Day-long Program Provides Hands-On Training to Young Women Interested in Orthopedics and Engineering and Seeks to Stem the Shortage of Women in Traditionally Male-Dominated Fields
Atlanta, GA, November 22, 2016 (Newswire.com) - While girls and young women continue to excel in school in science, technology, engineering and math, known as STEM programs, encouraging them to enter traditionally male-dominated medical fields remains a challenge. Fields like orthopedic medicine, the study of bones, joints and muscles, finds itself significantly under-represented, with reportedly only 7 percent of today’s practicing orthopedists being women, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS).
A nationally-recognized nonprofit, The Perry Initiative, is building a pipeline to careers in orthopedic surgery and engineering for high school and college-aged women. When The Perry Initiative brought its hands-on training program to Atlanta, GA, on November 18 and 19, OrthoAtlanta, orthopedics and sports medicine specialists, was proud to lend a hand.
"The Perry Initiative encourages young women and provides them a hands on exposure to the field of orthopedic surgery. These early interactions with successful female Orthopaedic surgeons may provide the confidence they need to pursue a male-dominated career path."
Sharrona S. Williams, Orthopedic Surgeon, OrthoAtlanta
OrthoAtlanta orthopedic surgeons Susan S. Jordan, MD, specializing in sports medicine, and Sharrona S. Williams, MD, specializing in foot and ankle surgery, joined nearly a half-dozen other like-minded career professionals, to provide insights, tips, hands-on training and encouragement to more than thirty high school students from across the state of Georgia who were eager to learn more about careers in orthopedics.
Named for Dr. Jacquelin Perry, one of the first female orthopedic surgeons in the United States, the Perry Initiative was founded in 2009 by Dr. Jenni Buckley, a mechanical engineer, and Dr. Lisa Lattanza, an orthopaedic surgeon. The nonprofit runs some 40-day-long outreach programs nationwide, aimed at inspiring young women to be leaders in engineering and the specialized medical field of orthopedic surgery. The Perry Initiative provides young women with needed exposure to a range of career options, access to women excelling in these fields, and confidence to apply their own diverse interests and unique life experiences into successful careers as orthopedic surgeons or engineers.
During the hands-on training, OrthoAtlanta’s Dr. Susan Jordan guided students in the basics of suturing wounds. Dr. Jordan detailed the stitch or suture types and the intricacies in knotting techniques. During a segment of the day-long session focused on educational training and testing, Dr. Jordan was quick to share with the students, “Whereas the many levels of testing may seem intimidating, preparation is key to your success, as is learning to pace yourself. With this, you can achieve your goal to be an orthopedic surgeon.”
Dr. Sharrona Williams, also with OrthoAtlanta, guided students in urgent fracture care, including the use of power tools, addressing broken bones, and stabilizing injuries until they can be set. Dr. Williams stated, “I am excited to be a part of the Perry Initiative, a program encouraging young women and giving them a hands on exposure to the field of orthopedic surgery. These early interactions with successful female Orthopaedic surgeons may provide the confidence they need to pursue a male-dominated career path. It is a privilege to participate in shaping these bright young minds.”
Dr. Jordan and Dr. Williams both serve patients at OrthoAtlanta’s Newnan and Fayetteville locations. Dr. Williams also sees patients at the Stockbridge location.
About OrthoAtlanta
OrthoAtlanta is one of the largest orthopaedic and sports medicine practices in the greater Atlanta, Georgia area, with 37 physicians and 12 physician offices spanning the greater Atlanta metropolitan area. OrthoAtlanta offers easy accessibility to patient services including on-site physical therapy, six imaging centers and two AAAHC surgical centers. Comprehensive operative and non-operative musculoskeletal care and expertise includes sports medicine, arthroscopic surgery, hip replacement, knee replacement, neck and spine surgery, hand, wrist and elbow surgery, shoulder surgery, foot and ankle surgery, physical medicine and rehabilitation, pain management, general orthopedics, fracture care, work related injuries and acute orthopedic urgent care. OrthoAtlanta proudly serves as the official sports medicine provider to Atlanta sports properties including the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game, Atlanta Gladiators hockey, BB&T Atlanta Open Tennis and Clayton State University Athletics. For more information, visit www.OrthoAtlanta.com.
Source: OrthoAtlanta
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