becoming a member. The COVID-19 pandemic has moved society activities online, decreasing opportunities for in-person networking and education, with some societies considering reduced fees. The pandemic has also strained hospital budgets resulting in loss of funds for many physicians at academic organizations that would normally be used toward membership fees. Perhaps increased opportunities for resource pooling, with group access to educational opportunities and mentorship, should be considered.

Level V.