Andrew S. Moon, MD
December 22, 2025
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Mentorship is one of the most important roles of a senior orthopaedic resident. There are many ways to serve as a mentor, not only to junior residents but also medical students interested in orthopaedic surgery. These include both clinical and non-clinical activities, such as helping develop surgical skills, clinical decision-making, research opportunities, social outings, and more. Effective mentorship has the potential to shape the skills, confidence, and long-term development of junior trainees, and is a critical part of becoming a leader as one progresses through residency and beyond.
1Pre-Op Settings
Mentorship in surgical training starts in the pre-operative setting. Senior residents can guide junior residents that are taking ER call, teaching them how approach consults, evaluate the imaging, perform a physical examination, and perform procedures such as joint aspirations, splint applications, cast applications, and reduction maneuvers. Residents can also host splint and cast workshops in their spare time for both junior residents and medical students interested in orthopaedics, giving hands-on skills they can utilize independently when taking call. By modeling clear patient presentations and talking through fracture patterns, classification systems, and operative decision-making, senior residents can help junior residents think in a structured and efficient manner. Similarly, senior residents can provide critical feedback during trauma boards, improving junior resident patient presentations, clinical decision-making, and procedural abilities such as fracture reductions. One strategy for effective leadership is praising residents in public to reinforce growth and teamwork, while providing critical feedback in private settings to promote a healthy learning environment.
2Build Connections, In and Out of the OR
The operating room is one of the most impactful environments for this type of mentorship. Taking time before each case to review imaging, discuss indications, and outline the key steps helps juniors understand the broader context and not just the technical aspects of the case. While operating together, narrating your thought process and offering them appropriate portions of the case accelerates their technical development. Outside of the operating room, sharing your rotation notes, attending preference guides, and small workflow tips before they start a new service can make a huge impact on their rotation experience. The success of junior residents and medical students reflects positively on the strong mentorship of the senior residents on the team. As residents progress into their PGY-4 year, guidance from chief residents during the fellowship interview process becomes especially valuable. Reviewing their CV, offering feedback on personal statements, discussing interview tips, and sharing your own recent experiences helps them navigate this process with confidence.
3Exam Prep Support
One essential aspect of mentorship as a senior resident is helping junior residents prepare for the in-training examination. Many programs have group study sessions built into the curriculum, where sharing study strategies and notes can demystify the process and make preparation less intimidating. Reviewing questions together is an opportunity to share high-yield knowledge and strategies on tackling difficult questions since senior residents are already familiar with content that tends to appear on the exams.
4Get Involved with Research Projects
Another meaningful way to support junior residents and medical students is by involving them in research projects. Senior residents may already be involved in research projects with their own mentors, and often have a clear sense of which projects are feasible, which attendings are engaged, and how to guide a junior through literature review, data collection, and manuscript preparation. Offering opportunities early helps juniors build confidence in academic work and gives them a sense of accomplishment as they begin to see their efforts translate into presentations at meetings or publications. This also sets up junior residents for success as they think about choosing their subspecialty and applying for fellowships after residency.
5Build and Nurture Camaraderie
Finally, strong mentorship extends beyond formal teaching in the clinical setting. Spending time together outside the hospital, whether over coffee or a casual dinner, provides an opportunity to bond over discussions about work, home life, career planning, and more. These moments create a culture of openness and camaraderie that helps strengthen the residency as a whole. When senior residents invest in their juniors in these ways, they help cultivate a supportive environment where residents feel valued, capable, and motivated to reach their full potential. Moreover, this continues the tradition of mentorship that junior residents can emulate once they become senior residents themselves. Effective mentorship is not simply teaching, but also a lasting contribution to the program and to the future of orthopaedic surgery.
DISCLOSURES: Dr. Moon This individual reported nothing to disclose
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