Summer Research: Procrastinating Less & Pipetting More

Summer Research: Procrastinating Less and Pipetting More

“Have you done any research yet?”, “What are your summer plans?” “How important is research?” These are questions medical students across the country are constantly being asked. Research can be beneficial for students by providing us insight into the future of orthopedics, it can provide experiences which can be useful for future residency applications, and enable the growth of critical thinking skills necessary for future physicians and researchers. Although summer should provide some time to relax, students should not be neglecting their long-term goals. Summer is a great time to recharge while still being productive.

Look for opportunities within your own school or independently reach out to faculty

Start off by shadowing a physician or reaching out to a resident in your field of interest. Once you have built a relationship with them, ask them if they have any ongoing projects that you can assist with.
See if your school has any structured research programs. At my medical school, we have a program that allows us to work with a faculty mentor throughout the summer.
Use your school’s faculty website to find staff involved in research. Email them to set up a time to meet and then ask them about opportunities to work with them.

Summer internships

This is definitely the HIGHEST YIELD information in this post! We have included several ortho-related externships and research internships below. These learning opportunities are a great way to make new friends, connect with mentors, further develop your interests and experience another healthcare center. Many of these programs will renumerate you to attend their institution to complete a research project, giving you the opportunity to try out a new city!

A) Silberstein Pediatric Orthopaedics Research Fellowship- Johns Hopkins

“The Silberstein Research Fellowship, named in honor of Dr. Charles E. Silberstein, is a fellowship program for students in the first year of medical school seeking an early start to clinical experience in the orthopaedic field. This is a two-to three-month commitment during the summer. Fellows will work with the pediatric orthopaedic surgery faculty and the Poggi research fellow to bring a project to substantial completion and eventual publication.”

B) OTI Summer Research Internship- University of California San Francisco

“Interns will contribute to new or ongoing research projects that revolve around advancing the field of orthopaedic trauma. Fields of research include, but are not limited to, prospective & retrospective clinical research, systematic reviews & meta-analyses, biomechanical research, and data science. Outside of research time, interns will have the ability to shadow in the clinic and the operating room, as well as attend and participate in educational activities.”

C) Nth Dimensions Orthopaedic Summer Internship

“ Nth Dimensions was founded in 2004 by orthopaedic surgeons working collaboratively with academic institutions, community surgeons, and industry to address the dearth of women and underrepresented minorities (URMs) in orthopaedic surgery…Through an 8-week clinical and research internship with a practicing researcher, which also includes a full-day orientation and culminates in the student presenting his/her research poster at the annual National Medical Association assembly. Following successful completion of the summer internship program, students receive scholarships to participate in a USMLE Step 1 board review course, which is conducted throughout their second year in medical school.

D) Summer Research Program- University of Buffalo

“Our ten-week mentored research program is designed for medical students interested in orthopaedic surgery, and it takes place in the summer between the first and second years of medical school. It is also opened to visiting medical students and undergraduates interested in orthopaedic research.”

E) Summer Internship with Dr. Wong and Dalhousie Arthroscopy & Sports Medicine- Dalhousie University

“A summer research student internship positions to advance research output and project efficiency. These positions typically last from May to September, but may be extended in some circumstances. Research interns support the team in research related tasks including (but not limited to) spreadsheet management, data entry, data analysis, preparing presentations, and, in some scenarios, preparing surgical technique papers. Generally, these positions are reserved for students with a science degree who have displayed knowledge and experience conducting scientific research.”

F) Sports Medicine Summer Internship Brigham and Women’s Hospital- Harvard University

“As part of the summer internship, you will conduct literature searches, interact with research subjects, prepare manuscripts, and collect and/or analyze data. You will work primarily with Dr. Matzkin and the members of her research team, including residents and physician assistants as well as colleagues in other orthopedic surgery specialties. An important part of the summer internship is shadowing opportunities in order for you to gain experience working in a sports medicine clinic and caring for patients with sports-related injuries. You will be encouraged to shadow our physicians in all aspects of patient care such as the clinic and the operating room.”

G) Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Summer Research Intern Program- Northwestern University

“The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine is seeking undergraduate and graduate students who are interested in an educational experience designed for the intern to learn more about clinical research in orthopaedics and sports medicine. Coordinated by the research staff, and under the supervision of the physician scientists, the Summer Research Intern Program is designed to provide students with an educational experience that will allow them to gain practical experience through exposure to research project(s) within the division, attendance at weekly research meetings, and participation in research seminars and trainings.”

H) Medical Student Summer Research Program- Vanderbilt University

“In this 8-week immersive summer research program, medical students will conduct a research project under the guidance of an experienced faculty mentor, observe clinical and surgical care (if permitted with active COVID-19 hospital guidelines), and spend time with residents, fellows, and orthopedic surgeons. Additional activities will include educational lectures, hands-on skills workshops, and social events with members of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.”

I) Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Orthopaedic Research Internships for Medical and Undergraduate Students- The University of Utah

“The University of Utah Department of Orthopaedics is proud to offer a summer research opportunity for one medical and one undergraduate student per year who come from a group traditionally underrepresented in orthopaedic surgery.”

J) STaR (Student Trauma and Resuscitation Research Program)- Emory University

“The aim of the Student Trauma and Resuscitation (STaR) Research Program is to provide interested medical students the opportunity to participate in ongoing trauma research, nurture their academic development, and provide them the tools to successfully bring a research project to completion.”

K) Orthopedic Trauma Undergraduate Summer Internship- Harvard University

“We are actively recruiting undergraduates to work with our clinical research team. The main aim of the internship is to provide interns with a basic understanding about clinical research, primarily through providing practical experience. The secondary aim is to provide opportunities for interns to shadow in the clinical environments in order to see what life is like in the hospital setting.”

L) Orthopedic Surgery Summer Externship Program- New York University

“NYU Langone’s Department of Orthopedic Surgery offers a six-week summer externship program for medical students. The program provides in-depth exposure to academic orthopedic surgery early in a medical student’s education, between the first and second years. We aim to provide the kind of faculty mentorship that continues throughout medical school and into residency.”

M) Orthopaedics Remote Research Program Summer 2022- Stanford University

“One of the main goals of this program is to lower the barriers in acquiring meaningful, high-impact research experiences under faculty mentorship for aspiring orthopaedic surgeons. Mentorship is at the core of this research program, whether it’s faculty to student or student to student mentorship. Orthopaedics has a long-recognized diversity issue, and it is imperative that we address this by creating accessible, equitable, and early opportunity pipelines for all students interested in orthopedics. A core focus of this program will be about building opportunity, mentorship, and a connection to the field in order to prepare and encourage students to apply for orthopaedic residency.”

N) Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Research Internship- University of Connecticut

“The mission of the Orthopaedic Foundation is to promote research and education in orthopaedics, sports medicine and musculoskeletal diseases, therefore, the Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Internship program is at the heart of our programs we offer. The Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Internship program provides a structured academic environment that promotes research and education in orthopaedics, sports medicine, and musculoskeletal diseases. Interns engage in a research project under a senior physician (MD) and a clinical researcher (PhD) and are guided through the clinical research process from design to submission to a peer review journal. Students will gain experience and knowledge in conducting and writing literature reviews to define concepts and design potential research studies, patient recruitment and follow-up, data collection and entry, basic statistical analysis, and manuscript preparation. The internship is an unpaid opportunity but is also available for course credit (up to 3 credit hours). A minimum of 10-12 hours per week is expected.”

The spectrum

There’s a spectrum with regards to how much time a person needs to sufficiently recharge. Be sure to reward yourself with a mental break from the stress of the academic year. We suggest planning your summer and delegating your time to what suits your own needs. Planning ahead and being deliberate with your summer will ensure that you feel satisfied, relaxed, and accomplished.

Written by: Lilly Groszman

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