Tips & Advice

As a pre-clerkship student, you do not yet have any orthopaedic surgery rotations, so take your time to understand the different specialties better. Explore all the specialties medicine has to offer by shadowing, networking, and attending events hosted by different interest groups.

This will help you to understand the clinical focus, culture and lifestyle of various medical fields and ultimately see if orthopaedic surgery is really the perfect fit for you. Then, start narrowing your focus by joining your school’s orthopaedic-focused initiatives, participating in national/international events and courses, shadowing orthopaedic surgeons, networking, or participating in research projects.

Leadership

Try to join your school’s Orthopaedic Surgery or related surgical student-led organization, and consider running for a leadership role. This is a great way of connecting with motivated peers, working with residents to plan events, and gaining early exposure to the field. Keep in mind that being involved in a few groups and fulfilling your job is better than trying to get involved everywhere and having no time left to fulfill your role. 

Getting involved outside your school in organizations related to Orthopaedic Surgery, Sports Medicine, and other initiatives which interest you are also options to consider. The goal overall is to showcase your passion for an initiative and the skills to pursue organizational goals effectively.

Horizontal Electives/Shadowing

Many schools offer opportunities to accompany during their daily practice or have a database of previous shadowing experiences. You can also ask to shadow a physician by contacting them directly. Try to shadow as much as you can to see all the different specialties in medicine, but also the subspecialties within orthopaedics. Early in pre-clerkship, these "mini-electives" will likely be your only chance to see surgeons in action, so make the most of it!

Here are some tips on how to prepare:

• Practice scrub training and suture techniques.
• Ask the surgeon for the day's cases and review MSK anatomy
• Bring a notebook to take notes in between patients only, but don’t take notes in front of patients.
• Prepare questions you are curious to ask the surgeon, but be respectful of the team’s flow when asking them.
• Dress professionally.

This is a great way to connect with surgeons, but also fellows, residents, and other medical students you may see during your experience!

Networking & Research

Pre-clerkship is a great time to start building relationships with faculty in the specialty of your interest!

Many research projects require medical student support for tasks such as chart reviews, data entry or literature reviews. So, don’t be shy! At the end of a shadowing opportunity or during an event, try to ask staff or residents involved in research if they need your help. It is an excellent way to contribute to meaningful work and gain responsibilities. Once you are on a research team, make sure to be proactive and independent (but feel free to ask any questions you may have).

Don’t forget! Small steps in pre-clerkship can set you up for bigger opportunities later on. Establishing positive connections with others early on can lead to future research with your role being more central to the project.

Events & Courses

Try to participate in different events and other opportunities. Interest groups and orthopaedic divisions often organize talks, workshops and surgical skills sessions open to all medical students. These will help you build knowledge, hands-on skills and meet potential mentors.

COSSNET offers multiple resources as well, including the BoneZone and Cutting Edge event held at the annual COA conference!