Guide to Surviving the Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship Application Process

This episode of the AAOS Career Podcast, hosted by Ellen Lutnick, MD, offers orthopaedic surgery residents a practical guide to navigating the fellowship application process, featuring perspectives from two experienced fellowship program leaders: Scott P. Steinmann, MD, FAAOS, Chair of the AAOS Board of Specialty Societies Fellowship Committee, and Roman M. Natoli, MD, PhD, FAAOS, Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship Program Director at Indiana University School of Medicine and Chair of the Fellowship & Career Choices Committee for the Orthopaedic Trauma Association (OTA).

Episode highlights:

Addresses common myths about the fellowship application process, including the misconceptions that more applications lead to better outcomes and that research is the most important factor, while clarifying what programs actually prioritize.

Emphasizes that the in-person interview and letters of recommendation carry more weight than many applicants expect, and that "fit" between a candidate and a program is often the deciding factor.

Provides advice on how to ace in-person interviews, including leveraging personal connections with the interviewers, limiting your questions, and for those who get anxious during interviews: practice, practice, practice!

Explains what not to do after an interview (e.g., don’t call interviewers or send thank-you notes!).

Highlights the newly introduced signaling process for fellowship applications, including its purpose and how applicants can use it strategically.

Offers a preparation timeline by training year, from establishing credibility as a PGY1 or PGY2 to going all-in on applications as a PGY4.

Offers encouragement to applicants, noting that the vast majority match within their top three choices.

Host: Ellen Lutnick, MD, Resident Assembly Executive Committee Chair

Guests: Scott P. Steinmann, MD, FAAOS, Chair, BOS Fellowship Committee; Emeritus faculty, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic

Roman M. Natoli, MD, PhD, FAAOS, Associate Professor and Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship Program Director, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine; Clinical Associate Director, Indiana Center for Musculoskeletal Health; Chair, OTA Fellowship & Career Choices Committee