Orthopaedic surgery continues to trail other specialties in achieving gender and URM (under-represented minority) parity. Despite nearly half of medical school graduates being women, only 16% of active orthopaedic surgery residents and a mere 6% of practicing orthopaedic surgeons are women. The reasons for this disparity are complex, but lack of exposure and mentorship are often cited as key barriers.
To help address this issue, the Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS) was established in 1983 with just 42 members. Its mission is to promote the professional development of women in orthopaedics across all career stages. Today, RJOS has grown to include over 1,400 members and welcomes medical students, residents, fellows, and attendings. The society offers invaluable resources, including career advice, contract negotiation guidance, leadership training, and mentorship networking. RJOS also hosts an annual meeting during the AAOS Annual Meeting, with this year’s event scheduled for March 14.
In the latter half of last year, UNMC proudly launched its own RJOS chapter. Currently, the chapter has 15 members, with an additional 7 members from Creighton University who actively participate in events and meetings. The UNMC chapter is chaired by Dr. Sara Putnam. This year, the chapter joined the Midwest Region RJOS Medical Student Conference at the University of Kansas Medical Center (KUMC) in March. Members presented research and exchanged ideas with other chapters, furthering their professional growth and networking with mentors and peers in the region.
By fostering mentorship and offering critical resources, RJOS and its local chapters are working to make orthopaedic surgery more accessible and welcoming to women and other non-traditional medical professionals.