Instructions and Nominee Criteria

AOSSM Hall of Fame Nomination: Instructions and Nominee Criteria

Applications for 2026 are now closed

General Information

• The AOSSM Hall of Fame Nomination Form is an online form and must be completed in one session. The online application must include:

1. The nominee’s up-to-date and legible Curriculum Vitae including all AOSSM-specific roles and contributions.
2. A high-resolution photo of the nominee.
3. The required maximum Letters of Recommendation (see below regarding Letters of Recommendation).

• The person completing the form should be prepared with all required details and materials when starting the online form process.
• Late submissions or individual items sent via email will not be accepted under any circumstances.
• All AOSSM members are eligible to make a nomination to the Hall of Fame, including members of the Hall of Fame committee and Board of Directors. A Hall of Fame Committee member who nominates a candidate may submit a letter of recommendation and a rating form for the nominee; however, must recuse him/herself from all deliberations the committee has on the nominee.
• Whenever possible, the nominator is encouraged to work with the nominee to put together the most accurate and complete application possible.
• There is a maximum of two nominations for the same individual with a three-year waiting period for reapplication.
• All nominees and nominators are informed of the Hall of Fame Committee’s decision by early April.
• Hall of Fame inductees are honored at the AOSSM Annual Meeting in July.

Nominee Eligibility and Criteria

North American Nominee Eligibility:

• A living or deceased member of the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) or a non-member physician who has made exemplary contributions to the field of sports medicine and AOSSM
• 65 years or older
• Current members of the AOSSM Board of Directors are not eligible
• A sports medicine career that has spanned a minimum of 15 years

International Nominee Eligibility:

• A living or deceased member of a national or regional orthopaedic sports medicine organization that is equivalent to AOSSM
• An orthopaedic surgeon or sports traumatologist
• 65 years or older
• A sports medicine career that has spanned a minimum of 15 years

Selection Criteria

The nominee must meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrated exemplary contributions directly to the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine (AOSSM) throughout the nominee's career, including but not limited to: Service on committees, task forces and/or the Board of Directors or other leadership roles; Podium and poster presentations at AOSSM-led educational meetings, courses and events; and Publication in AJSM, OJSM, SportsHealth and VJSM.
• AOSSM service roles (e.g., committee memberships/chair, task force contributions and/or Board of Directors) and other direct AOSSM contributions should be clearly indicated within the nominee’s CV.
• Significant contributions of enduring value to the overall specialty of sports medicine past, present and future.
• Significant contributions to the community at large utilizing his/her expertise and influence in sports medicine.

Selection Process

• A maximum of three (3) Hall of Fame inductees are recognized per year. No exceptions.
• The Hall of Fame Committee will review all nominations to assure the nominees have met the selection criteria and warrant consideration and has the right to conduct further research on the nominee prior to consideration.
• Candidates must achieve 85% of the highest possible score received from the appointed Hall of Fame committee members to be potentially included in the Hall of Fame. Nominees are scored in the areas of Research, Education, Community Service, Enduring Contributions to the Field of Sports Medicine and Service to AOSSM.
• The Hall of Fame Committee will make the final decision as to the inductees and will notify all nominees and their nominators whether they were selected by the first week of April.

Letters of Recommendation

• North American nominees must have a total of three AOSSM members provide letters of recommendation for their nomination, one of which must be from the Nominator. It is the responsibility of the Nominator to ensure these three letters are secured with no more than one former fellow and no more than one person from any one practice/institution of the nominee.
• International nominees must have a maximum of three letters of recommendation, including one from the Nominator and two (2) additional individuals. Two of the three must be AOSSM members with no more than one former fellow and no more than one from any one practice/institution of the nominee. The non-AOSSM member letter of recommendation must be a member of an equivalent organization to AOSSM or reside in the same country as the applicant.
• If more than maximum number of letters are submitted, only the first three within the application form will be reviewed.
• Completed recommendation letters must be submitted as part of the online application form. Letters sent via email will not be considered.