This role has a proven five-year history, with all previous fellows matching at their preferred residencies, and the vast majority matching at UIC. The UIC faculty think highly of their research fellows and advocate for their fellows to match at UIC or elsewhere if desired.
This clinical research position is a one-year, full-time salaried position, with the primary PI as Dr. Mark Gonzalez, MD PhD, the department chairman, with stipends to cover travel, research-related expenses, and conferences. Fellows are expected to have 10+ manuscripts under submission and 20+ abstracts, posters, and other conference presentations accepted or presented by the end of the research year.
Unfortunately, this position is only open to US MD students between M3-M4.The fellows also work closely with the residency program director, Dr. Alfonso Mejia, as well as with other attendings and residents, allowing abundant opportunities for mentorship and networking. A strength of this position is the direct contact with the chairman and program director, both of whom are highly supported, experienced, and connected within the field of orthopaedics and heavily involved with research, medical student mentorship, and the residency application process.
Duties:
- Design and execute basic science and clinical research projects, manage ongoing projects, submit to and attend national conferences, and work towards achieving publication in major journals
- Mentor medical students and attend orthopaedic residency preparatory courses given by the faculty
- Collaborate with multiple members of the orthopaedic faculty across many subspecialties
- There are no clinical responsibilities, but the broad duties of the fellowship ensure for opportunities to work with and learn from different attendings and residents.
- The fellow is welcome to attend morning conferences, subpsecialty lectures, Grand Rounds, cadaver labs, sawbone workshops, and social events with the UIC residents.
Ongoing Projects Include:
- Book chapters for AAOS and specialty societies
- Retrospective chart-review outcome studies
- Case studies and case series
- Health disparities research
- Virtual reality in education
- Systematic reviews; Meta-analyses
- Database studies, including PearlDiver, NSQIP, Epic Cosmos, NIS
- Clinical biomechanics in the form of cadaveric and animal-based research
- Prospective clinical data and randomized control trial coordination and collection
- Prospective biospecimen collection
Anticipated start date: May-July (earlier is preferred) to allow the previous fellows to provide training and a transition period for the role.
The Application
If you are interested, please e-mail the following to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.:
- Curriculum vitae – include your phone number
- USMLE board scores – official report not required but preferred
- Personal statement
- Brief statement (<300 words) explaining your interest in this position
- Photograph
Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis. Phone interviews will then be conducted, and the position is expected to be filled soon after. The preferred applicant for this position is a US MD student between their third and fourth years of medical school.The current and prior research fellows are available for any questions at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..