Top 7 US Medical Schools for Orthopedic Surgeons (updated 2023) (2023)

Orthopedists treat patients with various problems or injuries to the musculoskeletal system. An orthopedist literally means "someone who treats bone disorders." They perform surgical procedures on broken bones, torn ligaments, and injured joints. In addition, they treat other orthopedic conditions such as arthritis.

There are several schools that offer an MD degree as well as orthopedic training. Practical experience is just as important as theoretical knowledge. For this reason, we have only selected schools that are affiliated with hospitals. In this way, students receive internships and on-the-job training.

In this article, we will look at the best orthopedic surgeon schools and what makes them one. You'll see the usual elite medical schools and some surprising names.

How to become an orthopedist

Entry into the medical profession is along and complicated process. But you shouldn't feel intimidated. By following the steps outlined in this article, you will become an orthopedist.

It will take a lot of hard work and money. For this reason,You must be absolutely, categorically, and beyond reasonable doubt that you want to become an orthopedic surgeon before enrolling. It's a career path for the strong-willed. You will have days when you will regret your decisions. You will have days when you feel like the world is out there to get you.

Here is a list of factors that are important when considering this career path.

Training

The first step to becoming an orthopedist is proper training. This means a bachelor's degree in any field (preferably biology or chemistry), then four years of medical school. For those who wish to specialize as surgeons, an additional three to five years will be needed in a residency program.

However, surgical training is expensive and may be out of reach for many students from low-income families. Therefore, it is possible to make a "slow walk" through medical studies. Four years for those who wish to become a general practitioner first, followed by a further three years to become a surgeon.

This means that it is possible to do a PhD and become a doctor in seven years instead of the usual eight. This allows students to start earning money sooner.

Practice

After graduating from medical schools, orthopedic surgeons enter an internship program. Here they learn about their area of ​​expertise as they continue through the lessons. They then continue in a residency program of approximately three to five years. The duration depends on what area of ​​orthopedics you want to specialize in.

The final step is to complete an additional one-year fellowship. It is required before you can become certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery (ABOS). Some surgeons complete two or more additional fellowships in lieu of board certification. Especially if you want to become an academic orthopedist.

residency programs

Many hospitals and medical schools offer an orthopedic residency program. Residents are paid for their services and receive valuable experience. This is usually accomplished through shading. Which means acting like a doctor's shadow. Once residents complete the program, they are eligible to take the board certification exam. This allows them to practice independently.

There are many continuing education programs in orthopedics in the United States. These are approved by the American Medical Association or the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and are listed in a public database of accredited institutions. Students must ensure that they meet all the requirements before applying. Some schools require specific undergraduate majors, while others want students to get a certain percentage of questions correct on their entrance exams. Students can apply for an orthopedic residency program in their fourth year of medical school or after graduation.

Teaching hospitals are more popular with applicants and offer better training opportunities. However, some programs prefer residents in private practice because they want their doctors to be independent. Applicants can review residency program rankings based on student and resident experiences accepted by all US residencies (there is a separate ranking for teaching hospitals).

Orthopedic Schools: How to Choose the Right One

The choice of medical school is one of the most important in the life of a future student. So it's perfectly normal to feel lost when it comes time to choose one. That is why we are compiling this list.

hospital affiliations

We mentioned internships and scholarships earlier in the article. You want to choose a school that gives you plenty of opportunities to practice what you are taught. With that being said, you should check out the hospitals affiliated with medical schools.

Choosing a school is important if you want to become an orthopedist, which is why there are many teaching hospitals there. This allows students to gain hands-on experience and learn from experts in their field.

locations

Many students prefer to live near their hometown or even travel there. They can stay close to family and friends, which makes their lives so much easier. For this reason, it is important that schools provide students with the opportunity to participate in rotations at teaching hospitals close to their home or school.

If you want to choose a program based on location, make sure there are enough options within commuting distance of your home.

Faculty and Research Opportunities

Each orthopedic school has a variable number of professors who teach students during their courses and research projects. You want to choose an institution that offers you the opportunity to gain hands-on experience with the best experts in the field.

It may take time to learn more about these opportunities, as they are not always advertised. You can contact the professors directly or read their websites to find out more about the research projects they are involved in.

specialties and subspecialties

Some students want to know what orthopedic subdisciplines exist before applying to medical school, while others prefer to focus on a single specialty during the application process.

If you want to specialize in a particular type of orthopedics, find out if your school offers the right courses and research opportunities in that area. Or if there are enough doctors with specialized knowledge in this subdiscipline within a short distance of the campus or place of residence.

There is no one perfect medical school for everyone – the right one depends on your interests, career goals, and preferences.

If you are considering applying to an orthopedic training program after graduating medical school, apply to schools with an excellent reputation in the specialty. Also, check to see if they offer any special courses or training opportunities related to orthopedics before you decide.

acceptance rates

When choosing a school based on acceptance rates, there are several factors to consider.

For example, the number of applicants that apply each year and how difficult it is for them to get in can be an indicator of quality. A higher rate indicates relatively less competition among students during the application process, which means more places are available to you.

Another way to measure quality is the employment rate of graduate students (after graduation) from medical school. If many graduates can find jobs in related fields, they have learned in school from a good faculty and have received sufficient research opportunities.

Submitting your application during admissions season will take time and effort, but it's well worth the wait. Make sure you know all of your options before deciding on a school to apply to.

Cost

As already mentioned, the cost of studying medicine is quite high. Some people even go into debt just to pay it all off (student loans). However, there are some schools that offer tuition reimbursement programs for students. That's why it's important to do some research before applying anywhere.

The cost of an orthopedic surgeon degree depends on the institution you choose. For some private institutions, tuition exceeds $50,000 per year. For community colleges, it can be as little as $12,000 per year.

If you are low on funds, you can choose a school in an underserved area. The federal government pays for part of your education through the National Health Service Corps program. You can find the cost of any medical school in the US by looking at the interactive map from the American Medical Association. You can also search for tuition reimbursement programs through the website.

editor's note: Although medical school is extremely expensive, you can easily pay off your loans if you work.The average annual salary for an orthopedic surgeon is around $500,000. You could even earn more than a treating doctor with several years of experience. It is also possible to earn over half a million dollars by having a private practice.

Find the right orthopedic program

One problem many people have when applying for orthopedic surgery programs is that they don't know where to look. There are so many colleges and universities, not to mention private centers. Applicants can use the AMA website to find accredited institutions in their state or to search for program reviews on TopScopes.

Before doing this research, applicants should consider several factors that will help them decide where to apply. For example, it's important to know the cost of living in different areas and compare that price to wages. This is especially important if you are looking for cheaper accommodation during your stay.

Applicants should also consider which teaching hospitals are closest. Some students prefer large facilities where they can learn from more experienced doctors. Others prefer smaller hospitals because they offer more time with experienced surgeons.

Top 7 Orthopedic Surgeon Schools: Detailed Reviews

The United States is full of incredible medical schools. However, the demand for skilled workers continues to grow. The main reason is that most of these schools are difficult to access. Only the most exceptional students are accepted into it.

Acceptance rates are very low and there are a few places available for students. The optimal learning environment for medicine is small classes with a close student-teacher relationship.

Choosing a school is difficult. That is why we have created this list of the best schools for orthopedic surgeons in the United States.

Universidad George Washington

• type: private
• Location: Washington, DC 20052
• Instruction: 63.920 $

Founded in 1821, George Washington University is the largest private university in DC. The school has a main campus located primarily in Foggy Bottom, which sits on 80 waterfront acres overlooking the Potomac River.

The George Washington University School of Medicine was founded in 1824 and became part of the GWU after the end of World War II. It is considered one of the leading orthopedic programs in the United States.

The school offers an M.D.-Ph.D. Program for post-medical students interested in biomedical research. The average cost of attending George Washington University for a degree in orthopedics is $63,920 per year.

This institution offers a predoctoral medical education program with the following specialties:

• orthopedic surgery
• Neurosurgery
• emergency medicine

The university also offers medical students courses on musculoskeletal disorders, physical examinations, imaging studies, and other topics. This is one of the best programs in the United States.

Universidad Johns Hopkins

• type: private
• Location: Baltimore, Maryland 21218
• Instruction: 58.000 $

The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine is ranked third nationally. It was founded in 1876 and has a main campus in East Baltimore, near the Johns Hopkins Hospital, which is one of the major hospitals in Maryland.

The university's Department of Orthopedic Surgery offers students with an M.D., Ph.D. or D.O. the opportunity to earn a combined master's and doctorate. This adds two years of research training after medical school.

Teachers are seasoned professionals with practical experience in orthopedic surgery. In this way, they enable students to receive comprehensive training that goes beyond theoretical knowledge.

The average cost of attending Johns Hopkins University as a graduate or resident orthopedic surgeon is $58,000 per year. This includes tuition, room and board offered as part of a full fee.

University of California - San Francisco

• type: public
• Location: San Francisco, CA 94143
• Instruction: 11.442 $

Founded in 1864, UCSF Medical Center has since become one of the West Coast's leading patient care and research hospitals. It's located in Parnassus Heights near Golden Gate Park, but it also has locations in China and South Korea.

Established in 1970, the UCSF Orthopedic Surgeons Program is now one of the top orthopedic medical schools.

The school offers various residency programs to students who have completed their undergraduate studies at top universities across the country. This contains:

• overall operation
• Orthopedic Surgery (M.D./Ph.D.)

The average cost of attending this university for a degree in orthopedic surgery is $24,000 per year. This includes living expenses. The UC system requires students to pay additional fees in addition to tuition and other fees. That means they will have about $30,000 in total debt.

Stanford University

• type: private
• Location: Stanford, CA 94305
• Instruction: 68.000 $

Stanford University was founded in 1885 and has a main campus in Stanford, California. It is one of the country's leading research universities and has an internationally recognized medical school.

Stanford's orthopedic surgery program was established in 1969. It offers students with a combined MD, Ph.D. or degree DO three options to complete the specialized training:

• overall operation
• orthopedics
• Neurosurgery

The university also offers a combined MD-Ph. Program D for students interested in biomedical research. The average cost of attending Stanford University as a graduate or resident orthopedic surgeon is $68,000 per year.

University of Rochester Medical Center

• type: private
• Location: Rochester, New York 14642
• Instruction: 59.100 $

The University of Rochester Medical Center was founded in 1925 and is located in Rochester, New York. It has an internationally recognized medical school that receives students with M.D., D.O. or PhD degree the opportunity to complete your specialized training as part of a network programme.

The Department of Orthopedic Surgery offers a variety of residency options for students who have completed their undergraduate studies at top universities across the country.

The University of Rochester Medical Center is a leading research university with a phenomenal orthopedic surgery program. It offers students the opportunity to complete their specialized training in various areas of expertise. The faculty is world-class, and the school has a strong research presence that helps it attract top-tier medical graduates from across the country.

Additionally, students at this school have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the operating room, which helps them adjust faster when they begin their residency training.

harvard university

• type: private
• Location: Cambridge, MA 02138
• Instruction: 69.000 $

It would be strange to make a list of the best medical schools in the United States, heck, in the world, without mentioning Harvard. This Massachusetts-based university is recognized as one of the best research universities in the world.

It has an internationally recognized medical school that receives students with M.D., D.O. or Ph.D. Graduates have the opportunity to complete their specialized training.

Internships at Harvard Medical School last between three and six months. Demand for jobs varies from month to month, but it's not uncommon to experience a backlog of applications. To be eligible, the applicant must have completed one year of undergraduate courses. Additionally, an internship requires a one-year commitment. Early application is encouraged so that interviews can be scheduled in advance before all positions are filled.

The average cost of attending Harvard University as an orthopedic surgery graduate or resident is $69,000 per year.

University of Pennsylvania—Perelman

• type: private
• Location: Philadelphia, PA19104
• Instruction: 61.586 $

Rounding out our list of the best medical schools for orthopedic surgeons is Perelman University of Pennsylvania. This Philadelphia-based university offers M.D., D.O. or Ph.D. Complete a combined continuing education program in your orthopedic department.

In addition, they offer a five-year integrated doctorate. and medical degree for students interested in biomedical research. The medical school is one of the oldest in the United States and has a prestigious department of orthopedic surgery that offers students a variety of residency options.

Perelman is an elite orthopedic school. It offers students various in-residence training opportunities and its research footprint is impressive. The faculty is made up of world-class orthopedic surgeons who attract top-tier medical students from across the country to attend their university.

Costs associated with attending this school include tuition, housing support, books, etc., which averages $71,000 per year.

conclusions

Becoming an orthopedist is a long but rewarding endeavor. You will improve the lives of many people throughout your career. Yes, money is good, but you'll soon discover that you care more about the fact that you're fixing people's bodies. Your gratitude for your service will trample all the money in the world.

If all you care about is money, you'll probably find it hard to enjoy the long academic journey. It takes years of full-time study to become a doctor.

That means if you're 100% committed to it, then it's time to shine.

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