Pediatric Orthopedic and Spinal Deformity Research Fellowship at Children's Mercy

Do you envision finding a meaningful role with an inclusive and compassionate team? At Children's Mercy, we believe in making a difference in the lives of all children and shining a light of hope to the patients and families we serve. Our employees make the difference, which is why we have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top pediatric hospital, for eleven consecutive years.

Children's Mercy is in the heart of Kansas City - a metro abounding in cultural experiences, vibrant communities and thriving businesses. This is where our patients and families live, work and play. This is a community that has embraced our hospital and we strive to say thanks by giving back. As a leader in children's health, we engage in meaningful programs and partnerships throughout the region so that we can improve the lives of children beyond the walls of our hospital.

The Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Children's Mercy Hospital is offering a one-year, funded research fellowship designed for medical students or unmatched medical graduates with an interest in orthopedic surgery.

Children's Mercy Hospital and Clinics of Kansas City is internationally recognized for its pioneering work in pediatric orthopedic patient care, education, and basic and clinical research. This tertiary-care hospital is the only pediatric Level I Trauma Center in the Kansas City area and boasts a catchment area spanning hundreds of miles including Kansas, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and Arkansas. The hospital is consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report across multiple subspecialties and was ranked #35 in Pediatric Orthopaedics in 2024. Our growing Department of Orthopedics currently has 13 pediatric orthopedic surgeons, 5 non-operative sports medicine and general musculoskeletal physicians, and one pediatric sports medicine fellow, as well as 24 advanced practice practitioners. All disciplines, including general orthopedics, trauma, sports medicine, upper extremity, spine, hip, limb lengthening and deformity, cerebral palsy, and neuromuscular care are represented. Our research program currently hosts over 50 various prospective and retrospective clinical studies. We have close collaborative relationships with the UMKC School of Medicine, UMKC Dental School, KU Medical School, KCUMB and KU Lawrence School of Engineering.

This program will give students the opportunity to work directly with faculty members and orthopaedic surgery residents to gain exposure to pediatric orthopaedics, mentorship and guidance for residency applications, and practical experience in clinical and basic science research endeavors to aide in building foundational skills to become a successful clinician scientist.

At Children's Mercy, we are committed to ensuring that everyone feels welcomed within our walls. A successful candidate for this position will join us as we strive to create a workplace that reflects the community we serve, as well as our core values of kindness, curiosity, inclusion, team and integrity.

Additionally, it's important to us that we remain transparent with all potential job candidates. Because we value the safety of the patients and families we serve, as well as the Children's Mercy staff, we want to let you know that the seasonal influenza vaccine is a condition of employment for all employees in our organization. New employees must be willing to be vaccinated if found non-immune to measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) and chicken pox (varicella) and/or without evidence of tetanus, diphtheria, acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccination since 2005. If you are selected for this position, you will be asked to supply your immunization records as proof of vaccination. If you and have any concerns about receiving these vaccines, medical and/or religious exemptions can be further discussed with Human Resources.

- Receive direct mentorship from orthopedic faculty
- Gain practical experience in the formulation, execution, and presentation of a variety of successful research types across each research Level of Evidence tier
- Present research at regional and national orthopedic conferences
- Network with orthopedic surgery residents (from UMKC, KU, and KCU), fellows, and attending surgeons
- Participate in departmental didactics, grand rounds, journal clubs, and guest lectureships
- Obtain experience that supports the student to enter competitive orthopedic surgery residency programs.
- Learn to teach research methodology to medical students and residents
- Develop lifelong learning and curiosity.
- Grow your clinical knowledge base through continued involvement in the delivery of orthopaedic care

- Be organized
- Maintain clear, timely communication with faculty and residents
- Allocate 50% of time to spine research and 50% to general pediatric orthopedic research within the department
- Actively participate in 10-15 projects and author/co-author a minimum of 5 research manuscripts, abstracts, or posters/podiums over the course of the year.
- Draft and submit IRB protocols for new research projects
- Recruit and obtain informed consent from patients/families for prospective research projects
- Manage data entry for involved research projects. Collect, organize, and analyze data using multiple software platforms (REDCap, Excel, SPSS, GraphPad Prism)
- Draft manuscripts for publication
- Work closely with Department Research Coordinator(s)
- Participate in monthly research/QI meetings with Director of Research and research personnel.
- Mentor medical students and assist residents in their research endeavors
- Serve as a member of the Department Research Committee to keep track of ongoing department research and critically review new research proposals for areas of improvement.

Requirements for Application
- Medical students from allopathic or osteopathic medical schools who have, at a minimum, completed their first year of medical school and are in good standing
- Unmatched 4th year medical students and medical school graduates
- Willingness to relocate to Kansas City for the duration of the 12-month research year (May 2024 - May 2025). Start and end dates are somewhat flexible according to the needs of the individual applicant but should last a minimum of 12 months.
- Ability to meet all roles and requirements of the job with reasonable accommodations for disability or illness
- Cover Letter/Letter of Interest
- STEP Score (As Available)
- Medical School Transcripts
- CV
- 1-2 Letters of Recommendation
The successful applicant will be motivated, energetic, intellectually curious, diverse in experiences of community service and leadership and work well with a team. They should possess an interest in orthopedic surgery with an ability to work independently and efficiently.

Application Timeline
Deadline for submission of application materials is 1400h CST/1500h EST on Wednesday, March 13, 2024
Virtual interviews will begin after 1200h on Wednesday, March 13, and continue through the morning of Friday, March 15th. We will select a candidate by Friday, March 15th so unselected applicants can seek other research positions or seek a match through the SOAP. Candidates who are not selected will be notified by email the morning of March 17th.

Please send additional requirements for application to :

Julie Aust
Senior Talent Recruiter
jaaust@cmh.edu

The benefits plans at Children's Mercy are one of many reasons we are recognized as one of the best places to work in Kansas City. Our plans are designed to meet the changing needs of our employees and their families.

- Salary of $30,000/yr
- Option for healthcare, dental, and vision coverage through Children's Mercy
- Professional development stipend of up to $2,250 in travel funds for presentation at National or Regional Conferences

This position is not eligible to work remotely, which means that the person hired will be required to work onsite at one of our Children's Mercy locations and may not work from home.

Children's Mercy hires individuals based on their job skills, expertise and ability to maintain professional relationships with fellow employees, patients, parents and visitors. A personal interview, formal education and training, previous work experience, references and a criminal background investigation all are factors used to select the best candidates. The hospital does not discriminate against prospective or current employees based on the race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, creed, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, ancestry or veteran status. A drug screen will be performed upon hire. Children's Mercy is smoke and tobacco free.

CM is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workforce. Our patients and families come from all walks of life, and so do we. We know that our greatest strengths come from the people who make up our team so we hire great people from a wide variety of backgrounds, not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it makes our hospital stronger and our patient care more compassionate.

If you share our values and our enthusiasm for service, you will find a home at CM. In recruiting for our team, we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring, including education, ideas, culture, ethnicity, race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, national origin, age, languages spoken, veteran status, color, religion, disability and beliefs.