Orthopedics Research Fellowship Yields Prolific Results for SOM Student
Andrew Grant’s Fellowship Has Resulted in Published Papers and Presentations at National Conferences
Since recognizing his passion for orthopedics during an elective at Westchester Medical Center, Andrew Grant, SOM Class of 2024, has built a prolific research portfolio in the field through a fellowship at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston, with three papers already accepted or published, 13 conference presentations, and four textbook chapters underway to date.
“My orthopedics elective was by far the most I'd worked on any rotation, but it was also the rotation I found that I derived the most energy from. Whether I was helping perform closed reductions in the ER or fix a fracture in the OR, I could see the impact the team and I were making (via x-ray) to help patients get back to the things they wanted to do,” says Grant.
The various research projects Grant has been involved with during his fellowship, alongside clinicians at New England Baptist Hospital, have showcased a range of orthopedic topics, including iodine versus saline irrigation in primary total knee arthroplasty and hip arthroplasty and factors that orthopedic fellowship applicants look for when applying to adult reconstruction fellowships, both of which Grant will present on at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons annual meeting in San Francisco in February. Research on the outcomes of DAIR in total knee arthroplasty prosthetic joint infection and the impact of cannabis legalization on opioid use in total joint arthroplasty have also been projects that Grant presented at local conferences.
Grant served as lead author on a study on product warranties in orthopedics, which was recently published in the Journal of Orthopaedics. “Product guarantees are known to the manufacturing industry, however, warranties have been rare in orthopedic surgery. This phenomenon prompted us to conduct a systematic review of patient access material of more than 120 orthopedic manufacturers to identify the prevalence and scope of these warranties and compare that to other medical industries to better inform their impact on patient care,” says Grant. “We hope this review prompts further investigation and discussion surrounding the impact of these guarantees and informs orthopedists when discussing this topic in the clinical setting.”
“This research fellowship has been the best thing for me both personally and professionally. My experience of being in and around orthopedics and being productive in research has allowed me to become more independent and confident within the field while gaining valuable knowledge that will propel me further as an intern,” says Grant.
“I look forward to being successful in matching this year, and using orthopedics to help make a positive impact on as many patients’ lives that I can. I also look forward to sharing my experience with any fellow students seeking to pursue orthopedics and helping them reach their goals. Feel free to reach out.”