Program aims to attract more women to field of orthopedics

Ortho In Action is aimed at attracting more women to the field of orthopedics.

Right now, it's a pilot program sponsored by University Orthopedics.

Lincoln School, an independent, all-girls school is the host, meeting every week.

"It's Tuesday evenings. So, they're here, they're giving up their own time, they've really been engaged and interested," said Sophie Lau, head of the school.

And it's not just the Lincoln School, there are female students from The Met School in Providence, learning about all things orthopedic.

This program started as an idea from high school junior, Anabel Schiller.

"She had a very well put together proposal about how to have a class here," said Lau.

"She said yes," recalled Schiller, whose dad, Jonathan Schiller, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon.

"Obviously, I'm in the majority in the orthopedic world," said Schiller.

"I was not seeing any women, so we were talking about how we can make that better, fix that starting at a younger age," added Anabel.

And make no bones about it, these young women, 20 total, are getting a very hands-on feel for this specialty.

"So, I'm interested in nursing," said Shelly Raymundo, a senior at The Met.

That was before she signed up for this weekly class. Now, she admits: "I think I might be more interested in being an orthopedic surgeon."

"I think just giving folks exposure to it, early experience and showing them something that we're excited about, it's a great way to let everyone know what options they have in the future," said Elle Burstein, an orthopedic surgery medical resident who helps teach the class.

"I was a little uncertain as to how they were going to receive this because it's obviously after school, it's one night a week, they're volunteering their time, they're not getting credit for it," said Schiller. "But the early returns are that they are really enjoying it."

All the doctors and residents who run this class are doing it as volunteers. They're from University Orthopedics and they also donated the orthopedic kits they use.

This is a pilot now, but the hope is to expand this unique program to more female students, particularly in underserved areas, this fall.