Columbia Orthopedics and Nth Dimensions Summer Internship Preparations

Over the last several months, Columbia Orthopedics and Nth Dimensions have worked together to bring the Nth Dimensions Summer Internship (NDSI) Program to Columbia Orthopedics. The Columbia branch of the program; lead by Wakenda K. Tyler, MD, MPH, Chief of Orthopedic Oncology along with William N. Levine, MD, Chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery; aims to create an inclusive, supportive environment for minority medical students interested in pursuing a career in orthopedics.

Columbia Orthopedics is partnering with Nth Dimensions, an education non-profit aimed at addressing and eliminating healthcare disparities for all communities. The non-profit was founded in 2004 by orthopedic surgeons who wanted to see women and minorities advance in the field of orthopedics. Since then, Nth Dimensions has partnered with medical insitutions from across the country to give women and minorities the chance to learn and gain mentorship from some of the best orthopedic surgeons in the country via their internship program.

The eigh-week program will start in June of this year. Students interning at Columbia Orthopedics 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. Their work  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. 

"The goal is for everyone to have a published paper at the end of the year," said Dr. Tyler.

In addition to the publication of a research paper, the program brings students together with big names in orthopedics whose mentorship will not only give them an opportunity to learn about orthopedics but will aid them as their careers grow.

"Mentorships with surgeons like Drs. Levine, Lenke, and Vitale can really help students down the line as mentors can advocate for them when they apply to residency, fellowships, and even jobs," said Dr. Tyler. "We hope that as the program continues to grow our alumni students will turn around and help the next generation just as their mentors helped them."

Currently, Dr. Tyler is working to finalize living arragements, research projects, and schedules for the eight-week program. She is working with hospital administration to ensure the visiting students can get the most out of the program while following COVID safety protocols. Other Columbia Orthopedics faculty, incuding residency program leaders Charles M. Jobin, MD and T. Sean Lynch, MD, are working together to structure the mentorship portion of the internship.

Columbia Orthopedics looks forward to welcoming the upcoming Nth Dimensions summer interns.