Columbia Orthopedics Awarded Seed Grant for Internship Program with Nth Dimensions
Wakenda K. Tyler, MD, MPH, Chief of Orthopedic Oncology, and William N. Levine, MD, Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery recently received grant funding for their proposal: “Nth Dimension Summer Internship (NDSI) Program at Columbia Orthopedics – A program Designed to Bridge the Gap in Mentorship for Underrepresented Minorities Seeking a Career in Orthopedic Medicine.” The NDSI Program at Columbia Orthopedics aims to create an inclusive, supportive environment for minority medical students interested in pursuing a career in orthopedics.
“It feels great to be given this funding, which will help us improve the number of students who can have high quality exposure to orthopedics at a highly acclaimed academic center,” said Dr. Tyler. “This is a great start to a mentorship initiative that will help fill a desperate need to diversify orthopedics.”
Students will have the opportunity to learn from a diverse group of faculty mentors across the different disciplines in orthopedic medicine including oncology, sports medicine, and spine surgery. Students’ work in the eight-week program will culminate into a research poster/presentation at the annual National Medical Association assembly and students are strongly encouraged to submit their research to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) national meeting. Columbia Orthopedics will partner with Nth Dimensions, an education non-profit aimed at addressing and eliminating healthcare disparities for all communities.
“Nth Dimensions has a documented track record of success in shepherding women and underrepresented minorities into orthopedic surgery,” said Dr. Levine. “Columbia Orthopedics is honored to become an Nth Dimensions sponsor and look forward to mentoring future orthopedic surgeons this coming summer”
The program was made possible by funding from Columbia University’s Faculty Seed Grant Initiative, which focuses on supporting projects that engage with issues of structural racism.
