AOA Academy of Clinical Excellence in Orthopaedics (ACE)

Mission statement

To harmonise and leverage existing AOA research infrastructure, resources, and partners to drive improvements in patient care with musculoskeletal disorders or injuries.

About the AOA Academy

The Academy is currently in the early stages of inception however the overarching aims are:

To give research more relevance for all AOA Members through patient focused quality improvement in clinical care
To streamline AOA research resources
To build up a pathway combining AOA structures with external partners to achieve implementation of quality improvement programs

With the support of the AOA Board, an Academy Steering Committee was established in 2024. This group meets monthly to progress the strategic priorities of the Academy. This committee is co-chaired by AOA Members Michael Schuetz and Richard Page.

In 2025, the AOA Academy Steering Committee and AOA Board approved the formation of six key subcommittees of the Steering Committee with specific areas of focus including Policy and Engagement, Governance and Budgeting, Grants and Opportunities, Trainee/Early Researcher, Registry and Partnerships and Consumer Engagement.

A draft AOA Academy ‘Road Map’ is currently under development by the Steering Committee and Working groups and will be presented at the Members Forum at the AOA ASM in Hobart (October 2025).

Upcoming events

AOA Academy of Clinical Excellence in Orthopaedics (ACE) Launch and Education Forum (19-20 March 2026)

The Academy of Clinical Excellence in Orthopaedics (ACE) is the latest innovative initiative from AOA.

Step into a new era of orthopaedic innovation and clinical quality.

The launch will be followed by an ACE Education Forum which will feature discussions led by experts including researchers, health executives and leaders from the broader health and academic sectors. Topics will include the background to ACE development and how orthopaedic research benefits the greater health community.

AOA ACE Steering Committee Co-Chair Michael Schuetz

AOA ACE Steering Committee Co-Chair Richard Page

Co-chairs of the AOA ACE Steering Committee professors Michael Schuetz and Richard Page, would like to invite you to register your interest to attend the 2026 AOA ACE Dinner, Launch and Education Forum:

ACE Dinner and discussion: 6.30–9.30pm, Thursday 19 March 2026

ACE Launch and Education Forum: sessions from 9.30am–4.30pm, Friday 20 March 2026

Venue: CBD Brisbane

Need more information?

Please contact research@aoa.org.au for further information.