If you’re a woman new to a career in orthopedics and don’t know where to begin, you’re not alone. Although most medical fields have been male-driven for years and years, there are more climbs in the percentages of female medical workers, and not just in nursing. If you’re thinking of pursuing an orthopedic career or are already beginning, continue reading for some helpful navigational tools for the years to come. Celebration Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Institute wants to see every surgeon succeed in the field, no matter your gender. Located in Celebration, Florida, we have been helping the community with anything from sports injuries to spinal issues, we are here to help our clients get back onto their feet.
Women In Orthopedics
Many common textbooks and reference materials in orthopedics came from women early in the field. Ruth Jackson, MD, became the first female board-certified surgeon in the country in 1937. She wrote The Cervical Syndrome, which was a standard orthopedic text for years, and has a society named in her honor. The Ruth Jackson Orthopedic Society (RJOS) was founded in 1983 as a support and networking group for the rising number of women orthopedic surgeons. The society pools their resources to help budding women in the career face some of the challenges associated in the field, and work together toward turning those challenges into advantages.
According to data from the Association of American Medical Colleges, nearly half of all the medical students in the US are women, but only a fraction of them end up in orthopedics. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reported that in 2012, only 4.8% of US practicing orthopedics are women. There has been a slight increase in the number of women residencies taken into orthopedics, but it’s still significantly lagging behind other surgery fields like general practice and even neurosurgery.
Orthopedic Careers
When entering the field of orthopedics, you can choose to have a general practice or specialize in a specific field, such as joint replacement, spine or hand surgery. Having a general practice means you’re ready and willing to take on any and all orthopedic cases, although you may only see a few subsets in general. Typically, you will concentrate on a specific field of orthopedics after college and your residency, but also before you become board-certified.
With choosing a subset of orthopedics to specialize in, you can provide more honed in medical advice and specialized care. There are many subsets within orthopedics, and all offer a great skill to become more intimate in to better treat your patients. Foot and ankle orthopedics, also known as podiatry, tackles the issues and joints of the foot and ankle, whether it’s sprains and strains, Achilles heels, or treating the effects of diabetes, everything is centered around the feet. You can also specialize in sports medicine, treating more sport related injuries, whether it be an athlete or highly active people working their body too aggressively. This subset focuses on improving the client’s performance, and treating injuries to maximize mobility and function, allowing clients to return to their normal routines as quickly as possible. Joint replacements is typically one of the most common subsets of orthopedics. Specializing mostly in hip and knee replacements, as a surgeon you would be dealing with any and all worn or damaged joints due to age, overuse or wear and tear.
Next Steps
There are many specialities within orthopedics that you can explore, including hand surgery, spine surgery, trauma surgery, and pediatric orthopedics. Having a general practice allows you to better deal with any and all problems that may walk through your door, if variety really speaks to you. No matter what option you select, you will be helping people everyday get back onto their feet and feeling their best.
Contact Us
Celebration Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Institute treats everything from a small fracture to reconstructive surgery. Our team provides the very best to residents in and around Celebration, Florida, offering chances for orthopedic careers when there are openings. Call us today!