Medical Students

For assistance arranging one-on-one meetings with an advisor, contact Wendy Thompson with a request and provide a copy of your CV.

Orthopaedic/Musculoskeletal Discovery

Musculoskeletal pathology is among the most common reasons patients attend outpatient clinics. Orthopaedics encompasses the subspecialties of foot and ankle, hand, joint arthroplasty, oncology, pediatrics, trauma, spine, and sports medicine. It is closely related to physical medicine and rehabilitation. Beyond the surgical aspect of orthopaedics, outpatient management accounts for most musculoskeletal treatment.

An understanding of this pathology is essential for any physician. With this aim, we would propose 4 different experiences for students based on their area of interest.

• Orthopaedic Surgery Experience
  • Placement on one of our orthopaedic services, to rotate weeks between clinic and the OR.
  • Please rank 3 subspecialties that you may find most interesting to pursue
    • Foot and ankle, hand, total joint arthroplasty (hips/knees), oncology, pediatrics, trauma, spine, and sports medicine
• Orthopaedic Medicine Experience
  • Placement in a clinic that could include non-operative (primary care) Sports Medicine and Pediatric Orthopedics. Exposure would include both clinical evaluation as well as management that may involve in-office procedures (ultrasound) and casting (pediatrics)
• Orthopaedic Emergency Experience
  • A combination of spending time with our consulting service at Duke North and Duke Regional and time in our outpatient trauma clinic to better understand acute orthopaedic care.
• Rehabilitation Experience
  • Outpatient clinic and procedure-based physical medicine and rehabilitation experience, led by Dr. Guo.

If you are a Duke medical student interested in an experience in musculoskeletal care during Discovery, we would love to have you join us! This program is for current Duke students only. Please get in touch with Kendall Bradley, MD, with your name, availability dates, and the pathway you want to pursue. Please get in touch with Ben Alman, MD, if Dr. Bradley is unavailable due to anticipated parental leave this summer.

Ortho 222C: Orthopaedic Surgery Experience

This course involves a rigorous experience working in the Orthopaedic Surgery Service. Duties include inpatient care, outpatient examination, operating room experience, and emergency room calls. Conference attendance is required during both weeks. Regular discussions are conducted with attending staff and residents. This course will emphasize broad concepts of orthopaedics and will be helpful for all students regardless of their career choices. Orthopaedic Rounds at 5:30 AM Monday through Friday by meeting the residents in the Replant Office (919.681.3163) located at Duke University Hospital in the Hospital for Surgery Addition (HAFS), 1st Floor, and Room 1661 (2301 Erwin Road, Durham, NC 27710). For more information, interest in taking the selective, and to obtain a permission number, please contact Wendy Thompson or at 919.684.3170.
- Credits: 2
- Enrollment max: 3
- Kendall Bradley, MD

Biomedical Engineering, Orthopaedics & Surgery (BES)

This interdepartmental study program is designed to provide third-year students with an opportunity to perform laboratory-based research in the broad area of biomedical and tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.  It can be either basic science or clinically focused.  The program is designed to provide research opportunities to students interested in the quantitative understanding of the physiology of cells, tissues, organs, organ systems, whole animals or people, and populations, as well as the efficacy of various therapies. The mentors have laboratories that investigate these areas at the molecular, microscopic, and macroscopic levels and utilize whole animal, organ, cellular, and molecular models or in vitro simulation of disease states. The development and employment of new instrumentation may be a component of the research effort, as well as the use of versatile cell-based therapies, including adult stem cells. Emphasis on the student experience is placed upon teaching the quantitative method of understanding biological systems. The student is expected to learn to formulate hypotheses, develop appropriate methods to test such hypotheses and use statistical methods to conclude their data. Each student selects a faculty preceptor in consultation with the study program director, and an individual research plan is developed. Students who wish to enter this program are not required or expected to have any engineering background.

Students interested in Orthopaedics should contact William Eward, MD, to discuss their plans.

Ortho 429C: Sub-Internship in Orthopaedic Surgery

A complete educational experience in orthopaedic surgery with duties and responsibilities similar to a first-year resident. Students can rotate through various orthopaedic subspecialties, including trauma, joint arthroplasty, sports medicine, and foot and ankle. Inpatient care, outpatient examination, operating room experience, and emergency room calls are expected. Individual or group discussions are conducted each day with attending staff/residents. Conference attendance and emergency room calls are required. For more information and to obtain a permission number, please contact Wendy Thompson at 919.684.3170. Permission is required.
- Credits: 5
- Kendall Bradley, MD; Robert Fitch, MD, and orthopaedic and house staff

Ortho 421C: Fractures/Musculoskeletal Trauma

Students participate in the emergency management of patients through the Duke Emergency Room. Principles of fractures and trauma are given during emergency room assignments. Requirements are attendance at one outpatient clinic per week, two nights per week on call in the emergency room, and conference attendance. Students planning to apply for orthopaedic residency must complete 429C before taking this elective. For more information and a permission number, please contact Wendy Thompson at 919.684.3170. Permission is required.
- Credits: 3.
- Enrollment: maximum 2 students per four-week section.
- Malcolm DeBaun, MD; Christian Pean, MD; Rachel Reilly, MD, and Duke Orthopaedic Staff

Ortho 430C: Orthopaedic Sports Medicine

This elective is ideal for students interested in orthopaedic surgery but is also relevant to occupational medicine, and rehabilitation. Students participate in the clinic and operating room. They learn about anatomy, pathology, physical exam, and treatment of various musculoskeletal presentations in young and old patients, including athletes. Attendance at educational conferences is required. Students are encouraged to participate in school physicals and game coverage to gain experience. For more information and a permission number, please contact Wendy Thompson at 919.684.3170. Permission required.
- Credits: 4
- Enrollment max: 1
- Prerequisite: Ortho 429C
- Dean Taylor, MD; Ned Amendola, MD; Oke Anakwenze, MD; Richard Mather, MD; and Alison P. Toth, MD

Ortho 431C: Hand/Upper Extremity Surgery

This elective is especially suitable for students interested in orthopaedic surgery, but also relevant to plastic surgery and emergency medicine. Trauma and microvascular are emphasized. Students participate in all aspects, from outpatient visits to operative procedures and inpatient rounds. They also spend time in the Hand and Upper Extremity Anatomy Lab. Attendance at educational conferences is required. For more information and a permission number, please contact Wendy Thompson at 919.684.3170. Permission Required.
- Credits: 4
- Prerequisite: Ortho 429C
- Enrollment max: 1
- David Ruch, MD; Warren Hammert, MD ; Neill Li, MD; and Marc Richard, MD

Ortho 432C: Musculoskeletal Oncology