I. INTRODUCTION
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), part of the Allegheny HealthNetwork (AHN), offers an in-folded Medical Education Research year as a part of the medical training. This non-traditional year should take place between MS3 and MS4 year for medical school students interested in applying to an orthopaedic surgery residency program. All research activity will take place at the AHN AGH campus.The goal of this research training is to prepare the orthopaedic surgery resident candidate for a career specializing in orthopaedic surgery with a focus on bench top research and additional clinical training. They will have at least one longitudinal research project and participate in several clinical research studies. The medical student is expected to participate in basic science and clinical research activities with a minimum of two accepted abstracts at national conferences for oral presentation and submission of two manuscripts for publication.
II. MEDICAL STUDENT FELLOWSHIP CURRICULUM
The medical student will attend all multidisciplinary didactic orthopaedic conferences including faculty and guest lecturers, case presentations, Orthopaedic Grand Rounds lectures, M&M conferences, and journal club sessions.The orthopaedic medical student will be scheduled for outpatient ambulatory clinics which focus on the evaluation, diagnosis, pre-operative and non-operative decision making, along with outcomes and complications for several orthopaedic subspecialties. Medical students are also encouraged to participate in the education and clinical teaching of junior residents and senior medical students in and out of the operating room throughout the year. A student-initiated research project, along with a year-long basic science study are also strongly supported and expected during the fellowship as detailed above.
Medical Knowledge – The medical student is expected to develop a greater understanding as to the indications and principles behind orthopaedic procedures. As a part of the educational experience, the student is expected to have an understanding in the science and the clinical aspects of orthopaedic treatments including in the areas of physiology, joint biomechanics and other models.
III. FELLOWSHIP FACULTY
Sam Akhavan, MD – Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeon, Research Fellowship Director
Daniel Altman, MD – Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, Residency Program Director
Boyle C. Cheng, PhD – Director of Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Research
The Medical student will be supervised and mentored by the fellowship committee and other Orthopaedic faculty members.
The medical student will be evaluated by the faculty, peers, and allied health professions twice during the fellowship training.
IV. APPLICATIONS:
The applicants must submit completed applications to Leslie Hays by email (Leslie.HAYS@ahn.org).
Please copy the fellowship director, Sam Akhavan, when submitting your application (Sam.Akhavan@ahn.org).
Applications will be accepted through March 1st, 2026. A completed application includes the applicant’s CV and a brief statement (maximum of 1 page) expressing why they are interested in pursuing this fellowship.
The committee will review applications, interview applicants and offer the position on a rolling basis.
V. DETAILS:
Dormitory housing will be available free of charge for the fellow, and the fellow will receive [b]at least[/b] a $10,000 stipend. Malpractice insurance will also be provided for clinical rotations during the fellowship.Applicants must have successfully completed all Year 3 clerkships and sat for the Step 2 CK exam prior to starting the fellowship. Applicants must be able to start the fellowship by August 15, 2026, but can start as early as July 1, 2026. The fellowship will end prior to starting 4th year rotations.
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Allegheny General Hospital (AGH), part of the Allegheny HealthNetwork (AHN), offers an in-folded Medical Education Research year as a part of the medical training. This non-traditional year should take place between MS3 and MS4 year for medical school students interested in applying to an orthopaedic surgery residency program. All research activity will take place at the AHN AGH campus.The goal of this research training is to prepare the orthopaedic surgery resident candidate for a career specializing in orthopaedic surgery with a focus on bench top research and additional clinical training. They will have at least one longitudinal research project and participate in several clinical research studies. The medical student is expected to participate in basic science and clinical research activities with a minimum of two accepted abstracts at national conferences for oral presentation and submission of two manuscripts for publication.
II. MEDICAL STUDENT FELLOWSHIP CURRICULUM
The medical student will attend all multidisciplinary didactic orthopaedic conferences including faculty and guest lecturers, case presentations, Orthopaedic Grand Rounds lectures, M&M conferences, and journal club sessions.The orthopaedic medical student will be scheduled for outpatient ambulatory clinics which focus on the evaluation, diagnosis, pre-operative and non-operative decision making, along with outcomes and complications for several orthopaedic subspecialties. Medical students are also encouraged to participate in the education and clinical teaching of junior residents and senior medical students in and out of the operating room throughout the year. A student-initiated research project, along with a year-long basic science study are also strongly supported and expected during the fellowship as detailed above.
Medical Knowledge – The medical student is expected to develop a greater understanding as to the indications and principles behind orthopaedic procedures. As a part of the educational experience, the student is expected to have an understanding in the science and the clinical aspects of orthopaedic treatments including in the areas of physiology, joint biomechanics and other models.
III. FELLOWSHIP FACULTY
Sam Akhavan, MD – Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgeon, Research Fellowship Director
Daniel Altman, MD – Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon, Residency Program Director
Boyle C. Cheng, PhD – Director of Orthopaedic and Neurosurgical Research
The Medical student will be supervised and mentored by the fellowship committee and other Orthopaedic faculty members.
The medical student will be evaluated by the faculty, peers, and allied health professions twice during the fellowship training.
IV. APPLICATIONS:
The applicants must submit completed applications to Leslie Hays by email (Leslie.HAYS@ahn.org).
Please copy the fellowship director, Sam Akhavan, when submitting your application (Sam.Akhavan@ahn.org).
Applications will be accepted through March 1st, 2026. A completed application includes the applicant’s CV and a brief statement (maximum of 1 page) expressing why they are interested in pursuing this fellowship.
The committee will review applications, interview applicants and offer the position on a rolling basis.
V. DETAILS:
Dormitory housing will be available free of charge for the fellow, and the fellow will receive [b]at least[/b] a $10,000 stipend. Malpractice insurance will also be provided for clinical rotations during the fellowship.Applicants must have successfully completed all Year 3 clerkships and sat for the Step 2 CK exam prior to starting the fellowship. Applicants must be able to start the fellowship by August 15, 2026, but can start as early as July 1, 2026. The fellowship will end prior to starting 4th year rotations.