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J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society Research Grants: What is the Return on Investment?
Lancelot Benn1, Susan Stephens, Mark Ehioghae
1From the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, MedStar Orthopedic Institute, Georgetown University, School of Medicine, Washington DC (Dr. Benn, Dr. Ehioghae, and Dr. Mesfin); the The Institute for Spine, Cleveland, OH (Dr. Stephens); the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry, Rochester, NY (Dr. Balkissoon); the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA (Dr. Williams); the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Dr. Lipa); the Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Residency Program, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA (Dr. Bernstein); the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, NY (Dr. Sokunbi and Dr. Carson); the The Rothman Institute at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA (Dr. Woods); the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University, New York, NY (Dr. Tyler); the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX (Dr. Brooks); the W. Montague Cobb Institute, Washington, DC (Dr. Morgan); the OrthoVirginia, Richmond, VA (Dr. Owusu-Akyaw); the Oklahoma City Veterans Administration Medical Center, Oklahoma City, OK (Dr. Johnson); and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburg Medical Center, Pittsburg, PA (Dr. Russell).
Introduction:
The J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society (JRGOS) aims to increase diversity in orthopaedic surgery and promote high-quality musculoskeletal care for all. Through targeted research funding, JRGOS supports projects aligned with its mission. Despite awarding over $300,000 in research grants since 2011, the return on investment (ROI) of this program has not been analyzed. This study evaluates the ROI of JRGOS research grants from 2011 to 2023.
Methods:
We conducted a retrospective review of all JRGOS research grants awarded between 2011 and 2023. Data included recipient demographics, grant titles, award year, institution, and amount. PubMed and Google Scholar were used to identify resulting publications as of March 8, 2025. We also recorded recipients' practice setting and years in practice at the time of award.
Results:
From 2011 to 2023, JRGOS awarded 52 grants totaling $308,765. Recipients were 40% female (n = 21) and 60% male (n = 31). Among 26 practicing orthopaedic surgeon recipients, 88% (n = 23) were in academic practice and 12% (n = 3) in private practice, with a median of 3 years (range 0-25) in independent practice. Most grants (73.1%) supported clinical research. The overall ROI, defined as the proportion of grants resulting in at least one publication, was 67.3% (35/52), with practicing orthopaedic surgeons achieving an ROI of 92.3%. In total, 72 publications appeared in 40 journals (mean impact factor 3.6), most commonly in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery.
Conclusion:
JRGOS grants demonstrate high efficiency, with a 67.3% ROI and frequent publication in high-impact journals. Practicing orthopaedic surgeons achieved the highest ROI (92.3%).
