Path to Ortho · Research Fellowships

Ortho Research Fellowships

A research year can be a game-changer—or a wasted year—depending on the mentor, infrastructure, and your ability to produce consistently.

Should I do one? Where? How to apply?

1 · What is it?

A year of productivity — not a syllabus

Every fellowship is different. The most important variables are who you work for and what the institution can support.

What you should expect

• Day to day varies widely across positions.

• Each position is unique — it depends on your mentor (“boss”) and the institution.

• Across all positions, the purpose is the same: increase the research productivity of the team you’re working with.

Some positions are more structured than others.

What kind of research will you do?

It depends on the infrastructure of the institution:

Multi-center prospective studies
Large database studies
Case reports, techniques, retrospective series

Across almost every position

The year follows 4 distinct phases

Universal framework

Phase 1

Orientation

Access, onboarding, IRB systems, data tools, and understanding expectations. This takes longer than you think.

Phase 2

Clean-up phase

Finish existing projects, revise manuscripts, submit abstracts, and learn how the group operates day-to-day.

Phase 3

Build your own projects

Start new studies from scratch: question → design → approvals → execution → write-up.

Phase 4

Hand-off + finalize

Tidy everything up, create continuity for the next fellow, and push remaining work to submission.

By the end of the year…What you actually leave with

Tangible output

Accepted manuscripts (amount varies by position).
Conference posters/presentations.
Projects in the pipeline with your name on them.

Team Integration + Behind-the-Scenes Exposure

Integrated into an orthopaedic team with real expectations and responsibility.
Exposure to the internal workings of an academic department beyond what applicants see.
Clear feedback on performance, efficiency, and growth areas over time.

Network + visibility

Faculty who will pick up the phone for you.
Resident integration (varies by position).
Connections that create away rotations and interviews.

Research fluency

Comfort navigating IRB, data collection, and research processes.
Research stops being intimidating and becomes routine.
Comfort functioning as a productive member of a research team.

Bottom line: A research year can look different for everyone and the helpfulness is multi-factorial. However, there is opportunity to gain foundational skills, and build a strong ortho network.

2 · Should I do it?

Is a research year for you?

It can be a very strategic move when it fixes a specific weakness or adds real leverage.

A research year is usually a good move if…

You went unmatched and need a clear upgrade (output + mentorship + advocacy).
Research is a real weakness on your application (few pubs/abstracts, weak productivity story).
You’re aiming for research-heavy programs and want credibility + connections.
You have access to a mentor/institution with a proven pipeline (projects + support + track record).
You are intrinsically motivated and can grind consistently for a year.

Think twice if…

You genuinely do not like research.
You cannot afford a gap year financially after not matching.
Your scores are significantly below average and a research year might not be enough.
You’re doing it to “buy time” with no clear plan for what you’ll fix.
You’re not willing to relocate for only a year.

3 · Where should I do it?

Pick a place built to support output and mentorship

This decision is about more than prestige — it’s about infrastructure, expectations, and the match track record.

Don’t go somewhere unpaid

You should not take an unpaid research fellowship — and it’s not just about the money.

If they won’t pay a modest stipend, it often signals either low institutional support or poor infrastructure.

A supportive place usually has systems in place: data access, IRB help, stats support, and a clear workflow.

Prioritize match track record + network

Choose places that consistently help fellows match — ideally into ortho.

Strong presence within the home residency (fellows integrated with residents/faculty)
A historical pattern of matching their own research fellows (when true)
Mentors with a large network and a reputation for mentoring

Mentor quality

• Clear expectations

• Fast feedback

• Protects your productivity

• Advocates for you

Infrastructure

• IRB help

• Data access

• Stats support

• Project pipeline

Resident integration

• Attend conferences

• Know the residents

• Be part of the culture

• Real visibility

4 · How do I do it?

How to find and apply (without a standardized timeline)

Some positions open earlier than others. Plan ahead and use mentors to avoid blind spots.

Finding positions

There’s no standardized timeline. Many applications open January–March, but some programs recruit earlier or fill informally.

#1 place to look

OrthoGate: Medical Student Research Fellowship forum

Keep your own list of deadlines + contacts as you browse postings.

You can also reach out directly to programs that historically have a research fellow. Sometimes the opportunity exists before it’s publicly posted.

How to apply intelligently

• Involve your orthopaedic mentors early.

• Ask mentors: “Which places actually match their fellows?”

• Clarify: who is your boss, and what is the institution’s support?

Your goal isn’t “a research year.” Your goal is a year with a high probability of real output and real advocacy.

Your application checklist (simple and realistic)

Use mentors here

Update CV (publications, abstracts, presentations, roles).

Draft a one-page “why this fellowship” paragraph you can tailor.

Identify 2–3 recommenders who can speak to work ethic + research output.

Make a spreadsheet: program, mentor, pay, deadlines, track record, notes.

Ask: what projects are already in the pipeline?

Ask: what does a ‘successful fellow’ look like here?

Ask: expected weekly hours + conference expectations.

Ask: how prior fellows matched (where, and how many).

The interview (rolling + highly variable)

Interviews for research fellowships are often rolling and the format varies widely (phone, or Zoom). No matter the style, use the interview to confirm expectations and learn about the position.

Ask these every time

What projects are already in the pipeline?

What does a “successful fellow” look like here?

What does a typical week look like? (ie. weekly hours & interactions with residents)

How have prior fellows matched (where, and how many)?

If they can’t answer these clearly, that’s a signal.

How people actually get these positions

Your CV matters (scores + research track record)
Mentors vouching for you is huge (use your orthopaedic mentors)
Unfortunately, there is some luck involved.

FAQ

Common questions applicants ask

Short answers to the stuff that gets people stuck.

What about programs that have multiple research fellows?

This is important to consider. More fellows can mean more built-in support, but also more competition for projects and mentor time. Ask how the fellows work together and how projects are distributed.

Is it better to do lots of small projects or fewer big ones?

Usually a mix: quick-turnaround projects build momentum, while 1–2 larger projects show depth. Your mentor should help balance this based on your timeline.

Do I need a research year to match ortho?

No. But for some applicants—especially if research was a major weakness—it can be the most direct way to change the story of the application within one year.

Should I do unpaid if I really want the program?

In almost all cases: no. Unpaid often correlates with weak support and poor infrastructure. If you still consider it, you need very strong evidence of output + matching track record.

Are 2 year programs better?

If you’re unmatched, it can be tough to generate meaningful output before the next cycle’s applications are due which is the main advantage of a 2-year program. The tradeoff is obvious: if you invest two years and still don’t match, you’ve delayed starting a different career path by a substantial amount of time.