Rethinking Global Orthopedic Education: Centering Needs, Fostering Collaboration, and Building Networks

Abstract

Musculoskeletal trauma remains a leading cause of disability and death worldwide, disproportionately affecting patients in resource-limited settings. Yet traditional models of orthopedic education often reflect the biases of high-income countries, limiting their applicability to the majority of patients globally. We propose a reimagined framework for global orthopedic education built around 3 core principles. First, educational efforts must center on the needs and experiences of surgeons and patients in resource-limited settings, recognizing these environments as sources of innovation and practical excellence. Second, global orthopedic education must prioritize collaboration and bidirectional learning, fostering mutual exchange rather than 1-way dissemination of knowledge. Third, building durable global networks is essential for supporting clinical excellence, research innovation, and mentorship. Programs that integrate these principles—such as academic exchanges and multilingual virtual education conferences—demonstrate the potential for education to build capacity sustainably, improve clinical outcomes, and foster innovation across diverse contexts. As global orthopedics education evolves, embracing these principles can help dismantle traditional hierarchies, amplify underrepresented voices, and advance musculoskeletal health equity worldwide.