Publication and Career Trends of Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society Grant Winners Over the Past Decade.

Background: The Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society awards the Jacquelin Perry, MD Resident Research Grant and RJOS/Zimmer Biomet Clinical/Basic Science Research Grant to female orthopedic surgeons, intending to aid women in the progression and completion of their orthopedic research and bolster their pursuit or current career in academic orthopedic surgery. The impact of these grants has not yet been studied. The purpose of this study is to determine the percentage of scholarship/grant-winners who went on to publish the findings of their research, pursue academic positions, and currently hold positions of leadership in the field of orthopedic surgery.

Methods: The titles of the winning research projects were searched in PubMed, Embase, and/or Web of Science to ascertain publication status. For each award recipient, the number of publications prior to the award year, number of publications after the award year, total number of publications, and H-index were calculated. Each award recipient was searched online through the websites of their employment and social media pages to determine their residency institution, whether they pursued a fellowship, the number of fellowships they pursued, their subspecialty within orthopedics, their current job, and whether they are in academic or private practice.

Results: Of the fifteen Jacquelin Perry, MD Resident Research Grant winners, 73.3% of awarded research projects have since been published. 76.9% of award winners currently work in an academic setting and are affiliated with a residency program, and 0% currently hold leadership positions in orthopedic surgery. Of the eight winners of the RJOS/Zimmer Biomet Clinical/Basic Science Research Grant, 25% have published the findings of their awarded grant. 87.5% of award winners currently work in academics, and 75% hold leadership positions in orthopedic surgery.

Conclusion: Our results show that many of the winners of the Jacquelin Perry, MD Resident Research Grant and RJOS/Zimmer Biomet Clinical/ Basic Science Research Grant have published their research findings, continued research within the field of orthopedic surgery, and pursued academic careers and leadership positions. Many of the barriers to career progression and entry into orthopedic surgery that women and underrepresented groups face could be overcome through more grant opportunities and mentorship. Level of Evidence: V.