The publication productivity and scholarly influence of the American Orthopaedic Association class of 2023

The American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) inducts orthopaedic surgeons who will shape the future of the field. Although membership decisions are multifactorial, research and scholarship are important criteria. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the publication productivity and scholarly influence of the AOA Class of 2023. The Hirsch (h)-index and its derivative, the m-index, are objective measures of publication productivity. Total career and 5-year h- and m-indices were recorded via Scopus for the 2023 AOA inductees and a control group of orthopaedic surgeons matched by career duration and subspecialty without AOA membership. Inferential statistics were used to compare the research metrics between groups. Demographics such as gender, type of medical training, additional degrees obtained, type of fellowship training, subspecialty, academic appointments, and career duration were also recorded. There were sixty-five orthopaedic surgeons inducted into the AOA in 2023. The median career duration for the AOA inductees was 11 years. The inductees’ median total career h-index was 7, the median 5-year h-index was 3, the median total career m-index was 0.69, and the median 5-year m-index was 0.60, all of which were significantly greater than the metrics of the non-AOA control group. Of the AOA inductees, those with an academic appointment had significantly greater 5-year h- and m-indices than those without an academic appointment. The AOA Class of 2023 demonstrated greater publication productivity and scholarly influence than a group of matched orthopaedic surgeons without AOA membership.