Dr. Philip K. Louie invites 3rd and 4th year US medical students interested in orthopaedic surgery to apply for a one-year spine research gap-year fellowship. This fellowship, conducted within the internationally-recognized spine department at Virginia Mason Medical Center, focuses on VALUE-BASED HEALTHCARE MODELS/DELIVERY, VALUE-SCIENCE in Orthopaedic Surgery, adult degenerative and deformity research.
Specific areas of study include value-based care, value-science models, healthcare economics in spine care, safety in adult deformity surgery, applications of enabling technologies in spine surgery, and various clinical and radiographic factors associated with surgeries for adult degenerative conditions. Position: Spine Research Gap-Year Fellow Duration: 1 year Start Date: Summer 2026 Compensation: Monthly stipend + conference registration/travel Location: Virginia Mason Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA (Seattle Spine Team) Spine Surgeon Collaborators: Philip K. Louie MD, Venu M. Nemani MD PhD, Jean-Christophe Leveque MD
Responsibilities:
Manage multiple research projects, organize and maintain all aspects of the projects
Consent patients for studies, follow up with patients in clinic or by phone, and administer patient reported outcome surveys
Work alongside research program manager to organize and present ongoing research updates at weekly meetings with a team of research faculty, fellows, residents, statisticians, and research coordinators
Submit protocols to the Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Assist in preparation of PowerPoint presentations, website educational material
Opportunity to lead studies with other junior medical students (University of Washington)
Requirements:
US-based 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
Demonstrated interest in research and strong academic record
Ability to work independently and complete tasks in an efficient manner
Skills include ability to: communicate with team members, self-manage, work independently, and collaborate with clinic staff and multidisciplinary team members
Goals/Opportunities of the Fellowship:
10-15 publications, in addition to reviews, conference presentations, and book chapters
Gain important experience in clinical and basic science orthopaedic research to help strengthen a potential academic career
Learn and apply basic data analyses under the guidance of a PhD data analyst
Build confidence in data collection, scientific writing, and submission of manuscripts
Attend and present at national and international meetings
Participate in clinic and operating room observation with the spine surgeons and spine fellow
Co-mentor MS1 summer research students
Gain support in your orthopaedic surgery match
How To Apply:Interested applicants should send the following items to [email protected] & [email protected] with the email subject: 2026-27 Seattle Spine Team Research
Curriculum vitae
A brief cover letter/personal statement detailing your background and interest in the position
2 references
One letter of recommendation
Professional headshot
Desired start date for the position in May/June 2026 (flexible)
The applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis!
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