The AOA Critical Issues in Education channel of JBJS Open Access presents high-quality articles focused on orthopaedic education and education research. The section was launched in 2020 through a partnership with the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA).
In a new editorial, Dr. George Dyer, AOA Critical Issues in Education Deputy Editor, discusses the mission of the education channel—and proposes an additional article concept for consideration by authors.
Editorial: A Mission Statement and a New Idea for the JBJS Open Access Education Channel
“As I start my second year in this role, I would like to share a bit of my vision for this channel: AOA Critical Issues in Education should be the definitive place to publish education research and innovation in orthopaedic surgery,” writes Dr. Dyer. He emphasizes the high standards of all JBJS journals including JBJS Open Access. “I would particularly like to acknowledge the small-but-growing group of education experts who have served as reviewers over the last year,” he says. “You are what makes this an excellent journal.”
Dr. Dyer reflects on the evolution of the education channel, which grew out of the Topics in Training section of JBJS. “The expansion to an open access format was intended to allow innovation in the type and variety of articles that JBJS could publish, without sacrificing excellence. This dual mission of excellence and innovation creates a perfect opportunity for this channel to try new things.”
He notes one direction he would like to take the channel: case reports in surgical education, “brief articles describing specific educational initiatives that have been introduced within individual institutions.”
One such article was published alongside the editorial: Orthopaedic Surgery First-Year Resident Surgical Skills Month Curriculum, by Justin Siebler, MD, Jenni Bouckhuyt, BS, and Matthew Mormino, MD. The authors describe the creation of a “bootcamp-style” skills program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center.
“A skills curriculum has been a mandatory part of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery curriculum for more than a decade,” says Dr. Dyer. “However, JBJS recognizes that, in reality, many institutions may just be getting started with a serious skills program of their own.” He notes that the article may help to guide other programs. “I would encourage other submissions like this one. From time to time, we will be happy to publish the best of them.”
Read the full editorial: A Mission Statement and a New Idea for the JBJS Open Access Education Channel
Go to the AOA Critical Issues in Education collection at JBJS. org to find additional education-related articles from JBJS Open Access.
For authors interested in submitting an article to the AOA Critical Issues in Education channel, see the Author Resource Center.
