Visiting Orthopedic Surgery Student Diversity Award

The Visiting Orthopaedic Surgery Student Diversity Award program is a funded opportunity for one fourth-year medical student interested in completing an externship in Orthopaedic Surgery. The program is designed to give students that have demonstrated an interest in advancing diversity the opportunity to gain clinical exposure to Orthopaedic Surgery in our tertiary care adult and children’s hospitals. In addition, the rotation will introduce students to the Orthopaedic Surgery department and allow them to experience Gainesville. Our goal is to recruit a diverse group of applicants for a position in our residency and to deliver care to our unique patient population. This 4-week opportunity is offered during the months of July through October.  Externships are four weeks in duration and are available to students that meet the requirements of the University of Florida College of Medicine.

The Visiting Orthopaedic Surgery Student Diversity Award provides $1,500 to help one 4th year medical student defray the cost of an away elective at the University of Florida in Gainesville.  The elective consists of a 4-week orthopedic experience including exposure to multiple orthopaedic specialties in inpatient and outpatient settings.  As part of the award, the student will have an opportunity to meet with our program director and a faculty mentor will be appointed. Those students who complete the externship will be invited to interview for a residency position.

Application Requirements

The award is open to all applicants who have demonstrated a commitment to advancing and advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion. This includes but is not limited to activities with established organizations (e.g. Student National Medical Association, Latino Medical Student Association, Association of American Indian Physicians), volunteer work, academic/research pursuits, or current attendance/graduation from minority serving institutions (e.g. Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions, Tribal Colleges and Universities). Other qualifications to be considered include the applicant’s success in overcoming or helping others to overcome barriers as well as first generation medical school students.

Eligibility requirements:

  1. Final year of medical school at an LCME-accredited medical school
  2. Good standing in medical school
  3. Completion of third year of medical school upon date of attendance
  4. Applying for residency position in Orthopaedic Surgery

Applications Will Be Accepted & Approved on a Rolling Basis

Initial review will occur April 21st.  It is in your best interest to submit your application early.

Please note that, if accepted, this is a conditional acceptance, and all applications must be submitted through VSLO for final institutional approval.

To apply for the Visiting Orthopaedic Surgery Student Diversity Award please complete the application below. You will be asked to enter/upload the additional application questions in the application:

  1. Brief explanation about why you are interested in participating in an elective in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Florida, Gainesville.
  2. Brief explanation of why advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion is important to you and how you have demonstrated commitment to advancing and advocating for initiatives in this realm. 
  3. If you have faced challenging economic circumstances, please tell us how this opportunity may help you.
  4. CV/resume
  5. USMLE Step 1 or COMLEX score report

Application:

Remember that you are also required to apply through VSLO as well.  Your application for the award will be considered incomplete until your VSLO application is complete.

  1. AAMC Visiting Student Learning Opportunities
  2. University of Florida Office of Student Affairs

Questions?

Please contact our Orthopedic Education Office if you have further questions.

Thank you for your interest in our program.  We look forward to meeting you!

This Award is open to students of all races. The University of Florida is committed to nondiscrimination with respect to race, creed, color, religion, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, marital status, national origin, political opinions or affiliations, genetic information and veteran status as protected under the Vietnam Era Veterans’ Readjustment Assistance Act.