When you need hip, shoulder, or knee surgery, the odds are overwhelming that your surgeon will be a man. Statistics indicate that less than 8% of practicing orthopedic surgeons in the U.S. are women. Now, medical students at Carle Illinois College of Medicine are working to foster diversity in orthopedic surgery by encouraging women to consider a career in the field and providing mentorship along the way.
They’ve formed a local chapter of a nationwide group that provides new professional opportunities to female medical students who are interested in specializing in orthopedic surgery.
Jona Kerluku says the CI MED chapter of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society integrates CI MED students into the larger orthopedic surgery community. Kerluku says support is especially important for women. “As women pursuing careers in orthopedic surgery, we are fortunate to have the opportunity to establish an infrastructure that supports the development and mentorship of others who are interested in orthopedic surgery,” said Kerluku, who is the president of the CI MED chapter. The new group is open to all genders, connecting students with professional development, networking, and learning opportunities.
In recent years, the number of women who enter medical residency in this competitive specialty has risen, but they are still vastly underrepresented.
CI MED graduates have a strong history of securing residency placement in orthopedic surgery. Of the CI MED graduates who’ve entered residency in orthopedics, 25% are women. The new chapter of RJOS complements other student-led efforts to encourage diversity in orthopedics. CI MED hosts a local chapter of The Perry Initiative which sponsors outreach opportunities that encourage women to pursue careers in engineering and orthopedic surgery.
“As a first-year medical student, these student-led initiatives are invaluable to my learning and exposure,” said Arundhati Pillai, the RJOS local chapter treasurer. “They foster a supportive community that encourages exploration into specialties with less diverse representation and creates a safe and welcoming space for professional development,” she said.
The Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society provides students with opportunities to submit their research to local and national orthopedic conferences, supports professional goals and education through webinars and workshops, and provides access to scholarships throughout the medical education journey.
The RJOS is named for inventor, entrepreneur, and orthopedist Dr. Ruth Jackson, who in 1937 became the first female in the U.S. to earn board certification as an orthopedic surgeon. Jackson died in 1991.
Editor’s note: Organizers of the CI MED chapter of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society include Jona Kerluku, President; Alexis Watson, Vice President; Oluwabusayo Oni, Secretary; and Arundhati Pillai, Treasurer. The faculty advisor is CI MED Clinical Assistant Professor and Carle Health orthopedic surgeon Dr. Clifford Johnson, Jr.
The study "Gender Representation in Orthopaedic Surgery: A Geospatial Analysis From 2015 to 2022," by a CI MED research team is available here: DOI: 10.7759/cureus.27305