The Perry Initiative's Medical Student Outreach Program Recruits Women Into Orthopaedic Residency

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic surgery diversity initiatives.
• Medical education and career development.
• Gender equity in surgical specialties.

Background:

• Orthopaedic surgery has persistent gender diversity issues, with women comprising only 14% of residents.
• Negative perceptions of workplace culture and lifestyle deter women from orthopaedics.
• Lack of exposure during medical school is a critical factor in career choice.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the orthopaedic surgery residency match rate for participants in The Perry Initiative's Medical Student Outreach Program (MSOP).
• To assess MSOP's impact on participants' perceptions and intellectual interest in orthopaedics.

Main Methods:

• Annual follow-up surveys tracked the orthopaedic surgery match rate of MSOP alumnae from the first two cohorts.
• Pre- and post-program surveys evaluated changes in participants' career intentions, perceptions, and interest in orthopaedics.

Main Results:

• The orthopaedic surgery match rate for MSOP participants was 31% (2015) and 28% (2016).
• Post-program surveys indicated a positive influence of MSOP on students' perceptions and intellectual engagement with orthopaedics.

Conclusions:

• The Perry Initiative's MSOP effectively encourages women to pursue orthopaedic surgery.
• MSOP alumnae match into orthopaedics at double the rate of women in general residency classes.
• MSOP provides a successful model for diversity and inclusion programs in orthopaedics.