AAOS UNIDOS MEDICAL STUDENT PROGRAM AND AVANCE RESIDENT PROGRAM
The Zimmer Biomet Foundation has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to advancing diversity in the orthopaedic workforce by supporting the AALOS UNIDOS Medical Student Program for three consecutive years. This initiative empowers Latino medical students through mentorship, resources, and structured opportunities to pursue and thrive in orthopaedic surgery. By providing direct exposure to the field, individualized guidance, and targeted professional development, UNIDOS scholars gain the skills and confidence to grow as leaders and become highly competitive candidates for residency, fellowship, and future careers as orthopaedic surgeons.
Building on this foundation, last year we launched the inaugural AVANCE Resident Program, expanding our mission to include support for orthopaedic residents and strengthening the pipeline of diverse leaders within the specialty.
Since its inception, our programming has grown significantly.
· In 2023, we hosted 13 medical students at the AAOS Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada.
· In 2024, the program doubled in size, bringing 26 students to San Francisco, CA—including nine women and four students from Puerto Rico, representing fourteen states and Puerto Rico.
· In 2025, the program expanded again, welcoming 27 medical students to the UNIDOS program and four orthopaedic residents to the AVANCE program.
· To date, 10 scholars have successfully matched into orthopaedic surgery residency programs, underscoring the impact and effectiveness of this initiative.
· Looking ahead, we plan to continue this success at the 2026 AAOS Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA. Scholars will participate in a wide range of events, including:
· The AALOS Annual Luncheon
· The AAOS Medical Student Program
· The J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society Annual Luncheon
· The JRGOS/Nth Dimensions Mentoring Program
· Subspecialty talks across the meeting
In addition, scholars will receive personalized mentorship through small group and one-on-one sessions, gain exposure to both clinical and non-clinical skills essential for residency, and join a growing network of leaders, program directors, residents, and peers committed to advancing diversity in orthopaedics.
Beyond formal programming, scholars consistently highlight the value of authentic connection with Latino orthopaedic surgeons and peers. Signature events such as the AALOS Mentoring Reception and AALOS Mentorship Breakfast foster honest conversations about navigating orthopaedics as an underrepresented minority. Meanwhile, the AALOS Scholar Social provides a relaxed setting for scholars to build community with one another and with board members.
We remain deeply grateful to the Zimmer Biomet Foundation for its steadfast support. Together, we have supported 56 medical students and 4 residents while building a strong and enduring community of scholars and mentors. This past year, 17 students part of AALOS matched into orthopaedic surgery. The remaining of the students were either second year or third medical medical students or students who were pursuing a research year. The students who matched into orthopedics represent a nearly 140% increase from last year and notably, matched at renowned programs such as Harvard, Dartmouth, University of Pittsburgh Medical College, University of California San Francisco, University of South California, University of Penn, and Rutgers. We look forward to continuing this partnership with the Zimmer Biomet Foundation to shape the next generation of diverse leaders in orthopaedic surgery.
This program will fund the travel, lodging, and registration for thirty medical students and six residents to attend the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons 2026 Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA. The program will provide an immersive environment for scholars to obtain unparalleled information and advice regarding the orthopaedic surgery residency application process, as well as exposure to the latest technology and advancements in orthopaedic surgery. The students/residents will have the opportunity to cultivate relationships with medical student peers, numerous residency faculty members, and practicing orthopedic surgeons attending the conference. This will increase their ability to obtain advice, guidance, and valuable mentorship opportunities. By attending numerous workshops, luncheons, and meetings, we hope this program strengthens the scholars' passion and determination as they pursue a career in orthopedic surgery. This year we plan to continue participating in the medical student programming available by AAOS and other partnering organizations as well has host our Mentorship Reception and Breakfast again. Residents will be required to attend the AALOS Mentorship Reception and Mentorship Breakfast to provide guidance and advice to the medical students.
In summary, the scholars will participate in the following sessions at the 2026 AAOS Annual Meeting:
· American Association of Latino Orthopaedic Surgeons (AALOS) Annual Luncheon
· AALOS Mentorship Reception
· AALOS Mentorship Breakfast
· AAOS Ortho Ignited Medical Student Leadership Program
· J. Robert Gladden Orthopaedic Society (JRGOS) Annual Luncheon
· JRGOS/Nth Dimensions Medical Student Mentoring Program
· AAOS Exhibition Hall
· Zimmer Biomet Booth Tour
· Ruth Jackson Orthopaedic Society (RJOS) Annual Meeting (optional for interested students)
· Pride Ortho Annual Meeting (optional for interested students)
After the 2026 AAOS Annual Meeting, we will continue to correspond with our scholars to provide guidance throughout medical school and the application process. This will be done through emails, group chats, and virtual meetings. Our goal is to support our students/residents through medical school and residency.
Impact
The impact of our prior programs can be highlighted by the high match rate this year among our past participants. This past year, 17 students part of AALOS matched into orthopaedic surgery. The remaining of the students were either second year or third medical medical students or students who were pursuing a research year. The students who matched into orthopedics represent a nearly 140% increase from last year and notably, matched at renowned programs such as Harvard, Dartmouth, University of Pittsburgh Medical College, University of California San Francisco, University of South California, University of Penn, and Rutgers.
We hope to increase our impact this year by bringing another cohort of 30 medical students and continue to support orthopedic surgery residents. Through this program, we have and can continue to provide valuable exposure to the field of orthopedics, enhance the scholars' professional development, and offer mentorship to help them become competitive candidates for orthopedic surgery residency. The experiences of students awarded the scholarship in recent years illuminate the transformative impact of this program. According to our programming surveys, 91% of scholars in the 2025 AALOS UNIDOS program strongly agreed that the program increased their knowledge of the orthopedic surgery residency application. Additionally, all scholars reported gaining at least one mentor in the field. Lastly, 95% of students in this program strongly agreed that it increased their feeling of belonging within the field of orthopedic surgery residency. With the expansion of the medical student program and the addition of residents, we hope to continue our impact of diversifying the field of orthopedic surgery.