Hughston Orthopaedic Research Fellowship for Medical Students

Are you interested in spending a year conducting research, achieving publication, and securing connections in the orthopedic surgical community? We are inviting US third-, fourth-year, and un-matched medical students who are interested in clinical and basic science research to help coordinate multiple projects, and to assist in data collection, analysis, and writing. The fellowship offers medical students who are interested in orthopaedic surgery as a career, a yearlong (blend of 70% research and 30% clinical) comprehensive musculoskeletal experience.

The paid positions for the class of 2024-2025 filled.

Specifically, this is a flexible one-year opportunity focused on producing publishable manuscripts, spending time in the clinic and operating room, as well as learn how to conduct clinical research. The research fellows will spend time with multiple faculty and interact with residents and medical students. Attendance to all educational opportunities within the organization (Monthly Grand Rounds, Morbidity and Mortality conferences, Journal Clubs and labs, weekly resident lectures, presentations, etc.) is highly encouraged. Additional goals include providing the students with broad exposure to orthopaedics prior to residency and building strategic relationships within the profession. The research fellows will have regular meetings with faculty and the Research Chair and can expect support and guidance toward achieving their career goals. Completion of the orthopaedic research fellowship guarantees a residency interview with the ACGME accredited Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital Residency Program.

There are up to 4 positions funded for 2025-26. The current stipend is $25,000 divided over 12 months. Interviews and acceptances will be offered on a rolling basis. Earlier application submission is strongly advised.

Interested applicants should submit the following:

1. Cover Letter
2. CV (to include Step 1 score report and Step 2 score if available)
3. Unofficial medical school transcript

Note: At this time, we are unable to sponsor anyone who requires a VISA due to our limitations as a nonprofit organization to sponsor individuals.

Note concerning unaffiliated medical students: From time to time, we allow medical students who do not have a fellowship to work with our physicians, fellows, and residents on research projects. Unfortunately, the Hughston Foundation cannot reimburse or compensate unaffiliated medical students for either day-to-day expenses or to present research at a meeting (including travel, hotel, meeting fees, etc.) even if we are associated with the research. 

Seventy-five years ago, Jack C. Hughston, MD, established the Hughston Clinic and Foundation to be the pioneering force of research and education in the field of sports medicine. His legacy in orthopaedics has continued since with training orthopaedic residents and fellows while remaining academically active. What sets the Hughston Foundation’s research fellowship apart is that we take a personal approach to mentoring and tailoring the research year to the interests of the fellow and we remain active with advocating for fellows to match into an orthopaedic residency. Although research is the primary focus, fellows have the opportunity to incorporate themselves in all aspects of our program to learn from residents, fellows, and attendings.

The Hughston Orthopaedic Research Fellowship is led by Brent A. Ponce, MD, the Chair of Research at the Hughston Foundation who joined the Hughston Clinic in Columbus, Georgia in 2021. He specializes in shoulder and sports medicine and has a long history of mentoring medical students seeking orthopaedic residency positions. In 2012, he started the research fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and has worked with over 25 research fellows. Collectively, research fellows under his leadership have published 331 manuscripts and matched to residency programs across the country including: UAB, Mayo Clinic, Emory, University of Missouri, Baylor, University of Utah, St. Louis University, University of Miami, Loma Linda, Tufts, Florida Atlantic University, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Westchester Medical Center, and University of Texas San Antonio.

Dr. Ponce graduated medical school at Vanderbilt Medical Center and completed his residency and shoulder fellowship at Harvard. Academically, Dr. Ponce has published in over 150 peer-reviewed scientific journals. He is the chair and founder of the Collaborative of Orthopaedics Education Research Group (COERG) and serves as referee for several well-known medical journals. Further, Dr. Ponce presents his research at international and national meetings, and has won awards for his investigative studies, publications, and presentations at state, regional, and international levels.

Columbus, GA is a great city with lots to offer and the cost of living is very reasonable. Columbus is an hour and a half south of Atlanta (major airport and attractions) and 4 hours from the Georgia or Florida coastline. Please visit Visit Columbus GA for more information about Columbus.

For information, please contact: Chairman of Research for Hughston Clinic, Brent Ponce, MD – email: bponce@hughston.com or Belinda Klein, Executive Director of the Hughston Foundation, at bklein@hughston.com or 706-494-3326.

Class of 2024-2025

Nicholas Cavil, MD

Nick Cavil, MD, graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from the University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. In May 2024, graduating cum laude, he received his Doctor of Medicine degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. Last year, the NFL Physicians Society and Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society chose Nick to participate in a month-long clinical rotation with the Miami Dolphins.

Daniel Gentry

Daniel Gentry graduated summa cum laude with both a Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Sciences and Masters of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Arizona State University. He anticipates receiving his doctor of medicine degree in 2025 from California Northstate University, College of Medicine in Sacramento, CA. Daniel  plans to use his research experience along with his skills in writing and editing to improve the clinical and research publication opportunities among Hughston physicians, residents, and fellows.

Austin Helton

Austin Helton graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Georgia in Athens, GA. He anticipates receiving his doctor of medicine degree in 2025 from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA. Austin has been involved with multiple research projects throughout his professional development, focusing on his interests in neurosurgery and orthopaedics.

Antron Spooner

Antron Spooner received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Biological Sciences with a Concentration in Neuroscience and Human Behavior from Cornell University, School of Arts and Sciences, Ithaca, NY. He anticipates receiving his doctor of medicine degree from the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, GA in 2025. Antron has been involved with multiple research projects throughout his professional development. His experience includes developing research proposals, data collection and analysis, writing research papers, and publishing in peer-review journals.

Class of 2023-2024

LIBBY CARLINO, MD

Residency, Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital
Libby Carlino, MD, graduated with an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. She studied at Mississippi College, earning a Master of Medical Science degree, before beginning her medical degree program. She received her doctor of medicine degree from Louisiana State University, School of Medicine in New Orleans in 2023.

DAVE DELIMA

Graduating with honors, Dave Delima received an associate degree in Biological Sciences from Miami Dade College, Miami, FL, and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences from Florida International University in Miami. He is currently attending Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA, and expects to receive his medical degree in 2025. Dave will devote a year to research at the Hughston Foundation, working with fellows, residents, and physicians to achieve his research goals while also pursuing his own orthopaedic research interests.

CHAD EVANS, MD

Residency, WellStar Atlanta
Chad Evans, MD, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from the Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. He recently received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch, John Sealy School of Medicine in Galveston, TX.

CRAISHUN HART

Craishun Hart, graduating with honors, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Georgia State University and he is currently a Doctor of Medicine Candidate at Morehouse School of Medicine. As a Hughston Research Fellow, Craishun plans to use his experience as a 2021 Nth Dimension Scholar to build on his clinician-scientist knowledge. Adding to his skills in writing, editing, and presenting, Craishun will work to improve the clinical and research publication opportunities among Hughston physicians, residents, and fellows.

NATHAN LI, MD

Residency, Boston University
Nathan Li, MD, graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree, double major in Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. He anticipates receiving his doctor of medicine degree in July 2023 from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee, WI. Nathan has been involved with multiple projects throughout his professional development, ranging from preparing grant proposals and achieving acceptance, to writing research papers and publishing in peer-review journals.

Class of 2022-2023

STACEY D’ALMEIDA, MD

Stacey D’Almeida, MD, comes to us from Auckland, New Zealand, where she received a Bachelor of Health Science degree in Podiatry from the Auckland University of Technology. She graduated cum laude with a Doctor of Medicine degree from Oceania University of Medicine in Apia, Samoa. While employed as a podiatrist, her interests in orthopaedics grew. She credits her passion for orthopaedic surgery from her experiences of working with orthopaedic surgeons and their postoperative patients. Dr. D’Almeida will use her research experience and publication success to pursue her interests in orthopaedic surgery.

TYLER N. KELLY, MD

Tyler N. Kelly graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and two minors in Chemistry and Spanish. Additionally, she holds a license as a basic emergency management technician. She anticipates receiving her doctor of medicine degree in 2023 from University of South Carolina School of Medicine-Greenville. Tyler has been involved with multiple research projects throughout her professional development, focusing on her interests in sports medicine and orthopaedic surgery.

ANDREW KO, MD

Residency, Northwell Huntington NYC
Andrew Ko graduated summa cum laude as a Hofstra University Honors College Associate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and a minor in Computer Science. Additionally, he holds a license as a basic emergency management technician from New York. He anticipates receiving his doctor of medicine degree in 2023 from Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in Uniondale, NY.

SOHRAB K. VATSIA, MD

Residency, Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Sohrab K. Vatsia, MD, received a Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from the University of Michigan. He earned basic emergency management technician and a Master’s of Science degree in Biomedical Sciences from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, NC. He is in the class of 2022, anticipating graduating with the Doctor of Medicine degree from Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell in Uniondale, NY. Sohrab plans to use his publishing experience along with his skills in statistical analysis to foster clinical and research opportunities among Hughston physicians, residents, and fellows.

MARSHALL WILLIAMS, MD

Residency, Jack Hughston Memorial Hospital
Marshall Williams graduated cum laude with an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences from the University of Georgia. He studied Preclinical Sciences at Mercer University School of Medicine, earning a Master’s of Science degree, before beginning their medical degree program. Marshall will devote a year to research at the Hughston Foundation, working with fellows, residents, and physicians to achieve their research goals while also pursuing his own orthopaedic research interests. He will receive his doctor of medicine degree in 2023 from Mercer University School of Medicine in Macon, GA.