Plan to maintain a good high school resume—including high grades, high test scores, community service, and clubs and organizations—in order to get into a top college. Your college application should also include an impeccable entrance essay, evidence of personal attributes that will do well in college (i. e. leadership qualities), and letters of recommendation from teachers. Classes that are most directly related to orthopedic surgery in high school might include biology, anatomy and physiology, chemistry, and the Advanced Placement (AP) versions of these courses.
Orthopedic surgeons also need to have extremely good 3-D visualization skills in order to execute successful surgeries. You can develop these spatial skills by practicing drawing, drafting, or even by playing video games. [2] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U. S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Orthopedic surgeons are also usually very active individuals, enjoying sports and showing leadership in athletics.
Just as having a strong high school resume was required to get into a good undergraduate program, a strong and well-rounded college resume is required to get into medical school. In order to apply for medical school, undergrads must take the MCAT, a standardized entrance exam that proves you are ready for the rigors of medical school. [4] X Research source The MCAT can cost anywhere from $100 to $2,000.
There are only about 650 residency programs available each year, making this a highly competitive field.
The final year of general medicine can be in general surgery, internal medicine, or pediatrics. Some residencies require even more general training, and include only three years of orthopedic training with two years of general medicine.
Each step of the exam has a different fee, costing $70, $645, and $660 for different components. [9] X Research source This is the general licensure exam that all doctors must take.
Fees for the exam are over $1,650, with a late fee of $250. This test is required again every 7 to 10 years.
Surgeries typically performed by orthopedic surgeons are usually done to repair damage done by injury to bones, joints, tendons, skin, nerves, ligaments, or muscles.
They should also use medical knowledge and physical methods to treat musculoskeletal problems.
Orthopedic surgeons often serve as consultants for primary care doctors and others who receive patients with musculoskeletal complaints. Orthopedic surgeons must be able to treat many different conditions, including but not limited to bone breaks, sprains, torn ligaments, club feet, abnormalities in the fingers and toes, and bone tumors. Orthopedic surgeons also have the ability to replace joints with prosthetic devices, called total joint replacement.
This may mean attending conferences and training sessions on top of their responsibilities with their patients. They must obtain a re-certification from the ABOS or AOBOS every 7 to 10 years.
However, working for a hospital means your schedule and activities are dictated.
Having a solo practice means you need to also have head for business, since a solo practice essentially means running a small business.
The downside of joining a group of surgeons in the same specialty is that it reduces potential for making a strong name for yourself.
For example, orthopedic spine surgeons in multi-specialty groups got paid over $622,000 in 2009, while those in single-specialty practices made around $605,000.
