The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) exists to serve the best interest of the public and the medical profession by establishing educational standards for orthopaedic residents and by evaluating the initial and continuing qualifications and competence of orthopaedic surgeons.
‍Click here to view the ABOS Guiding Principles
‍Click here to view the ABOS Guidelines on Professional Behavior, Respect, Compassion, and Responsibility

Advocacy 101 – RJOS, in a collaboration with the AAOS Office of Government Affairs Committee of ASSH, is pleased to present a webinar titled, Advocacy 101: An Inside Look Into The Interplay of Politics, Policy & Orthopaedics.  Moderated by Dr. Lattisha Bilbrew, Dr. Doug Lundy, AAOS Advocacy Council Chair will be the guest speaker.

Advocacy 102 – Join RJOS for the second part of the Advocacy Webinar Series, Advocacy 102: An intimate conversation with Dr. Kay Kirkpatrick, Orthopaedic Surgeon and State Senator. Dr. Kay Kirkpatrick will be sharing her experiences and insights as a current state senator and retired Orthopaedic Surgeon.

The RJOS Mentoring and Professional Development Committees are pleased to provide the following book recommendations as additional resources that RJOS members may find helpful in developing the next stages of your career.

Do you have suggestions for additional reading?  Please send the full title, and author, of your book recommendation to info@rjos.org.

Female Leadership
‍Give and Take – Adam Grant
Lean In—Sheryl Sandberg
The Credibility Code—Cara Hale
The Charisma Myth—Olivia Fox Cabanas    Click here to read a synopsis by the RJOS Mentoring Committee
Presence: Bringing Your Boldest Self to Your Biggest Challenges—Amy Cuddy (Power Pose)
The Confident Woman—Majorie Hansen Shaevitz

‍Resiliency/Grit
‍Option B—Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant
Emotional Agility—Susan David
Grit—Angela Duckworth
Small Miracles—Yitta Halberstam

‍Leadership
‍Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Lead—Liz Wiseman
Switch: How to Change When Change is Hard—Chip Heath
The Heart of Mentoring—David Stoddard
Resonant Leadership—Richard Boyatzis and Anne
Essentialism—Greg McKeown
Beyond Talent—John C. Maxwell
Failing Forward—John C. Maxwell
Laws of Leadership—John C. Maxwell
The Difference Maker—John C. Maxwell
Extreme Ownership: How US Navel Seals Lead and Win—Jocko Willink and Leif Babin
Unlocking Potential: 7 Coaching Skills that Transform Individuals—Michael Simpson
Leadership is an Art—Max DePree
Crucial Conversations—Kerry Patterson
How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie    Click here to read a synopsis provided by the RJOS Mentoring Committee

‍Negotiation Strategy
‍Pushback: How Smart Women Ask and Stand Up for What they Want—Selena Rezvani

‍Presentation Strategy
‍Steal the Show from speeches to Job Interviews to Deal-Closing Pitches—Michael Port
Talk Like TED—Carmine Gallo
Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs—Carmine Gallo (similar to talk like TED)
How To Deliver a TED Talk—Jeremy Donovan
Magic of Impromptu Speaking—Andrii Deniev

‍Business Highlights
‍Digital Disruption—James McQuivey
The Other Side of Innovation: Solving the Execution Challenge—Vijay Govindarajan and Chris Trimble

‍Research Recommendations
‍Originals—Adam Grant
Peak: The New Science of Expertise—Anders Ericcson
Smartcuts—Shane Snow
The Innovation Secrets of Steve Jobs—Carmine Gallo
Everything is Obvious Once You Know the Answer—Duncan Watts
Drive—Daniel Pink
Deviate—Beau Lotto
Thinking Fast and Slow—Daniel Kahneman
Influencer: The New Science of Leading Change—Joseph Grenny
Start with the Why—Simon Sinek
The Black Swan: Second Edition: The Impact of the Highly Improbable—Nassim Nicolas Taleb
Seeing What Others Don’t See—Gary Klein
Linked: How Everything is Connected to Everything Else— Albert-Iaszlo Barabasi
Six Degrees: The Science of a Connected Age—Duncan Watts
Connected: The Surprising Power of Social Networks—Nicholas A. Christakis
Impossible to Ignore: Creating Memorable Content to Influence Decisions—Carmen Simon

Fun/Socially Popular Recommendations
‍Tipping Point—Malcom Gladwell
Blink—Malcom Gladwell
Outliers—Malcom Gladwell
Good to Great—Jim Collins
When Breath Becomes Air—Paul Kalanithi

The Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS) presented a webinar, Combating Microaggressions, Bullying, Harassment, and Discrimination in Orthopaedics, on October 12, 2021. Participants included Drs. William Levine, Valerae Lewis, Lisa Lattanza, Dawn Laporte, Haydee Brown, Melvyn Harrington, Lisa Cannada, Janice Bonsu, Arianna Gianakos, and Julie Samora.  This interactive panel discussion was a co-sponsored event with International Orthopaedic Diversity Alliance, MEND, Physician Just Equity, Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS), #SpeakUpOrtho, Surgeon Masters, AOFAS, Black Women Orthopaedic Surgeons, JRGOS and WOW (Women in Orthopaedics Worldwide). Click here to view the recording.  

Help Is At Your Fingertips
‍The Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society Guide for Women in Orthopaedic Surgery, 2nd Edition is a great resource with 20 chapters covering topics important in medical school, residency, fellowship and first employment. Chapters also provide practical guidance on orthopaedic politics, advocacy, job changes, and balancing personal life with a career in orthopaedic surgery. While directed to the female reader, much of the guidebook’s information and advice is gender neutral and useful for all career stages.

RJOS expresses sincere appreciation to Zimmer Biomet for the generous contribution provided in order to produce and publish the guidebook.

To Order Your Book
‍The Guide for Women in Orthopaedic Surgery is available in digital format.
‍Please click here to place your order.  

RJOS, POSNA and AAOS collaborated to present the webinar, How to Navigate Disabilities and Medical Conditions throughout Orthopaedic Training and Career, on December 1, 2021.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal civil rights law designed to enable individuals with disabilities to participate fully in all aspects of society as well as to prevent discrimination. Disabilities can be congenital, can arise from trauma or diseases, and may include “hidden” medical conditions, such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, severe arthritis, cancer, diabetes mellitus, or PTSD. We do not often discuss how disabilities or medical conditions could possibly interfere with training in orthopaedic surgery or could even preclude a career in orthopaedics. Trying to navigate a surgical career with medical conditions or disabilities can be challenging.  Making the training and working environment more accessible, providing assistive technologies, modifying the training/work schedule, and creating a navigable environment in orthopaedics should be standard practice. The faculty on this webinar have all contended with medical conditions and/or disabilities during training and in their careers. These esteemed leaders will provide insights on how to create a welcoming, supportive, and inclusive environment in orthopaedics for individuals with medical conditions and disabilities.

Webinar Faculty - Moderator: Julie Samora, MD, PhD
Faculty: Kurt Richard Weiss, MD., Sarah Anderson, MD., Kasey Cortese, MD., Carmen Quatman, MD, PhD., Evalina Burger-Van der Walt, MD, MB ChB

‍Click here to view a recording of How to Navigate Disabilities and Medical Conditions throughout Orthopaedic Training and Career.

‍This information is presented by your RJOS Advocacy Team under the leadership of Dr. Laura Bess Congratulations on being invited for an interview.  Interviews are part of your professional life.  Remember you had a very successful interview for medical school! We have a few tips for you.  These tips relate to interviews in general but also to interviews n the post COVID-19 world.  

GOOD LUCK!
‍Click here to view the Interviewing Tips

From Our Editor, Lisa Cannada, MD
‍Medical school is such an important experience in shaping one’s future as a physician. But medical students are often seen as the bottom of the “totem pole”. The demands on the attending and resident staff can be overwhelming, and the medical student might not have the attention and resources they are searching for when choosing a specialty. Finding practical advice that is useful for matching into a competitive specialty such as orthopaedic surgery can be difficult.

In my experience, I found my interactions with medical students to be rewarding. They are inquisitive and seeking guidance. Over the years, I noted not all students have equal access to resources to help them succeed in matching. The Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society and the Perry Initiative support and foster diversity and mentoring in Orthopaedic Surgery. What better way to partner with them to produce the first edition of the “Medical Student Guide for Orthopaedic Surgery”. The authors are well known in the field for their interests in education and guiding the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons. The information contained in this guide is useful for all medical students regardless of specialty, but is particularly geared for applying to our competitive specialty. A variety of topics are covered to lay a successful groundwork for medical school and beyond in this much needed book. This book contains 4 sections with 35 chapters and over 260 pages of useful information.  

‍To Order Your Book:
‍The Medical Student Guide for Orthopaedic Surgery is available in print and electronic versions.  
‍Please click here to place your order.  

‍Feedback About The Medical Student Guide
“I would consider The Medical Student Guide to Orthopedic Surgery as a “go to“ and “must have” for every medical student as they navigate their path to a career in orthopedic surgery. The authors are well-versed. The chapters are practical. I would highly recommend this book”
– Ann Van Heest MD, Program director, Department of Orthopedic Surgery University of Minnesota, Vice Chair of Education, Department of orthopedic Surgery University of Minnesota

‍“Specifically for Orthopaedics, it can be intimidating for a medical student who has little to no exposure to the field. This book is the first of its kind to provide expert advice about the process, approach, and outcomes for those interested in Orthopaedic surgery.”
– Rajiv Rajani, MD Associate Professor, Vice Chair of Education, Chief of Orthopedic Oncology. Residency Program Director, UT Health San Antonio, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

‍“This book takes its reader from beginning to end in orthopaedics.  It will guide you into the field, and it will advise you when you arrive.  It will offer insights into ways to excel within the field, and it will affirm that there are many pathways to success in orthopaedics.  Using this guide, readers will negotiate through the tough choices of the orthopaedic experiences with ease.  This book is the insider's guide to life in orthopaedic surgery." "For anyone who needs to look behind the curtain at life in orthopaedic surgery, this book will guide its reader through all the crucial decisions and experiences." "This book is written by surgeons in the trenches.  It brings together the perspective of the novice and the wisdom of the orthopaedic leadership.  It is a tremendous guide for those who are curious about orthopaedics."
– Jim McFadden, MD Program Director Department of Orthopaedic Surgery University of Central Florida Ocala, FL USA

‍"As Orthopaedic Surgery is only peripherally covered by medical school curricula, learning about, matching into and preparing for a life in the field can be daunting. Information and strategies to successfully begin a career in Orthopaedics are often based on personal experience alone, and can poorly translate to your own needs. This text is developed by and edited by seasoned educators who have "been there" with many, many orthopaedic applicants. Their insights about common applicant questions, concerns, and barriers can be critical to making the right decision about your own interest in orthopaedics, investigating ways to make this field "yours", and ultimately getting off on the right foot in one of the most challenging and rewarding fields of medicine."
– Mitchell S. Fourman MD, Past Chair AAOS Resident Assembly Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
‍

Advancement of Our Orthopaedic Leaders of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The Orthopaedic Diversity Leadership Consortium (ODLC) is a pioneering network of orthopaedic diversity leaders brought together for the purpose of sharing best practices and innovative strategies for success.  For more information, or to join ODLC, please click here.

Position Statements offer a mechanism to codify beliefs and provide a framework for action.  These formal documents identify the issue and provide context, support with relevant literature, and clearly state the recommended best practice. Often, they are seen as a resource when external stakeholders seek answers including government or media.   As such, position statements become another way to support the RJOS mission to promote the professional development of and for women in orthopaedics.

RJOS has developed the following statement on bullying:
‍RJOS Position Statement on Bullying in Orthopaedic Surgery

RJOS has developed the following statement on parenting and pregnancy in orthopaedics:
‍Position Statement on Supporting Pregnancy and Parental Responsibility in Orthopaedic Training and Practice
‍Click here to view additional pregnancy in orthopaedics resources

The AAOS Board of Directors acted on the AAOS Diversity Advisory Board's recommendation and recently endorsed The Forum's postion statement titled, Sexual Abuse/Harassment: Creating a Safe Environment for Competitive Athletes.  The statement was also endorsed the the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society.

‍Position Statement on Sexual Abuse/Harassment: Creating a Safe Environment for Competitive Athletes.

RJOS has a role for developing policy on other topics which impact our practice and we welcome your input as we develop more position statements and collaborative efforts to help you. Contact us if you would like to share your ideas or to get involved in these efforts.

RJOS Supports the Pursuit of Parenthood for all Orthopaedic Surgeons
‍Editor’s note: This letter is in response to the article “Beyond the OR: The Alexanders ​Balance Orthopaedics and Marriage” by Cailin Conner, which was published in the February 2024 issue of AAOS Now.
‍
We read with interest “Beyond the OR: The Alexanders Balance Orthopaedics and Marriage” in the February 2024 issue and thank A. Herbert Alexander, MD, FAAOS, and Charlotte E. Alexander, MD, FAAOS, for their perspective. The presidential line of the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS) respects the intimate, personal, and private decision of all who choose to become parents during the course of their orthopaedic careers—as medical students, residents, fellows, or attendings. The complexities of childbearing and rearing and the realities of reproductive health and advanced parental age cannot and should not be summarized with broad, blanket statements or recommendations about when that process begins.RJOS supports all who choose to become parents—through childbearing, surrogacy, or adoption—and is proud to provide resources about successfully navigating this decision during one’s orthopaedic career.

‍This letter to the editor was cosigned by the RJOS presidential line, including Jennifer M. Weiss, MD, vice president; Linda I. Suleiman, MD, secretary; Anna Cohen-Rosenblum, MD, treasurer; and Christen M. Russo, MD, FAAOS, immediate past president.Corinna C. Franklin, MD, is president of RJOS. She is an associate professor and chief of pediatric orthopaedic surgery at the Yale University School of Medicine. Source: https://www.aaos.org/aaosnow/2024/aug-sept/commentary/commentary02/

Click here to view the RJOS Position Statement on Supporting Pregnancy and Parental Responsibility in Orthopaedic Training and ProfessionAdditional resouces for pregnancy in orthopaedics available here.  

The RJOS Professional Development Committee is pleased to provide important information and resources for recruiting women in orthopaedic surgery.  Click here to view the complete document
‍Reaching a Critical Mass: A Step-By-Step Guide for Recruiting and Retaining Women in Orthopaedic Surgery

The RJOS Mentoring Committee, presented the RJOS College Student webinar, on Monday, October 19, 2020.  Moderated by Mentoring Committee Chair, Dr. Deborah Bohn, and presented Kelly Edwards, and Drs. Amanda Mener, Kali Tileston and Wendy Wong, the webinar introduced orthopaedics as a career for high school, college and early medical students.  

‍Click here to view a recording of the RJOS College Student webinar.  
‍Click here to view a complete list of Questions and Answers from the RJOS College Student webinar.
‍Click here to view additional resources!

RJOS has created a list of women in Orthopaedics who are available to speak on various topics. We encourage groups and institutions to select women to speak at invited lectures, courses and conferences.  
‍Click here to view the current list of RJOS Speaker Volunteers/Topics

‍Are You Interested In Being A Speaker?
‍All RJOS members in good standing interested in being a volunteer speaker, is eligible to be added to the RJOS Speaker Volunteer List.

‍Click here to complete the Speaker Sign Up Form.  

‍Please note, by submitting this form, you are giving permission for RJOS to share your information on the website. If you have questions, or if you need to change any information in the RJOS Speaker Volunteer/Topics List, please contact us at info@rjos.org.  

Prepared by the British Orthopaedic Association

‍Click here to read, Supporting Trainees Through Pregnancy, Maternity, Shared Parental or Adoption Leave and Returning to Work. A British Orthopaedic Association Guide for Education Supervisors and Trainers.

RJOS has implemented Survey Request Guidelines. All survey requests received from RJOS members, will be reviewed by the Education Committee, for approval by the RJOS Board of Directors. Only those surveys approved by the Board, in accordance with the Survey Request Guidelines, will be sent to the RJOS membership. Please review our list of past surveys to ensure your request is not duplicative of past surveys.
‍
‍Click here to view the RJOS Survey Request Guidelines. To submit a request for a survey, please contact info@rjos.org.  

Highlight: Hand
‍Aired Monday, May 22, 2023

Goals: 
Share cutting edge research and approaches to common, complex challenges in hand, surgery presented by leaders in the field.

‍Objectives:
Increase understanding of the diagnosis, evaluation, treatment options and considerations, and outcomes for thumb carpometacarpal arthritis, distal radius fragility fractures, scapholunate ligament injuries, Dupuytrens contracture

‍Panelists:
Lauren Shapiro, MD, MS; Veronica Diaz, MD; Tamara Rozental, MD; Jennifer M. Wolf, MD, PhD and Lauren Wessel, MD shared cutting edge research and approaches to common, complex challenges in hand surgery. Topics included thumb carpometacarpal arthritis, distal radius fragility fractures, scapholunate ligament injury, Dupuytren’s contracture, and global health capacity building.  

Highlight: Hip Reconstruction: From Adolescence to Arthorplasty
‍Aired Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Presenters:
Talk #1: Dr. Alison Dittmer Flemig (Gillette Children’s Hospital, St. Paul, MN) –
Update on the Management of Adolescent Hip Conditions

Talk #2: Dr. Cecilia Pascual-Garrido (Washington University, St. Louis, MO) –
Hip preservation: Who and When?

Talk #3: Dr. Elizabeth Lieberman (Orthopedic and Fracture Specialists, Portland, OR) -
Total Hip Arthroplasty in the Young Patient.