The Ortho Surgery Match Game: Signaling, Away Rotations, Research Years, and More

In this episode of the AAOS Now Podcast, host Richard Schaefer, MD, FAAOS, sits down with two of orthopaedic surgery's most dedicated advocates for medical student mentorship, William Levine, MD, FAAOS, and Amiethab Aiyer, MD, FAAOS, for a candid conversation about the residency Match process.

The discussion tackles the nuts, bolts, and controversies of today's highly competitive application landscape, including how signaling helps students whittle down the number of programs they apply to, why away rotations may have gotten out of hand, and whether every student really needs to do a research year.

Drs. Levine and Aiyer share how their decades-long professional relationship helped shape their commitment to guiding the next generation of orthopaedic surgeons. They explain that mentorship is a bidirectional partnership in which the mentee must put forth more than just a desire to learn. They talk about the importance of building a diverse "board" of mentors across institutions. And they encourage students to seek out mentors, including near-peers, who have their “finger on the pulse” of the rapidly-evolving Match process.

The episode closes with a candid challenge to prospective applicants: Before attempting to match into orthopaedic surgery, ask yourself why you want to be an orthopaedic surgeon. According to Dr. Levine, mentors should require all of their mentees to answer that question — and if the answer is iffy, encourage them to consider a different specialty.

Key Topics Covered in this Episode

How the residency Match process works: from application to Match Day

Building a mentorship "board": why one mentor isn't enough and how to cultivate relationships across institutions

Mentorship as a bidirectional partnership: what mentees must bring to the relationship

The origin of OrthoMentor: how Drs. Levine and Aiyer began collaborating to fill a nationwide advising void and how students at institutions with limited advising resources can still access current, accurate guidance

Signaling and application caps: understanding the data behind limiting program applications (yes, 100 applications is too many)

Away rotations: how many to do and why cohort strategy matters when applying

Research years: when they help, when they don't, and what to look for in a productive year

Schools without home programs: unique challenges and where to find current guidance

Pursuing the right path: why students should reflect on their motivations before pursuing a career in orthopaedic surgery, and why where you train isn’t as important as what you do with the opportunity

About Our Guests

William N. Levine, MD, FAAOS, the Frank E. Stinchfield Professor and Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons; Chief of the Orthopaedics Service at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center; and Editor-in-Chief Emeritus, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons

Amiethab Aiyer, MD, FAAOS, Division Chief of foot and ankle surgery and Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine; Deputy Editor, Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons