Visiting Medical Student Electives
Welcome! Thank you for your interest in the UMKC Orthopedic Surgery Residency program. We offer senior medical students a one-month elective rotation designed to provide thorough and extensive exposure to academic orthopedic surgery and adequately prepare them for residency training. Rotating students gain exposure to operating room procedures, diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal pathology in the emergency room, and evaluation and care of orthopedic surgery inpatients. They also participate in the educational and didactic programs of the department. Students are paired with a faculty preceptor during the month-long educational experience.
Applying for the Elective
All external rotators must apply through the standard VSLO (Visiting Student Learning Opportunities) to obtain medical school credit. Applications are open April 1–Nov. 1. Decisions are made within two weeks of receiving applications. Rotators are welcome during any of the UMKC blocks.
Application requirements and process
Applicants must have passed USMLE Step One and be in good standing at an accredited medical school. Please submit a CV and letter of interest along with your VSLO application. No recommendation letter is required
After submitting your application, please contact Dasia Talib to let us know you have applied.
For more information about the elective application process, visit the Office of Student Affairs' Visiting Students Elective page.
Elective objectives
The elective is geared toward medical students interested in pursuing a career in orthopedic surgery. By the end of their elective rotation, students should be better able to:
- List the various types of injuries and conditions treated by orthopedic surgeons both operatively and non-operatively.
- Perform a history and physical examination of a patient presenting with musculoskeletal complaints.
- Perform a primary and secondary survey of a poly-traumatized patient.
- Navigate the operating room and perform basic surgical skill like suturing, patient positioning, surgical retraction, applying dressings and splinting/casting.
- Carryout routine patient care tasks, i.e. post-operative dressing changes, simple superficial wound closure and dressing, simple reductions and splinting under direct supervision.
- Interpret and critically evaluate orthopedic surgery literature through participation in journal clubs and a formal end-of-rotation presentation on a topic of their choice.
- Present a routine orthopaedic patient concisely and accurately to an attending.
- Effectively communicate and work within a team.
Clinical Training
During each four-week clinical rotation students work with faculty across multiple specialties, including trauma, spine, hand, shoulder and elbow, arthoplasty, and foot and ankle. Students interested in participating on a pediatric rotation are welcome to apply at Children’s Mercy Hospital, our flagship hospital for the pediatric experience in the residency program. We attempt to match students with their interest while also providing exposure to our program leadership.
Hands-on experience
No matter which rotation you're on, you’ll get an opportunity to learn from an experienced team of orthopaedic specialists. Rotating medical students become vital members of their team, participating in rounds and providing clinical care in the emergency department and operating rooms. Rotators spend approximately two days per week in clinic and three in the operating room. They work closely with our residents and are integrated into the team.
Faculty support
Each student is assigned a preceptor who is a full-time faculty member within the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. Students meet with their preceptor weekly throughout the rotation. Clinical time will be spent primarily with the academic faculty at University Health. Rotators have the opportunity to interact with our UMKC chair, program director and associate program directors, if available during the rotation. They are also able to visit the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute to meet with faculty.
University Health Truman Medical Center Rotation
Four weeks will be spent at this busy, urban Level-1 Trauma Center in the heart of Jackson County, Mo. Students will have the opportunity to participate on a care-team coordinated by the chief resident. Students will receive roughly equal exposure to inpatient management, outpatient clinic and the operating room.
Students will also have the opportunity to participate in clinics and outpatient surgeries at our new state-of-art outpatient ambulatory care center across the street from University Health Truman Medical Center.
Call Responsibility
During the rotation, students are required to spend one night a week, plus one weekend day on call for orthopedic surgery, assisting the orthopedic residents on call in the evaluation and management of acute orthopedic injuries and/or assisting surgical cases. Students should not attempt more than five calls for the month.
Didactic Program
Rotating medical students are active participants in the department’s didactic program. Students are expected to be prepared for conferences and ready to answer questions tailored to their level and knowledge base. Additionally, they may participate in education and skill development sessions, including a splinting and casting workshop, sawbones and cadaver fracture fixation modules, and a lesson on interpreting musculoskeletal imaging depending on timing of the rotation.
Students are expected to attend the dedicated didactics for residents on Wednesdays from 6:30-9:30 a.m. at University Health Truman Medical Center, and any additional labs or journal clubs.
Presentations
As a requirement of the senior medical student elective, each rotating student develops and presents a didactic talk on a topic of interest at the end of the rotation. This Powerpoint presentation can cover any area of interest; however, students are encouraged to seek guidance from senior residents and/or faculty. Non-orthopedic topics are encouraged as we hope this presentation will allow us to learn about the student. Prior topics of presentation include KC BBQ, Jazz, golf and German shepherds.
Elective block schedule
This four-week elective is offered throughout the year. There are three student slots per rotation available. In the case of overflow, we make every effort to accommodate all qualified students.
- Block 1: May 27–June 23
- Block 2: June 24–July 21
- Block 3: July 22–Aug. 18
- Block 4: Aug. 19–Sept. 15
- Block 5: Sept. 16–Oct. 13
- Block 6: Oct. 14–Nov. 10
- Block 7: Nov. 11–Dec. 8
- Block 8: Dec. 9–Jan. 5
Dates may be flexible depending on other accepted students' rotations. Aligning with the UMKC dates is preferred. The most popular months for rotations are June, July, August and September. If you wish to join us during these months, early application is strongly encouraged.
If you have certain reasons for starting on a specific week and are interested in rotating, please contact us and we will evaluate on a case-by-case basis.
Method of evaluation
Rotating students are evaluated by the chief resident assigned to their service, their faculty preceptor and the clerkship director. Evaluation is based on performance during the rotation, including level of knowledge demonstrated during conference and in the operating room, the ability to work as part of the clinical care team, quality of interactions with patients and peers, professionalism, interpersonal communication skills and work ethic.
Written evaluations are completed at the end of the four-week rotation. An exit interview will be performed to provide direct, oral feedback. For mid-rotation feedback, students may contact a staff member or chief resident for comments so that improvements can be made prior to the end of the rotation.
In addition, students will be asked to submit an evaluation of their experience and faculty they worked with most closely. They will participate in an exit interview to provide direct, oral feedback with the clerkship director.
Those coming early in the application cycle will be eligible for letters of recommendation based on clinical performance.
Rotating students will not be asked to return in person for residency interviews. A future virtual interview may be offered or required.
Expenses
Housing
Unfortunatley, we're not able to provide housing for visiting students. There is however, occasional housing on UMKC’s Volker Campus that is available for short term arrangements. This is about four miles from our University Health Medical Center and will require transportation. Other options for short term housing that our residents have used in the past include:
- Rotating room (average $700/month)
- AirBnB/VRBO
- Hotel/motel
- Family Friends
Although Kansas City does have a lower cost of living compared to other major cities, students can expect to pay between $1,000-$1,250 in rent per month.
Transportation
Kansas City is fairly spread out. Fortunately, all of your clinical duties will take place at the Hospital Hill Health Science district. Public transport is an option, but given the variable hours of an orthopaedic surgery rotation, a personal vehicle would enhance one’s experience of the city and is necessary to visit the Kansas City Orthopedic Institute.
Food
No meals are provided during the orthopedic rotation.
Clothes
We recommend packing at least two sets of dress clothes. Hospital scrubs are issued for your time in the OR; however, bringing some of your own scrubs, business casual and business formal clothes is recommended.
Diversity Funding Opportunities
The UMKC Department of Orthopedic Surgery is committed to recruiting and training a diverse group of orthopedic residents that reflects the diversity of patients we serve. In addition to a robust clinical experience, recipients will also receive career support and development in the form of a faculty and resident mentor assignment during your rotation and an opportunity for one-on-one meetings with program leadership.
Visiting Student Elective Scholarship
We also offer scholarships to defray the cost of travel and lodging during your time in Kansas City. The department’s JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion) Council evaluates applications and awards up to two $1,500 scholarships to deserving medical students recipients based on merit, scholarship and need.
To be eligible to receive the scholarship, students must be a full-time third or fourth year medical student in good standing at an LCME-accredited medical school who identify as minority underrepresented in orthopedics. Students who are committed to working with underserved populations, or working with issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion are encouraged to apply. Requirements for the UMKC School of Medicine Clinical electives must also be met. Visit the scholarship page to learn more.