The Medical Student Orthopedic Society (MSOS) held a free, one-day virtual symposium in April 2022, providing medical students the opportunity to increase their knowledge of the field of orthopaedic surgery and present their research.
In a new AOA Critical Issues in Education report in JBJS Open Access, the impact of the MSOS inaugural symposium is assessed by leadership.
As interest in pursuing a career in orthopaedic surgery continues to increase, “medical students will continue to seek information, mentorship, and opportunities to present their research in preparation for residency applications,” notes the authors.
A total of 962 medical students registered for the 2022 event. Participants were asked to complete surveys before and after the 4-hour symposium. Pre-symposium, 563 medical students responded to the survey, and post-symposium, 462 replied (295 completed both surveys).
- The percentage who felt they were “very knowledgeable” about the different orthopaedic surgery subspecialties increased from 13.3% before to 18.4% after the symposium. While pre-symposium, 46.9% reported that they were “knowledgeable” about the daily life of an orthopaedic surgery resident, the percentage increased to 67.3% following the event. Prior to the symposium, 12.2% said they were “very knowledgeable” about the residency match process. This increased to 22.4% following the meeting.
- The surveys also included questions related to age, sex, and race; year in medical school; and allopathic or osteopathic medical school education. Students were asked about their interest in orthopaedic surgery, their research experiences, and whether they had a mentor. Access the survey results.
Looking ahead, a majority of the students planned to connect with other medical students, residents, and attending physicians who participated in the symposium.
Upcoming MSOS Events
The 2nd Annual Symposium will take place on April 23, 2023. Find out more at the MSOS website.
This month (Dec. 15, 2022 from 8-9 p.m. ET), the fourth of a 6-part virtual series, “Let’s Talk About Research Years,” will be held for those contemplating a research year during medical school. The series is presented by the MSOS Education Committee in collaboration with JBJS. Dr. George Dyer from the JBJS Editorial Board will be a panelist.
Free Access to JBJS Clinical Classroom
For medical students looking to hone their orthopaedic knowledge, free access to the JBJS orthopaedic learning tool, JBJS Clinical Classroom, is available to you. Please reach out to Aidan Smith (asmith@jbjs.org) to claim your free access as a medical student.
AOA Critical Issues in Education
The AOA Critical Issues in Education section in JBJS Open Access is managed in conjunction with the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA). The articles address major issues in the education of orthopaedic medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty. Articles are freely available and can be found in the AOA Critical Issues in Education collection at JBJS.org.
