Foundation Announces Funding of Educational Grants to Advance Orthopaedic Practice

ROSEMONT, Ill., April 16, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF) announced today that in 2012 it is funding more than $3.1 million in support of 176 educational grants through its Clinician Development Program (CDP).

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More than $3 million was awarded by the OREF Educational Grants Committee for 94 graduate medical education (GME) fellowship grants to support orthopaedic fellowship programs offered in eight orthopaedic subspecialties—adult reconstruction, foot and ankle care, hand care, oncology, shoulder and elbow care, spine care, sports medicine and trauma care—by academic institutions or group practices in the United States. As orthopaedic surgeons complete their training, these fellowship grants support programs that allow them to hone their skills by working with veteran surgeons within their chosen subspecialty.

Upon review, the committee determined that 148 fellowship programs—including both Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited and non-ACGME accredited fellowship programs that complete a more rigorous application the first time they apply—were eligible for GME fellowship grants. Fellowship grants were made possible by pooled support provided by Biomet Inc., DePuy, Medtronic, DePuy Spine and Stryker. 

In addition, residency enhancement grants were offered in two categories— guest speaker grants and resident scholarship—and $185,000 was awarded to 82 resident programs with pooled support provided by Biomet, Inc., Stryker and Ferring.

OREF created the CDP to facilitate appropriate and transparent corporate support for educational grants that help orthopaedic surgeons further their training and sharpen skills. Developed as a "safe harbor" model for independent grant making, free of donor bias, the selection of CDP educational grant recipients is directed and overseen by the OREF Educational Grants Committee whose members—all orthopaedic surgeons—must establish they are free from conflict, having had no industry ties for a minimum of two years prior to and through their term of service.

OREF is an independent, nonprofit grant-making organization that seeks support from companies and individuals for clinically relevant research and education that contributes to improving orthopaedic care and quality of life for patients of all ages. OREF is the leading and most experienced administrator of grants for the advancement of orthopaedic specialty care, having awarded more than 4,000 grants and awards totaling $120 million through March 2012. www.oref.org

SOURCE Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation