THE RUTH JACKSON ORTHOPAEDIC SOCIETY (RJOS) was founded in 1983 as a support and networking group for the growing number of women orthopaedic surgeons. The women at the first meeting felt that there were many common problems confronting them, which could best be solved by pooling resources.

These range from sharing technical solutions for practice problems to how to survive motherhood and orthopaedic practice/residency at the same time. The RJOS began with 42 women and has grown to a membership of more than 1,000. The majority is from North America, with international female orthopaedists included.