Dr. Justin Ernat invites 3rd and 4th year medical students interested in orthopaedic surgery to apply for a one-year sports medicine research fellowship.
At this time, we are only considering students from United States accredited MD programs. This is a full-time, paid position with the University of Utah. This fellowship is focused on sports medicine knee and shoulder surgery research.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis with an anticipated decision in February/March 2025. Dr. Ernat specializes in orthopaedic sports medicine with a surgical focus on the knee and shoulder. He received his undergraduate education at Illinois Wesleyan University where he received a bachelor's degree in Chemistry, magna cum laude. He was very active in organic chemistry research there, including publishing multiple papers that focused on utilizing green chemistry for pharmaceutical developments. He would go on to attend medical school at The Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University where he was selected to the Gold Humanism in Medicine Honor Society. He joined the United States Army and completed orthopedic surgical residency training at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI. During his time in residency, he concurrently completed a master's degree in healthcare administration and management. He participated in care for the Army, Air Force, Navy, Marines, and Coast Guard service members, and was active in research across all sub-specialties of orthopedics. After residency, Justin served as an active duty orthopedic surgeon at Blanchfield Army Community Hospital, Fort Campbell, KY. While at Fort Campbell, he was involved in the care of soldiers and families of the 101st Airborne Division, and specifically served as head team orthopedic surgeon for both the 5th Special Forces Group and the 160th Special Operation Aviation Regiment (SOAR). He deployed to Syria in 2018/2019 during Operation Inherent Resolve with a surgical team under the direction of the Special Operations Joint Task Force, caring for special operations service members and civilians, as well as local nationals and Syrian Democratic Forces. Upon completing 9 years of service in the Army, he completed a fellowship in orthopaedic sports medicine surgery at the world-renowned Steadman Clinic and Steadman Philippon Research Institute in Vail, Colorado. There, he was active in research regarding knee and shoulder injuries.He is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery with a subspecialty certification in sports medicine, has published multiple orthopedic research papers, and has presented his research at national and international meetings. He is a member of the Arthroscopy Association of North America, the American Orthopaedic Society for Sports Medicine, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery, and the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons.As the research assistant, you will be responsible for managing and organizing multiple projects and efficiently following them to completion. Applicants with experience in reading scholarly articles, writing manuscripts, and a zest for innovation are sought after. Experience with electronic medical records, REDCAP databases, statistical backgrounds, or medical artistry is beneficial.
Position: Research Associate (Full-time paid position with benefits)
Duration: ~ May 2025 - May 2026 (This is open for discussion)
Location: University of Utah Orthopaedic Center. Salt Lake City, UT.
Requirements:
- MS3 or MS4 students with a strong interest in orthopaedic research and a planned career in orthopaedic surgery and academic medicine.
- Prior research experience preferred. Statistical experience strongly preferred.
- Ability to work independently and complete tasks in an efficient manner
Responsibilities:
- Manage multiple research projects and organize and maintain all aspects of the projects and follow them to completion (assist in data collection, write/submit manuscripts)
- Organizing and presenting ongoing research updates at weekly meetings with a team of research faculty, fellows, residents, statisticians, and research coordinators
- Collecting patient-reported outcome data
- Assisting in preparing PowerPoint Presentations, Website Educational Material
Goals/Opportunities of the Fellowship:
- 10+/- publications, in addition to case reports, reviews, and book chapters
- Gain important experience in clinical and basic science orthopaedic research to help strengthen a potential academic career
- Be able to read and critically analyze medical literature
- Be comfortable with data collection, scientific writing, and submission of manuscripts
- Attend and present at national and international meetings
Clinical Opportunities of the Fellowship:
- Participate in clinic and operating room working with Dr. Ernat, fellows, and residents
- While this is a research fellowship in sports medicine, this opportunity will be one that exposes you to all aspects of orthopaedic surgery. You will be expected to attend orthopaedic grand rounds, sports medicine/trauma subspecialty conferences, journal club, and resident conferences to help improve your overall knowledge in the specialty.
How To Apply:
Interested applicants should apply at the following link:
Be prepared to provide:
- Curriculum vitae
- Medical school transcript including clerkship/rotation grades
- One-page Personal Statement about yourself and your reasons for applying for this position
- In 400 words or less, tell us about your statistics and research background. Describe a research project that you have previously been involved in and describe your role in the project. What did the study contribute to the field of medicine?
- One to two letters of recommendation (preferably from research mentors in orthopaedics if possible)
