Jim Kidd Named 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award Winner

  L to R: Andrea Allyn, MBA, ATC, AAOE Incoming President; Jim Kidd, CEO, Advanced Bone and Joint; Joseph Mathews, PT, DPT, AAOE President  

INDIANAPOLIS, IN—May 8, 2025. The American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE) is proud to announce Jim P. Kidd, Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Bone and Joint in St. Louis, Missouri, as the recipient of the 2025 AAOE Lifetime Achievement Award in Atlanta, GA. This prestigious honor was announced at the Annual Conference and recognizes individuals who have made exceptional and sustained contributions to the orthopedic management profession and the AAOE community.  

A dedicated AAOE member since 2004, Jim Kidd has exemplified servant leadership through more than two decades in orthopedic practice management, consistently advocating for professional excellence and peer support within the orthopedic field. Under his leadership, Advanced Bone and Joint has grown into a robust, multisite practice of 23 providers and more than 60 staff, known for delivering exceptional patient care and operational excellence.  

“Jim Kidd is the embodiment of the values we hold dear at AAOE—integrity, generosity, and a deep commitment to lifting others up,” says Joseph Mathews, PT, DPT, AAOE President and Practice Administrator, Advanced Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, a division of OrthoLonestar. “His leadership has left a lasting imprint on our community and profession, and I can’t think of anyone more deserving of this recognition.”  

Jim’s impact on AAOE is far-reaching. He served as AAOE President in 2016, initiating with AAOE CEO Addy Kujawa, AAOE’s first-time focus and donation to a local charity in the conference city.  He has held numerous leadership roles on the Board of Directors, Education Council, Practice Management Committee, Membership Council and Advocacy Council. As Chair of the Annual Conference Council from 2018 to 2021, he was instrumental in shaping member-focused programming that supported knowledge-sharing and innovation across the profession. He spearheaded AAOE’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2019 in Nashville, TN. His frequent and engaging presentations at the AAOE Annual Conference have made him a trusted voice and go-to resource for practice leaders across the country.  

“I am personally grateful to Jim for being such an incredible mentor to me over the last decade,” said Addy Kujawa, CAE, DES, Chief Executive Officer of the American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives. “His insights into the orthopedic industry, his generosity with his time, and his passion for this profession helped shape how I approach leadership and how we, as an organization, serve our members. His impact on me—and on AAOE as a whole—has been truly profound.”  

Peers describe Jim as a tireless mentor, advocate, and connector. His influence has stretched beyond formal roles—whether guiding peers during the challenges of COVID-19, fostering networking in the 1–9 Physician Size Practice group, or simply answering questions on AAOE’s member platform, Collaborate. Colleagues admire his charisma, integrity, and generous spirit—qualities that have empowered countless professionals to grow and lead with confidence.  

Throughout his tenure, Jim has simultaneously balanced practice leadership and national volunteerism, managed a multi-million-dollar budget, coordinated facility expansion projects, and led a team of over 90 FTEs across three locations—all while helping drive AAOE’s mission forward.  

The 2025 Lifetime Achievement Award is a reflection of Jim Kidd’s enduring legacy in orthopedic practice management and his unwavering dedication to the advancement of the AAOE community.  

About AAOE  

The American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives was founded in 1969 and is the only nonprofit orthopaedic-management specific organization developed to serve the musculoskeletal industry. Membership includes more than 1,200 orthopedic practice executives, administrators, physicians, and their staff. AAOE provides education, community, and resources to set the standard of professional knowledge and industry insight. For more information, visit www.aaoe.net.