Opportunities
Medical Students
The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia has a very active clinical and basic science research program that offers stimulating opportunities for medical students. In the past, several students have completed projects that lead to presentations at national meetings and publication in orthopaedic journals. There are several different pathways for medical student research:
1. Programs specifically for students attending the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine:
A. Scholarly Pursuit (Voluntary, 3+ months)
Scholarly pursuit projects are a requirement of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, and may be completed in our division. These projects must be focused, mentored and full-time commitments. This requirement is fulfilled by a 3-month project, a year-long project, or by earning a second degree after matriculation into medical school.
Penn med students please see the following link for more information: http://www.med.upenn.edu/student/scholarlystudy/
2. All Medical Students-Programs for all medical students (for ANY student attending an accredited medical school including the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine)
A. Research Program (Voluntary, 12+ weeks, anytime of year)
The orthopaedic faculty at CHOP have dozens of ongoing research projects, many of which may be appropriate for medical student participation. The time commitment to complete research is flexible and variable, and is left to the discretion of the medical student and the attending surgeon working on the project. However, the ideal time commitment is at least three months with a minimum goal of having a published article or public presentation on the obtained results. Students may contact the division at any point throughout medical school, although the most common times to do research are in the summer between the first and second year, or as a Scholarly Pursuit for senior Penn Medical Students.
A list of research projects is available. Interested students should contact the Orthopaedic Research Office at orthoresearch@email.chop.edu for a list of available projects and the associated faculty person or if they have any questions. Please click on the following link to apply: Research Projects Program.
We cannot provide stipends or significant funding for such research, but many grants are available as listed below.
B. Summer Scholars-Medical Students Program (Voluntary, 8-week Summer program)
For the past few years, the Summer Scholars program has offered a single student a one-on-one mentoring experience with one of the CHOP faculty. The experience is designed primarily as a one-on-one mentoring relationship with a CHOP Orthopaedic Surgeon, which begins when the student is between his/her first and second year of medical school (in the summer). The position involves an 8-week commitment by the student, with the exact dates to be worked out between the student and the faculty mentor. No formal academic credit is offered for this position.
Traditionally, the Summer Scholar has been a student looking for some orthopaedic experience before starting the second year of medical school. The focus is on an introduction to clinical orthopaedic research, with an opportunity to interact with University of Pennsylvania Orthopaedic Residents and observe cases in the operating room and the clinic. The success of the Summer Scholar's experience depends on his/her initiative and self-direction. Scientific writing skills are essential, and all prior summer scholars have submitted at least one or more papers for publication by the end of the summer.
Although the position is voluntary, Summer Scholars in the past have successfully secured a research stipend through the school of medicine or through another national organization. The student is encouraged to work with his/her faculty mentor several months before the summer in order to develop a successful grant application.
Students interested specifically in the Summer Scholar Program should complete an application at the following link: Summer Application.
Please contact the Orthopaedic Research Office at orthoresearch@email.chop.edu if you have any questions.
C. Doris Duke Fellowship (One Year, Funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation)
Medical students may apply for a one-year research fellowship funded by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Doris Duke fellows have been tremendously successful in our division, producing high quality research that has been presented nationally and published in peer-reviewed journals.
Information regarding applying for this program is available at the following link: http://www.ddcf.org/page.asp?pageId=292
D. Orthopaedics Medical Student Clinical Research Award (One Year, Funded by CHOP)
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Orthopaedics Medical Student Clinical Research Award offers an extraordinary medical student the opportunity to dedicate a year to complete clinical research projects at CHOP. While there are several funded "year-out" programs for medical school students to conduct research, this award is unique because it is specifically designed for students who are interested in pursing a career in orthopaedics. This opportunity is a "year out" experience; i.e. the successful applicant will dedicate a year to clinical research with CHOP orthopaedic surgeons before either the third or fourth year of medical school. The successful applicant for this award will have a passion for a future in orthopaedic surgery and a track record of being a responsible, motivated, self-starter who can finish projects.
If you have any questions please contact the Orthopaedic Research Office at orthoresearch@email.chop.edu.
Please click on the following link to apply: Medical Student Clinical Research Award
E. Medical Student Summer Orthopaedic Research Fellowship
The objective of this fellowship is to encourage medical students considering a career in orthopaedics to gain experience in basic, clinical or translational research. The medical student needs to identify an investigator with an ongoing orthopaedic research project who is willing to accept the student as a research assistant and act as his/her mentor. OREF will provide $2,500 as salary support for the student.
Please go to www.oref.org for more information regarding this opportunity and many more.
Residents
A. Research Year
Residents in the University of Pennsylvania program may spend a year of research in our division, performing clinical or basic science research. We encourage residents to formulate hypotheses and design projects in order to allow them to experience the entire scope of a research endeavor. Please refer to the "Funding Opportunities" section for more information.
B. Other opportunities
Residents are always encouraged to participate in our research endeavors as part of their training program. Residents from the University of Pennsylvania program are involved in many ongoing projects at various levels of their training, and at various levels of responsibility. With a wealth of clinical material and a solid research infrastructure, residents find research in our division a highly fruitful experience. Please browse our "Ongoing Projects" section for ideas, and feel free to contact Donna Dougherty at doughertyd@email.chop.edu for more information.
C. Fellowship
Residents may consider applying for a fellowship in our division to gain additional experience in the field of pediatric orthopaedics and pediatric orthopaedic research. See our fellowship opportunities for more information.
Fellows
A. Research Fellowship
We offer two, one-year research fellowships to residents who have completed their residency or equivalent training overseas. Candidates will have the opportunity to spend the year shadowing physicians within the clinic and operative room, as well as work to lead research projects within our department. Please contact us at oshea@email.chop.edu for more information.
Please click on the following link to apply: Fellow Application
B. Clinical Fellowship
Residents interested in pursuing a career in pediatric orthopaedic surgery may apply for our 12 month ACGME accredited clinical fellowship. We currently train two fellows per year. Please fill out the attached application and contact us at collinsa@email.chop.edu for more information.
Please click on the following link to apply: Fellow Application
C. International Visiting Scholar Opportunity
Our division invites international fellows, doctors or health care providers with equivalent training to visit our hospital and shadow our physicians upon request. Please fill out the attached application and contact chestnut@email.chop.edu for more information.
Please click on the following link to apply: Fellow Application