CHOP Medical Career Design Fellowship

 The Orthopedic Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) funds a select number of Medical Career Design (MCD) Fellowships to allow recent college graduates the opportunity to explore many aspects of a medical career — research, clinical practice, education, advocacy and leadership.

Each MCD fellow spends two years as an essential member of our research and clinical teams, mentored by our thought-leading faculty from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. CHOP’s Orthopedic Center is consistently ranked among the best pediatric orthopedic programs in the nation by U.S. News and World Report.

Program details

• Subject recruitment
• IRB submissions and renewals
• Data analysis/manuscript preparation
• Monitoring/maintaining data for study group databases and multicenter registries

The central aspect of the MCD fellow’s work will be coordinating and facilitating clinical research, including:
This will include training in research ethics, research subject protections, clinical science study design, methodology, data analytics and statistical methodology.
Successful MCD fellows will have opportunities to co-author medical journal submissions and are encouraged to present results at regional and or national meetings. Through this immersive experience, the MCD fellow will learn how to initiate, design, complete and communicate clinical research.

Fellow eligibility

MCD fellow applicants will be completing a BA/BS degree, pre-medical and commit for two gap years between college and med school. The student must be in good academic standing and have an interest in pursuing a career in Orthopedic Surgery. The successful applicant will be responsible, motivated, intellectually curious and independent. An MCAT score, biostatistics training and research experience are strongly valued, but not mandatory.

Stipend and benefits

Each fellow will be provided an annual stipend of $48,500 in year one and $54,000 in year two, and will be provided with up to $7,500 of travel support annually to attend and participate in scientific presentations at regional and national meetings. A minimum two-year commitment is required. Fellows will also receive 15 vacation days per year, in addition to CHOP-designed national holidays.

Start and end dates

Each fellow’s official start date will be determined by the Division of Orthopedic Surgery at the time of receiving an offer. The start date will be no later than June 14, 2027, with the exception of students enrolled in late spring or summer coursework. The official start date may be within two weeks of college graduation to facilitate the transition between incoming and outgoing MCD fellows. The fellowship will culminate no earlier than June 30, two years after inception.

How to apply

To apply, please submit the following:

• Cover letter
• Undergraduate transcript
• Curriculum vitae
• MCAT score (if applicable)
• Your earliest available start date

Application deadline: March 30, 2027