
Orthopedic Medical Student Research Symposium Builds Bridge Between Research and Professional Growth
The Orthopedic Medical Student Research Symposium has quickly become a standout event in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Minnesota. Each year, it brings together passionate medical students and research fellows eager to showcase their research work, share insights, and refine their presentation skills in front of our faculty and residents. For these future leaders, the symposium isn’t just about presenting research—it’s about making their mark in a highly competitive field.
In April 2022, the initial idea for the symposium was proposed by University of Minnesota medical student Jordan Ammons. Inspired by a similar event held by the Department of Dermatology, Ammons recognized the potential benefits of creating a dedicated space for orthopedic-focused research presentations. He brought the concept to Dr. Deb Bohn and the education team, who quickly saw the merit in such an initiative. With their support, discussions moved swiftly, and merely four months later, the first Orthopedic Medical Student Research Symposium became a reality.
Since then, the event has not only fostered a culture of academic excellence, but has also provided ortho-interested students with a unique forum to share their research, hone their public speaking abilities, and engage in meaningful dialogue with professionals in the field.
Laying the Groundwork
Behind the scenes of the Orthopedic Medical Student Research Symposium is a carefully coordinated effort that begins months before the event. Ali Odenthal, former Education Research Coordinator, held a pivotal role in ensuring it all ran efficiently.
“Typically, we plan for the event to happen in August or September,” says Odenthal. “In early spring, we start to put it on our radars—confirming dates and contacting research coordinators so they can start thinking about which project they'd like to prioritize in order to get a poster developed over the course of the next few months.”
By June, Odenthal connects with students individually, gauging interest and estimating how many participants will present. Her goal is to ensure each student is fully supported throughout the process.
"A few weeks out from the Symposium, I directly connect with the students to discuss professional etiquette, including attire, badges, and general guidelines. For many participants, this is the first time they are presenting their research, so we want to help make them feel as comfortable and prepared as possible,” she explains.
Giving Students An ‘Extra Leg Up’
Since its inception, the Orthopedic Medical Student Research Symposium has steadily grown, both in participation and scope. What began as an ambitious idea has evolved into a well-established tradition. The number of posters submitted has increased each year—starting with 19 in 2022, and, most recently, 31 posters in 2024. This upward trend speaks to the growing interest and the value students place on this unique opportunity to present their research.
One noticeable change this year was the scheduling of the symposium. Initially, the event was held after quarterly faculty meetings, but this posed a challenge. "Residents don’t typically attend these faculty meetings, meaning they had to find time—if any at all—to attend the symposium evening event," explains Odenthal.
To ensure greater resident participation, as well as to accommodate visiting student rotators, the symposium was held after Grand Rounds for the first time in 2024, a shift that has been met with positive feedback and increased attendance overall.
While the core structure of the symposium has remained consistent, minor adjustments have been made to enhance the event.
"In the first iteration of the symposium, we were only accepting posters that specifically involved our department faculty," recalled Odenthal. "Now, as the event has grown year over year, we’ve decided that as long as the participant is in some way affiliated with the University of Minnesota, it's fine if they present research that may have been done elsewhere."
This shift acknowledges the competitiveness of orthopedics and underscores the department's commitment to supporting students.
"We want to give the students in our sphere that leg up, that extra poster experience, that extra line on their CV."

Participant Feedback
Feedback from past participants of the Orthopedic Medical Student Research Symposium highlights common threads of professional growth, personal connections, and inspiration for future research. For many, the symposium offers a unique chance to connect with faculty, residents, and peers while developing essential presentation skills.
Medical student Lily Qian has participated twice and appreciated the opportunity to interact with faculty and peers in a supportive setting. "Not many other departments host a symposium, so the opportunity to discuss research with faculty and residents was a unique experience," she noted. "Presenting at the symposium has inspired me to continue working on research projects that can make a difference in patient outcomes."
Ayush Shah, another medical student, echoed Lily’s sentiment about the collaborative atmosphere. "The symposium overall is inspiring, not only getting to talk with faculty, but as students, getting to see our peers’ research work is really rewarding. You can get inspiration and ideas for future projects through a variety of different types of research, all contributing to the field."
Current residents in the Department of Orthopedic Surgery have also participated. PGY-1 Neel Brahme shared how the symposium was pivotal in his decision to pursue residency at the University of Minnesota.
"It gave me a comfortable environment to directly connect with the orthopedic faculty and residents and present my research. The ability to speak to them one-on-one was a great way to get an idea of the culture of this program," he explained.
In a similar vein, PGY-1 Sydney Boike felt a deep sense of comfortability and support presenting at her home institution. “Presenting at the symposium not only helped me improve my ability to create posters, but it also helped me become a better presenter and communicator of research,” she shared. “Though I am still early on in my orthopedic training, I know moving forward I will be more comfortable presenting research compared to if I had not been a part of the symposium.”
Across the board, the symposium has left a lasting impression on its participants—whether it’s building confidence in research presentation, forming connections with peers and mentors, or finding inspiration to pursue further research.
Future Plans
Looking ahead, the Orthopedic Medical Student Research Symposium is poised to continue its growth and impact. As a critical piece of the puzzle in bolstering students’ research experience, the event has established itself as an invaluable opportunity.
Encouraging greater faculty and student participation remains an ongoing goal. One area already showing promise is the inclusion of medical students from the Duluth campus. In 2024, six Duluth-based students traveled to participate in the symposium, a significant increase from the singular student in 2023—a trend that reflects the event's growing reach.
Ultimately, the symposium’s impact goes beyond research.
"I think it's just a great way to build connections. Our program has a lot of different sites, which is positive in the sense that we can expose students to many diverse opportunities, but it can also fragment people off,” says Odenthal. “Because of that, getting many faculty, residents, and medical students together in the same place is a really really great thing."