[POSITION FILLED] 2026-2027 Hand & Upper Extremity Surgery Research Fellowship at Rush 

Drs. Mark Cohen, John Fernandez, Robert Wysocki, and Xavier Simcock comprise the Hand & Upper Extremity Division at Rush University Medical Center/Midwest Orthopedics at Rush. They are academic orthopedic surgeons specializing in care of the hand, wrist, and elbow. Our division has unique expertise in management of elbow pathology from simple to complex, with more robust elbow clinical and research programs than most programs in the country.

Position Title: Clinical Research Fellow

Positions: 1

Who: US medical students between M2/M3 or M3/M4 who are interested in orthopedic surgery are most strongly considered. Unmatched medical students and students applying to medical school may also be considered.

Where: Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush University Medical Center, Division of Hand/Upper Extremity Surgery 

When: Beginning May-June 2026 

Duration: 1 year

Salary: A Biweekly stipend is provided. 

Drs. Mark Cohen, John Fernandez, Robert Wysocki and Xavier Simcock together comprise the Hand/Upper Extremity Division at Rush University/Midwest Orthopedics at Rush. They are academic orthopedic surgeons specializing in care of the hand, wrist, and elbow. Our division has a unique expertise in management of elbow pathology from simple to complex, with more robust elbow clinical and research programs than most programs in the country. Our team maintains a close working relationship clinically, and collaborates on multiple scholarly projects, including clinical research, basic science/laboratory work, and database research. We are looking for a motivated, driven, forward-thinking student to join our team for one year and play a critical role in our research efforts, by both executing on our own research ideas and even developing some of his/her own new ideas. The students will join our team of attending physicians, residents, fellows, basic scientists, and other collaborators (e.g., physician assistants, hand therapists) working together to generate novel and meaningful research.

 Active Areas of Research:

• Elbow trauma and arthroplasty
  
• Basic science of tendinopathy of the elbow and upper extremity
  
• Return to sport and function after upper extremity surgery
  
• Database studies: health claims, national registries
  
• Procedure-specific outcomes and associations
  
• Biomechanical and dynamometric studies pertaining to the upper extremity 
  

Applicant Characteristics:

•  Motivation for a career in orthopedic surgery, with proven research interest, with experience in clinical trials/database research preferred
  
• Strong academic record and work ethic
  
• Organized, detail-oriented, proactive
  
• Thrives in a team environment
  
• Experience with data analysis and statistical software (e.g., SPSS, STATA, MPlus, etc.) is advantageous 
  

 Position Benefits:

• Expectation to be a co-author in 10-15 manuscripts/chapters/presentations/posters at conclusion of research year
  
• Increasing competitiveness for a position in an orthopedic surgery residency
  
• Opportunities to observe surgical procedures and participate in other clinical activities
  
• Ample opportunities to attend grand rounds, hand/upper extremity weekly academic conference, and cadaver labs
  
• Opportunities to present research at orthopedic conferences (e.g., ASSH, AAHS, AAOS, MAOA)
  
• Our division will strongly advocate for all students to match into orthopedic surgery and will provide guidance and support during the interview and match process. 
  

How to Apply:
We invite interested candidates to submit the following materials to [email protected] with the subject line “Firstname Lastname Research Fellowship Application”

• Brief cover letter describing their current level of training, academic background, research experience, career goals, motivations for pursuing a research year, and the unique characteristics that they believe make them ideal for this position.
  
• Curriculum Vitae, including USMLE Step II scores, unofficial medical school transcript, and AOA status if applicable
  
• Earliest available start date (May-June 2026)
  
• Letters of recommendation from any research or orthopedic experiences are welcome but not required
  

Our team will contact you promptly to notify you of your application status and arrange for a phone or online interview.

Thank you for your interest,
The Hand & Upper Extremity Team at Rush