MY TURN: Why I mentor medical students

If you live in or near Idaho, north of Boise, and have a painful foot or ankle condition that requires surgery, chances are high our paths will cross.

I am one of just six orthopedic surgeons board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery with specialty training in foot and ankle surgery in Idaho.

As a private practice orthopedic surgeon interested in academics and research, mentoring Idaho WWAMI (Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) medical students is one of the best ways I can give back to my field while simultaneously creating a space for future physicians to thrive. No matter what type of doctor they are interested in becoming, education in musculoskeletal care is a valuable tool they can bring to their community.

Musculoskeletal injuries are some of the most common reasons for emergency department and primary care visits. The National Health Interview Survey, conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2012, reported over half of adults suffered from a musculoskeletal disease (126.6 million, or 54%).

Back to basics for future patients

I began adjunct teaching Idaho WWAMI medical students at the University of Idaho over a year ago and plan to continue as long as I am practicing. WWAMI is a 50-year partnership between the top-ranked University of Washington School of Medicine and five regional states. It is the only publicly funded medical school in Idaho, which means every year, 40 medical students — all Idaho residents — receive in-state tuition to attend one of the best medical schools in the nation, beginning with classes at the U of I.

My involvement includes guest lectures and working closely with the president of the student chapter of the orthopedic interest group, currently Andrew Spencer, a second-year medical student from Star. With his help, I can offer opportunities — such as casting and joint injection workshops — to the medical students so they get hands-on experience with clinical orthopedics before they start their emergency medicine, family practice or surgery rotations.

Reasons for research

Equipping medical students with foundational clinical skills is one way that I can help Idahoans get the help they need with well-trained community-based doctors. Another more indirect way is through contributing to orthopedic research. Andrew and I were recently published in the "Foot and Ankle Orthopaedics" journal. This accomplishment helps advance the field and it also helps Andrew become more familiar with research, publication processes and strengthens his residency application.

Why I work with WWAMI

Practicing sub-specialized care in North Idaho is very fulfilling, and mentoring WWAMI medical students is equally so. Most of the students in Andrew’s cohort will become family medicine doctors. If the pattern from the last 50 years of Idaho WWAMI holds, more than half of them will choose to practice in Idaho. Helping WWAMI students learn fundamental clinical and research skills now means later, as physicians, they may feel more confident treating patients with common orthopedic conditions and providing the highest level of care in rural Idaho.

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After completing medical school and residency, Dr. Christopher Arena completed an orthopedic surgery foot and ankle fellowship at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. He joined Coeur d’Alene’s Orthopedic Sports Institute in 2020 and loves working alongside the OSI team, who are all committed to furthering the field of orthopedics with research and development.