AOFAS Application and Agreement for
Co-branding of Educational Activities

Approved 2/12/2025 by the AOFAS Board of Directors

Introduction:
The American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) is committed to promoting medical education and the exchange of scientific information to support its primary mission of improving care for patients with foot and ankle disorders via the delivery of quality education. AOFAS is also committed to promoting collaboration between medical specialties and societies, and between healthcare providers in the US and around the world. To this end, AOFAS will actively co-brand educational activities consistent with the vision and mission of the Society and will partner with other medical societies, organizations, and institutions to support and advance scientific and educational activities that pertain to foot and ankle care.

Programs Eligible for Co-branding: 

Programs of sufficient relevance and quality developed by other societies, organizations or institutions that support the mission of AOFAS are eligible to co-brand subject to approval by the Education Committee with consultation from the Committee on Outside Interests as appropriate.

A co-branded activity has been reviewed by the AOFAS Education Committee and the content, verified through a systematic physician approval process, aligns with the AOFAS mission, vision and core values. AOFAS co-branded activities are organized and presented by organizations outside of the AOFAS and are not accredited for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ by AOFAS. Considerations for co-branding include the appropriateness of the content, timing of the event and completeness of the application process. Decisions to approve are made on educational and scientific value, avoidance of scheduling conflicts with any existing AOFAS events of like interest and absence of promotional content. AOFAS approval of an educational activity does not entail any financial, legal or administrative obligation on the part of AOFAS.

 

Co-branded Activities Criteria

Criteria for AOFAS co-branded endorsement of a meeting include: 

• Presentations are of scientific merit consistent with the principles of AOFAS.
• Activity must not be in direct competition with AOFAS sponsored CME activities and may not be scheduled within 30 days before or after the AOFAS Annual or Winter Meeting or scheduled within 14 days before or after any AOFAS courses (in person or virtual/hybrid) unless deemed to be within the best interest of the AOFAS.
• Requests must be accompanied by an activity program agenda, educational objectives, proposed faculty and target audience prior to Education Committee review.
• Requests must be submitted at least 4 months prior to the date of the educational activity and must   be accompanied by the signed AOFAS Application and Agreement for Co-branding of Educational Activities.
• Co-branding requests are considered for a single activity only, and repeated events require subsequent  applications and reviews by AOFAS.
• Co-branded activities must include at least one AOFAS member on the faculty.
• Primary meeting sponsor should be accredited and/or recognized in the host country by an accredited organization to provide continuing medical education, if appropriate and/or applicable.
• AOFAS will not consider a request from industry.
• AOFAS will not endorse, or support closed (i.e. invite only) meetings or events.

 Co-Branding Policies and Benefits 

• Activity organizers will receive the AOFAS logo artwork at no additional charge for inclusion on meeting material and printed literature.
• Organizers may use the AOFAS logo on its print and electric promotional materials, course handouts, and other documents pertaining to the course.
• Such material shall use no words other than "Endorsed by The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society” in describing the relationship of the AOFAS to the program.
• The approved activity will be posted on AOFAS calendars (print and electronic); on the AOFAS website; on FAI calendars. Hyperlinks directing to the sponsors website will be used whenever reasonable.
• Activity organizers should post the AOFAS logo to the activity home page with a live link to the AOFAS web site until the end of the activity.
• Activity organizers shall provide 2 complimentary registrations, upon request, for AOFAS staff to attend the meeting and provide a table for recruitment. Virtual programs should provide access instructions for staff to join virtually.

Co‐Sponsorship Criteria:
 
Co‐sponsorship occurs when the AOFAS joins with another accredited organization to sponsor an educational activity.

Upon mutual agreement, one organization will be primarily responsible for the administrative functions of organizing the activity. The practice gap‐based needs assessment, educational objectives, course description, agenda, faculty, financial obligations, and location will be determined upon mutual agreement along with the determination of which organization will take responsibility for CME compliance and reporting of the activity. The name and logo of both organizations will be included on all promotional materials. Depending on the agreement made with the co‐sponsor, there may or may not be revenue sharing of net income. To request co-sponsorship, please send an email to afrey@aofas.org.

Joint Providership Criteria:
 
Joint providership occurs when the AOFAS, under the authority granted it through the Accreditation Council of Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), assigns AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ to a non‐accredited body’s activity. This relationship may be requested by other orthopaedic organizations, institutions or groups that have common goals with the AOFAS, and are considered an “eligible organization” by the ACCME. To request Joint Providership, please send an email to afrey@aofas.org.

Joint Providership Request Criteria:

• Request must be submitted at least 4 months prior to the start of any planning for the event.
• AOFAS must be included in all stages of planning, including but not limited to: program development, faculty selection, scheduling, budgeting, as well as all additional phases of meeting development and execution. 
• Organization must agree to follow all ACCME’s Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education
• Organization must allow AOFAS sole control to collect, manage, and mitigate all disclosures for faculty, moderators, presenters, planners and anyone else in control of content.
• The joint accreditation statement must appear on all event materials and brochures, except for initial, save-the-date announcements that contain only general/preliminary information.

At the sole discretion of the AOFAS Board of Directors, the society may agree to a co-sponsorship agreement in conjunction with the Joint Providership, which allows the share of profits and expenses, or apply a fee to offer this service.

To view the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education: CLICK HERE

To view The AMA Physician’s Recognition Award and credit system booklet: CLICK HERE

To view the AOFAS Conflict of Interest and Product Bias Policy: CLICK HERE

 

AOFAS Application and Agreement for
Co-branding of Educational Activities

 

The American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society reserves the right to co-brand, co-sponsor, or provide CME credit to those activities which most closely align with the goals of     our society. Co-branding carries no designation of AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ nor is AOFAS responsible for oversight or activity management. Co-branding is an acknowledgment of the integrity and quality of the educational activity alone.

The AOFAS logo must appear on the activity’s promotional material.

AOFAS will list dates of the approved activity on the AOFAS calendar (print and electronic), on the AOFAS website and FAI calendars. Placement in In calendars will be made pursuant to approval and according to next publication within standing print schedule.

Applications must be received a minimum of 4 months prior to activity date. AOFAS requires a minimum of 4 weeks from date of application receipt for review, approval and subsequent placement in online calendars.

Application Instructions:

Please review, complete, and edit if necessary, all sections of the application, sign and date. Unless otherwise noted, all fields are required. 

This form can be filled out and saved for later editing. When clicking “save” you will receive a personal link to return and finish/edit your application.

Navigate to the different sections of this form by using the tabs at the top of this page or the “back” and “next” buttons at the bottom of each page.

 

The following items must be included in your attachment to process your application: 

• Program schedule/agenda with objectives
• Faculty list 

Additional documentation once program is approved (to be submitted at a later date): 

• Final brochure with endorsement statement and AOFAS logo
• Link to registration site

• The application and all related materials will be completed and submitted at the time of application for review and approval by the AOFAS Committee(s).
• The organization seeking co-branding will adhere to the guidelines for logo usage supplied at the time that approval is received.
• If the organization does not comply with the above items, AOFAS will withdraw its support of the program.
• Provide 2 complimentary registrations, upon request, for AOFAS staff to attend the meeting and provide a table for recruitment.