Medical Student Clerkships

• ORSU 7100-Orthopedic Surgery Bootcamp
• ORSU 7185-Acting Intern Orthopedic Surgery
• ORSU 7186-Orthopedic Surgery Research
• ORSU 7188-Acting Intern Pediatric Orthopedics
• ORSU 7190-Acting Intern General, Reconstructive, and Geriatric Orthopedics
• ORSU 7191-Acting Intern Orthopedic Trauma Surgery (HC & RH)
• ORSU 7192-Acting Intern Primary Care Orthopedics
• ORSU 7200-Surgical Sub-Specialty in Orthopedics 
• ORSU 7600-Women's Sports Medicine at TRIA

View our rotation dates here.

Visiting Medical Student Scholarship for Underrepresented Populations in Orthopedics:

• Our scholarship provides financial assistance for medical students graduating in 2025 planning a career in orthopedic surgery and desire to do a four-week away rotation at our site. Diverse students whose backgrounds and/or identities are underrepresented in orthopedics are encouraged to apply. The chosen applicants will be given a stipend of $1,500 to be used towards their lodging and/or travel expenses. The application period for the 2024-25 academic year has now closed. 

Please visit the OSIG website for information.

Please review our Medical Student Frequently Asked Questions brochure for more information. Email our Medical Student Coordinator at tuset@umn.edu if you need any further assistance.

The Department of Orthopedic Surgery has the responsibility of helping students establish a solid foundation of musculoskeletal knowledge. All attending physicians and residents should know and understand the objectives for the course. This sets expectations for the rotation and establishes an accurate and fair basis for evaluation. Educators should be familiar with the student reading list for the rotation. 

We encourage educators to sit down with the student to set expectations on the first day of the rotation. The session should include:

• Going over the student's schedule
• Understanding the student's learning goals
• Clarifying your expectations of students regarding patient care
• Informing students what you value in student performance

The clerkship committee expectations of students are detailed in the evaluation forms found on E*Value. Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to do the following:

• Perform an adequate orthopedic history and physical examination of the musculoskeletal system, including assessment of joint motion and grading of muscle strength of the major muscle groups of the extremities
• Use proper terminology to describe signs, symptoms, and treatment of common injuries and disorders of the musculoskeletal system
• Develop a differential diagnosis of common orthopedic conditions and outline a treatment plan to establish the proper diagnosis, description of physical findings, and inclusion of pertinent laboratory, x-ray, and special studies
• Be familiar with the application of splints and casts for common extremity injuries

Timely feedback from faculty and residents is critical. Feedback should address areas of strength as well as those needing improvement. Ideally, the feedback should provide the opportunity to identify and correct any issues noted during the course. Any potentially serious deficiencies in student performance should be brought to the attention of the site coordinator as early in the rotation as possible. You should also obtain formal mid-rotation feedback from the student.

The site director at each teaching site bears the primary responsibility for the development and maintenance of a program to fulfill the learning objectives of the orthopedic clerkship. The site director is responsible for organizing the specific ward and operative activities during the rotation, and is expected to address any issues or problems that are encountered. The site directors should periodically remind faculty members and residents of the objectives of the course. The site directors are also primarily responsible for the timely submission of student evaluations through e-value.

The attending physician has the primary responsibility for educating students in the ward, clinics, and operating room. All of the physician-teachers with whom the student has contact are expected to serve as positive role models. Faculty and residents are encouraged to provide students with positive direction through both questions and assignments. The students are expected to have read about the cases going on in the OR and faculty are encouraged to teach by asking questions and actively explaining different parts of the operative procedure to the student. In the clinics, give the students an opportunity to obtain their own history and physical examination, and provide feedback regarding this. The clinics and operating rooms are not only excellent sites for education, but are also a venue where potential future orthopedic careers begin.

If possible, provide the student the opportunity to do a short presentation on a specific topic. Encourage preparation by students prior to clinics and operative sessions by engaging them and letting them actively participate in patient care.

If you are a medical student interested in observing one of our doctors, please contact our Medical School Coordinator at tuset@umn.edu. 

You will be required to provide:

• Current immunization records
• Proof of current flu shot
• Documentation of TB screening within the last 12 months

Due to the large number of foreign medical student applicants to the University of Minnesota Medical School, visiting student registration is restricted to students applying from institutions with which we have affiliation agreements.

Please view the required criteria and more information at the button below.

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