The ortho stereotype

[ponyo]

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I know, I know, I'm not supposed to be thinking about this yet. But I'm curious and I can't help it, so humor me please 🙂

Based on all the med specialty cartoons & everything, the ortho stereotype seems to be "tall white male jock". We all know that stereotypes are true (or false) to different extents. Just how true is this one? Furthermore, if it is fairly true, do you think it's because other people aren't as likely to be interested in ortho or because it's actually harder to match, giving similar scores, research, etc.?

I'm just curious b/c ortho actually looks really interesting... but I'm a medium-height Asian girl. Although, I have to admit that carpentry is one of my favorite ECs.

 

[minerva3121]

I'm sorry my answer has nothing to do with your question...but when I first read this title I thought it was about O-chem

 

[airplanes]

Ortho is fairly competitive. Not upper deck like derm and plastics, but above most other fields.

Like any stereotype, it is somewhat true and often times not. People with athletic backgrounds seem to be highly represented in ortho.

 

[tn4596]

seen any asian girls working (i mean really working, not supervising or that kinda stuffs) at a construction site? Me neither.

 

[911 Turbo]

I know, I know, I'm not supposed to be thinking about this yet. But I'm curious and I can't help it, so humor me please 🙂

Based on all the med specialty cartoons & everything, the ortho stereotype seems to be "tall white male jock". We all know that stereotypes are true (or false) to different extents. Just how true is this one? Furthermore, if it is fairly true, do you think it's because other people aren't as likely to be interested in ortho or because it's actually harder to match, giving similar scores, research, etc.?

I'm just curious b/c ortho actually looks really interesting... but I'm a medium-height Asian girl. Although, I have to admit that carpentry is one of my favorite ECs.

If you can hammer I can dig it

 

[wololololololo]

Why does the BROed out stereotype exist? I don't know. Surgery with power tools sounds sort of cool though and there is a lot of finesse involved with things like hip replacements; it isn't all just hammering stuff and revving chainsaws.

Edit: If your refer to OR time as 'game time', ortho might be a good match.

 

[airplanes]

seen any asian girls working (i mean really working, not supervising or that kinda stuffs) at a construction site? Me neither.

Umm apples and oranges.

 

[AestheticMed]

Hope to see you in the field other potential ortho!

 

[ponyo]

seen any asian girls working (i mean really working, not supervising or that kinda stuffs) at a construction site? Me neither.

If you can hammer I can dig it

I can operate a smaller B&D chainsaw with reasonable precision... I've also had to miter the edge of 1/2mm boards into 30/45/60 angles so the finer details appeal to me too.

Edit: yea definitely had the image of the Todd in my head as I wrote this

 

[AestheticMed]

Most physicians are white males, and most physicians are not overweight, so I think it's reasonable to say that most Orthopods are white males in reasonably good shape.

That being said, my program director was a petite female.

Many people are intimidated by Ortho because the surgeries are often more physically demanding than other types of cases. We are much more likely to manipulate the patient during a procedure. You have not lived until you've dislocated a hip on purpose. People also get intimidated by the field because medical school really pays minimal attention to musculoskeletal medicine.

But they shouldn't be. Anyone can adapt to the field, and no one is getting rejected because they don't "look right." The stereotype is discussed a lot more outside of Ortho than inside it.

Exactly how competitive is it? Like a quick summary scores/position etc. Also I was planning to do a traumatology fellowship. Any opinions?

 

[JogoBonito]

seen any asian girls working (i mean really working, not supervising or that kinda stuffs) at a construction site? Me neither.

define a construction site

 

[AestheticMed]

define a construction site

Do i get to cat-call the pedi nurses and OB/GYNs?

 

[tn4596]

define a construction site

place where men works

Do i get to cat-call the pedi nurses and OB/GYNs?

oh yea

 

[DNAdude120]

I worked at an orthopaedic clinic for a bit and every doctor there (roughly 10 or so) was a white male. I realize it's not a big sample size but the doctors fit the stereotype pretty well. Two of the PAs were female if that matters.