Orthopaedic Acting Medical Internship

Orthopaedic Surgery Acting Medical Internship (AI) at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center is a four- week program that offers a broad exposure to orthopaedic conditions in children and adults, including an emphasis on trauma.

Highlights of Acting Medical Internship

This rotation exposes students to work at both UH Cleveland Medical Center and MetroHealth Medical Center. Students will spend two weeks at UH Cleveland Medical Center and rotate through two of three services (pediatrics, sports or trauma). The additional two weeks is spent at MetroHealth Medical Center, a major Level I trauma center for northern Ohio.

During the acting internship rotations, students work side-by-side with our residents and faculty in the operating room, clinic, and while on call at our two Level 1 trauma centers. In clinic, students function at the level of a PGY1 learning to see patients alone, conducting focused physical exams, documenting effectively, and formulating an appropriate differential diagnosis and plan.

Acting interns also spend at least one day with either our chairman, Dr. Voos; program director, Dr. Hardesty; and medical student director, Dr. Cheng.

In the operating room, students scrub in on every case, gaining firsthand experience in fundamental procedures such as surgical exposure, fracture reduction and stabilization, and soft tissue management. Within this environment, acting interns also have ample opportunities to refine their suturing and wound closure skills. Under close supervision, they learn the initial steps of instrumentation, including drilling, screw placement, and inserting intramedullary rods.

While on call, acting interns are an essential part of the care team, learning the basics of identifying and managing acute orthopaedic conditions, as well as proper image interpretation and limb immobilization.

University Hospitals is notable for offering acting interns a unique opportunity to participate in primary orthopedic call at two different Level 1 trauma centers. Each center features a distinct call structure, history, and institutional culture, making this experience unparalleled in the country.

Responsibilities

Acting interns are fully immersed in the residency experience from their first month onward. Throughout their rotations, students actively participate in our morning fracture conferences and daily didactics alongside our residents. In their final week, each student will present on a patient case they were involved in to residents. Additionally, acting interns participate in all journal clubs and weekly grand rounds, attend a specialized orientation and splinting workshop tailored for student education, and join residency-funded evening meet-and-great events.

Offered: Acting Medical Internship positions last for four weeks and are offered between May and October.

Prerequisites: Completion of all clinical core rotations

How to Apply

To apply for the Acting Medical Internship:

• Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine students should contact the Case School of Medicine Registrar
• Visiting medical students will apply through the AAMC-VSLO system from January 15 through March 15. Once all of the applications are received students will be selected for available acting internship positions. Visiting students will be notified by email through the VSLO system on acceptance by April 15.
• The elective is searchable under the title: Univ Hospitals HealthSystem.

Scheduling and Personal Calendar

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery accepts 6 acting medical interns at University Hospitals per month and fill up fast. It is suggested when you apply that you request more than one block. When requesting your Acting Medial Internship, be sure to look at your personal schedule to make sure it doesn't conflict with your rotation. This is a four week rotation and the Acting Medical Internship responsibilities go through the last weekend. Please include this into your personal planning. This internship requires travel to different medical center, your own transportation is required.

• Block 1 5/5/2025 - 6/1/2025
• Block 2 6/2/2025 - 6/29/2025
• Block 3 6/30/2025 - 7/27/2025
• Block 4 7/28/2025 - 8/24/2025
• Block 5 8/25/2025 - 9/21/2025
• Block 6 9/22/2025 - 10/20/2025

For additional information, please contact our education coordinator:

For Case Western Reserve University SOM students:
Kerwin Samson, Education Coordinator
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
University Hospitals of Cleveland
11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44106-5043
kerwin.samson@UHhospitals.org or 216-220-9004