Medical student clerkships and externships

The Department of Orthopaedics offers two course options for orthopaedic medical student clerkships, an elective and a DOC5/sub-internship. The department also offers podiatric student externships.

Orthopaedic medical student clerkships

The Department of Orthopaedics offers two courses for fourth year medical students who wish to do a one-month rotation in orthopaedics. These two courses are offered at a number of clinical sites. All courses at all sites are open to Ohio State students. Only courses which are based at OSU are open to students from other colleges. The goal of each rotation is to give the student a well-rounded, thorough introduction into orthopaedics and the sub-specialties therein. Students are permitted and encouraged to customize their one-month rotation in order to gain exposure and experience in the sub-specialties of their choice. The director of medical student education and the education coordinator will work with the student to identify his or her area of interest and then schedule the student for one-week blocks accordingly.

There are two levels of responsibility from which the student may choose. The elective offers the student a basic introduction into orthopaedics. The DOC5, or sub-internship, offers the student a more in-depth study of the discipline. The DOC5 requires additional participation on the part of the student. For example, students are required to attend conferences, take in-house call and present a paper or case presentation during one of the residency program’s educational conferences.

Sub-Specialty Areas
The Department of Orthopaedics has a diverse faculty with attendings representing each sub-specialty. Students have the option of choosing to work with attendings from the following areas:
- Adult reconstruction/joint replacement
- Foot and ankle
- Hand and upper extremity
- Musculoskeletal oncology
- Pediatric orthopaedics
- Spine
- Sports medicine – shoulder and knee
- Trauma
Visiting Students
Students from other colleges and universities may apply for an externship rotation in orthopaedics at The Ohio State University. Enrollment is not restricted to certain months. Please check The Ohio State University College of Medicine visiting students website to see if there is space available for the month in which you would like to enroll. For students interested in applying for an externship at OSU, the following procedure applies:
- Students must apply through VSAS. Students must indicate the months in which they are available for an elective at Ohio State. To better your chances of enrollment, always indicate a first and second choice
- Once the College of Medicine has approved your application, an approval form will be submitted to the Department of Orthopaedics. The department will determine if there is space available for either your first or second choice of months
- The VSAS system will send you notification via e-mail that you have been accepted for an elective
- The Department of Orthopaedics will send you detailed information on the rotation and schedule
Participation in a visiting elective at OSU does not guarantee an interview for the residency program. You will be notified in early November if you are granted an interview.

The Ohio State University College of Medicine does not offer any free or low-cost housing for visiting medical students. Information about off-campus housing is available online at OSU Office of International Affairs Temporary Housing.
The Ohio State University, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, DEI Scholarship
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at The Ohio State University is committed to developing a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment. We recognize the value these principles have on our care of patients of diverse backgrounds and also on our own personal growth. We welcome individuals of all gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and faith to consider taking their next step in their career here with us at The Ohio State University.

We recognize that there are systemic forces that have deterred and continue to deter people of certain backgrounds from applying to Orthopaedic Surgery. Groups including women and underrepresented minorities, for example, are lacking in our field. In an effort to curb these forces, we have created a scholarship that provides financial assistance to fourth year medical students who are planning a career in orthopaedic surgery and would like to do a 4-week visiting sub-internship with us. Diverse students whose backgrounds and/or identities are underrepresented in orthopaedics are encouraged to apply. Selected students will receive $1,500 that can be used towards lodging and travel expenses during their time with us.

Applications from medical students who expect to do a visiting sub-internship during the calendar year of 2022 are now being accepted.

Requirements:
- Upcoming 4th year medical student or student who plans to enter residency in July 2023
- Undergraduate and Medical School Transcript
- Current Curriculum Vitae
- Maximum 200-word Personal statement addressing how you contribute to diversity in Orthopaedic Surgery
View the application View flyer

Deadline to apply: March 3, 2023

We will notify scholarship recipients by March 21, 2023, and will provide additional details on applying for and securing a visiting rotation spot.

Please do not hesitate to contact our orthopaedic residency program coordinator, Julia Panzo, with any questions: Julia.panzo@osumc.edu.
Underrepresented Minority Visiting Student Program

For questions regarding your application to The Ohio State University College of Medicine or to enroll in a fourth year elective, contact:

Dennis Johnson
dennis.johnson@osumc.edu

College of Medicine
1190C Graves Hall
370 W. 9th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210

Orthopaedic podiatric student externships

This externship takes place within the Department of Orthopaedics at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and The Ohio State University Hospitals East in Columbus, Ohio. The Department of Orthopaedics sponsors a three-year rotating residency program in podiatric surgery, as well as a five-year residency program in orthopaedics. We are unable to provide housing for externs. If you require additional assistance, please contact the residency coordinator.

Structure

We believe the externship month at Ohio State should be an educational experience, giving each student exposure to all aspects of podiatric residency training. The responsibility of the extern is to assist the surgical residents with whatever is needed. This includes (but is not limited to) the following:

Taking preoperative podiatric histories and physicals
Scrubbing and assisting surgical cases
Writing preoperative and postoperative notes
Rounding on patients
Attending lectures and conferences
All of the above is under the supervision of the program director, Dr. Alan Block. Externs will also work under the direction of both the senior and junior residents

Erik Monson, DPM
Director, Podiatric Residency Program

Application Process

Eligibility

Fourth year medical students currently enrolled in any college of podiatric medicine are invited to apply for the externship.

Application procedure

Please obtain a Uniform Externship Application from your school and mail it along with a CV, transcripts and scores to the address below. Selections will be made on a space available basis.

Julia Panzo
Education Program Manager
Phone: 614-293-7945
Fax: 614-293-3596
Julia.Panzo@osumc.edu

Department of Orthopaedics
725 Prior Hall
376 W. 10th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43210

Medical Student Programs in Orthopaedics

Medical student clerkships and externships

Orthopaedic medical student clerkships

Sub-Specialty Areas

Visiting Students

The Ohio State University, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency, DEI Scholarship

Orthopaedic podiatric student externships

Application Process

Helpful Links

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