Mission
The OEF mission is to support the AOFAS in advancing education, research and humanitarian service.
The OEF is a separate 501(c)(3) organization and is the charitable fundraising arm of the AOFAS. Generous donations to the OEF from individuals and industry help support the following important AOFAS programs.
Education
An investment in the future of the profession. The AOFAS programs funded by the OEF educate residents and showcase foot and ankle as a challenging and satisfying career choice. Programs include:
Research
Expanding knowledge for tomorrow's practice. The AOFAS Research Grants Program provides vital start-up funding for promising foot and ankle research projects. Grants of up to $20,000 are awarded annually. Funding is awarded on a competitive basis based on a blinded NIH-review of grant applications.
Humanitarian Service
Opening doors for volunteer outreach. The AOFAS Overseas Outreach Project to Vietnam provides life-changing surgery and challenging professional experiences. Since the program began in 2002, more than 900 disabled children and adults have received free life-changing surgery and more than 2,200 patients have been seen in the clinics. AOFAS members work side-by-side with Vietnamese orthopaedic surgeons in the cities and villages in northern Vietnam.