IMG Path to OrthoStep 3 of 7
Step 3: Build a VERY strong CV
For IMGs, orthopaedics is an uphill battle. Your CV has to do more than look “good” — it has to prove you can perform at a U.S. resident level, contribute meaningfully to orthopaedic teams, and bring value on day one.
Quality > quantityBuild a pipelineBe reliable, not flashy
The reality check (so you don’t waste time)
This is not meant to discourage you. It’s meant to help you build the strongest version of your application.
Why CV strength matters more for IMGs
Many programs receive hundreds of strong U.S. applications. An IMG CV often needs extra “proof” to overcome uncertainty about training systems, letters, and clinical exposure. Your goal is to make the decision easy: this person is excellent, productive, and safe to train.
What “strong” actually means
Strong doesn’t mean “a long list.” It means credible output, recognizable venues, and clear contribution. A smaller number of high-quality projects beats a large number of weak ones every time.
1. Publications
Aim for credible work that signals you can think, write, and finish projects.
What types count (and how they’re viewed)
- • Original clinical research: Highest signal when well-designed and well-written.
- • Systematic reviews / meta-analyses: Strong if done properly (clear methods, quality assessment, real question).
- • Case series: Can help if meaningful, rare, or tied to a strong institution/team.
- • Avoid: low-quality “pay to publish” outlets and projects with unclear rigor.
Choose projects strategically
Your time is limited. Choose projects that balance impact and feasibility.
- • High-impact question + realistic dataset + mentor who publishes
- • Clear authorship expectations from day 1
- • Projects that can become: abstract → poster → manuscript
The pipeline mindset
Don’t chase one “perfect” paper. Build a pipeline where you’re always working on 2–4 things at different stages: data extraction, analysis, abstract submission, manuscript writing, revisions.
2. Presentations
Recognized meetings help because they are visible, time-stamped, and often lead to publications.
What counts
Posters and podium presentations at reputable regional or national meetings are strong CV signals — especially if they convert into manuscripts.
How to build a presentation pipeline
Target abstract deadlines early. Use presentations as a forcing function: submit abstracts, present, then turn the same work into a full manuscript quickly.
3. Teaching & leadership
Programs want residents who elevate the people around them.
Teaching that signals credibility
- • Formal teaching roles (tutoring, TA roles, skills labs)
- • Mentorship of junior students (with real structure and outcomes)
- • Content creation only if it’s high-quality and consistent (not random posts)
Leadership that matters
Leadership should show maturity, teamwork, and responsibility:
- • Leading research teams or coordinating multi-author projects
- • Organizing teaching efforts or academic groups
- • Roles where you were accountable for deliverables
4. Skills that make you valuable
You don’t need to be a genius. You need to be the person teams can count on.
High-yield technical skills
Stats basics, REDCap, data extraction, study design, literature searching, and clean writing are the skills that make mentors want to keep working with you.
Reliability beats brilliance
People remember who shows up, meets deadlines, communicates clearly, and finishes the project. Those traits turn into strong letters and real advocacy — the currency IMGs need most.
Quick checklist: are you building the right CV?
- At least one project with a credible mentor who publishes
- A pipeline (not a single one-off paper)
- Abstracts targeted to recognized meetings
- Clear authorship expectations before you start
- Evidence you can write and finish (not just “helped”)
- Skills that make you useful on day one (REDCap, stats, writing)