Physician-innovators at Carle Illinois College of Medicine are gaining rare hands-on experience with treating complex fractures of the lower extremities early in their medical school careers. Guided by orthopedic surgeons and industry representatives, CI MED students used advanced tools to practice the external fixation technique for stabilizing complex or open fractures during a special student-sponsored workshop. Organizers say this early exposure gives CI MED students an advantage when seeking residency placement in this complex and competitive medical specialty.
CI MED student Neddie Byron of the Orthopedic Surgery Interest group says the unique learning experience allows students to apply what they learn in the classroom. “The combination of industry-led technical instruction and surgeon-led clinical context made the learning experience especially valuable — bridging the gap between device design, surgical application, and patient care,” Byron said.
Using specialized orthopedic surgery equipment, students practiced external fixation (ex-fix) of the lower extremity, a surgical technique used to stabilize open or complex fractures or in trauma cases that don’t lend themselves to internal stabilization with plates or screws. The ex-fix technique uses pins inserted into the bone and connected to an external frame. The device holds the bone fragments in proper alignment, allows access to soft-tissue injuries, and minimizes further damage to promote healing.
Byron and fellow organizer Alexis Watson tapped into the expertise of three CI MED professors and orthopedic surgeons – Drs. Clifford Johnson and Mark Palermo, along with Dr. August Funk of Carle Health. A representative from DePuy Synthes provided technical instruction on the use of specialized orthopedic surgery devices.
“By gaining early, hands-on exposure to sawbones labs like these, CI MED students develop a foundational understanding of key orthopedic trauma concepts before entering clinical rotations,” Byron said. Watson, who will succeed Byron as co-president of the orthopedic surgery interest group, plans to apply for orthopedic surgery residency in the March 2027 match cycle.
CI MED has a strong track record of placing graduates in competitive orthopedic surgery residency programs. Engineering plays a crucial role in orthopedic surgery treatments, creating a natural affinity with CI MED’s unique engineering-based medical curriculum.