Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Summer Research Intern Program

Clinical research professionals at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago are working tirelessly to discover innovative therapies and new cures for our patients. The robust Clinical & Translational Research Program boasts over 120 research personnel (investigators, coordinators, assistants, students, interns, and ancillary staff) throughout all divisions and departments within the hospital and at the Stanley Manne Research Institute. Our goal is to offer all pediatric patients and families the opportunity to participate in clinical trials of new or modified therapies for diverse diseases and disorders. Without research, there would be no clinical medicine!

About the Program

The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine is seeking undergraduate students who are interested in an educational experience designed for the intern to learn more about clinical research in orthopaedics and sports medicine. Coordinated by the research staff, and under the supervision of the physician scientists, the Summer Research Intern Program is designed to provide students with an educational experience that will allow them to gain practical experience through exposure to research project(s) within the division, attendance at weekly research meetings, and participation in research seminars and trainings.

This educational experience will run June – August (with varying start/end dates for those with different academic schedules) for a minimum of 8 weeks during the Summer of 2024. The internship will be approximately 15-20 hours a week. Interns will consult with the research staff to set their program schedules in advance.

Being an intern at Lurie Children's offers vast exposure to clinical research and the world of medicine. Interns will be exposed to real life situations in the clinical research area, including being able to shadow various clinicians in clinic and likely in surgery. Please note that we are seeking candidates who have completed at least their first (freshman) year of undergraduate education by the time the internship begins.

For undergraduates interested in a summer research opportunity with Orthopaedics, please apply directly to the Katz and Manne Research Institute Summer Scholars Program. Application Deadline is January 26, 2024. Apply here.

Knee Injury Prevention Program Summer Internship (KIPP)

The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine is seeking undergraduate students who are interested in a dynamic summer internship experience designed for the intern to learn more about injury prevention in orthopaedics and sports medicine. Coordinated by the research staff, and under the supervision of the principal investigator, the Knee Injury Prevention Program (KIPP) Summer Internship is designed to provide students with an educational experience that will allow them to gain practical insight through teaching and leading KIPP sessions, attendance at weekly research meetings, and participation in research seminars and trainings. This comprehensive program offers a unique blend of community engagement, research involvement, mentorship, and hands-on experience in injury prevention instruction.

Students will: 

  • Attend and represent the program at various community events, fostering awareness about knee injury prevention and the importance of proactive measures. 
  • Assist in ongoing research initiatives related to knee injury prevention, including data collection, analysis, and contributing to research reports.
  • Shadow experienced professionals in sports medicine, physical therapy, orthopaedic surgery, and athletic training to gain insight into real world practices and procedures.
  • Take an active role in instructing and guiding young athletes through a dedicated knee injury prevention program. Lead sessions, demonstrate techniques, and provide personalized guidance to participants.  

This educational experience will run June – August (with varying start/end dates for those with different academic schedules) for a minimum of 8 weeks during the Summer of 2024. The internship will be approximately 15-20 hours a week. Interns will consult with the research staff to set their program schedules in advance.

Please note that we are seeking candidates who have completed at least their first (freshman) year of undergraduate education by the time the internship begins. Candidates will also be responsible for their own housing as well as transportation to and from a variety of sites around Chicago.

For undergraduates interested in the KIPP Summer Internship, please see the application link posted below. Application Deadline is March 20, 2024. Apply here.

For any questions, please contact Delanie Rybacki.

About the Division of Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine

The Division of Orthopaedic Surgery & Sports Medicine is particularly interested in advancing this exciting culture of research at Lurie Children’s. The research in this division can be divided into Orthopaedic Research and Sports Medicine Research, though some overlap may exist.

Examples of Current Orthopaedic Research

  • Fracture management
  • Simple bone cysts
  • Developmental hip dysplasia
  • Pediatric bone health
  • Foot deformity
  • Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
  • Scoliosis

Examples of Current Sports Medicine Research

  • Concussion
  • Knee injury prevention
  • Sports specialization (e.g. soccer, basketball, and dance)
  • Apophysitis
  • Clubfoot