Silberstein Pediatric Orthopaedics Research Fellowship
The Silberstein Research Fellowship, named in honor of Dr. Charles E. Silberstein, is a fellowship program for students in the first year of medical school seeking an early start to clinical experience in the orthopaedic field. This is a two-to three-month commitment during the summer. Fellows will work with the pediatric orthopaedic surgery faculty and the Poggi research fellow to bring a project to substantial completion and eventual publication.
Details, Eligibility and Application
- Duration: two to three months during summer
- Applicants should be completing their first of medical school.
- Applicants must be in good academic standing and have an interest in pursuing a career in orthopaedic surgery. The successful applicant will be responsible, motivated, intellectually curious and work well independently and with a team.
- The recipient of this award will receive a $5,000 stipend to cover living expenses for the summer, as well as travel expenses for national presentations.
- Eligible students can apply by filling out the application form and submitting a letter of recommendation, curriculum vitae and your medical school transcript by email to [email protected].
- Application period: December 2, 2024 - March 7, 2025 (5 p.m. EST)
- For more information: view the fellowship brochure.
I had an immensely formative and productive summer. I contributed to research in pediatric orthopaedics and acquired early clinical and surgical experience. I am grateful to Dr. Sponseller and the pediatric orthopaedics team at Johns Hopkins for their kind mentorship.
Matthew Hadad, Summer 2017 fellow
Silberstein Pediatric Orthopaedic Fellowship Alumni
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Medical school: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Undergraduate school and degree: Arizona State University, B.S. in Medicinal Biochemistry
Hometown: Winona, MN"The Silberstein Fellowship has been a transformative experience, shaping my perspective on medicine and solidifying my commitment to pediatric orthopaedics. The friendships and professional relationships I have formed will undoubtedly influence my career for years to come. I am incredibly grateful for this opportunity and excited to continue my journey in medicine with the knowledge and skills I have gained from this esteemed program."
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Medical school: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Undergraduate school and degree: Brown University, B.S. in Applied Mathematics – Biology
Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA"My time as the Charles E. Silberstein fellow, has shaped my view of medicine, pediatrics and orthopaedics. I spent my time learning valuable clinical skills in the various pediatric clinic, attending resident education sessions, learning surgical skills, and conducting research.
My projects consisted of analyzing the effects of BMI on outcomes of vertebral body tethering and elucidating predictors of good outcomes in a novel growing guidance procedure named Shilla. This is one of the only summer fellowships in the country that will teach you to function at a sub-intern level right after your 1st year of medical school. It is an opportunity that any department would be lucky to have.
The Silberstein Fellowship perfectly pairs the clinical and surgical aspect of pediatric orthopaedics to the research. You see in real time how research questions and hypotheses are formed when taking care of a patient or when scrubbing into a challenging case. My interest in orthopaedics has only been cemented from this experience. The team at Hopkins truly feels like a family, and many of the individuals I have met will remain life-long peers and friends.
The team surrounding the pediatric orthopaedic department elevated this fellowship to new levels. Attendings always take the time to educate you and allow you as many hands-on experiences as possible. The residents are incredible and consistently share their vast knowledge with you. For this, I would like to thank Dr. Sponseller, Dr. Lee, Dr. Honchurak, Dr. Varghese, Dr. Brandt, and Dr. Jain for all of their help and mentorship. I am extremely fortunate to be able to attend an institution where these individuals practice for my medical training."
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Medical School: CUNY School of Medicine
Undergraduate School and Degree: Sophie Davis Program; B.S. in Biomedical Sciences (Seven-year BS/MD Program)
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
"My time as a Silberstein Research Fellow was a truly eye-opening experience to the career I hope to pursue in the near future. In addition to spearheading several innovative research projects, one of the most rewarding aspects of my time during the fellowship was learning how to imbed myself as a valuable member of a clinical team at such an early stage in my medical training. Aside from merely serving as a research fellow, by the end of your summer, you will become an instrumental component of the team’s daily workflow.
In working alongside world-class faculty, the Silberstein Fellowship also offers a distinct opportunity to appreciate the clinical pearls of pediatric orthopaedics. Many of the patients that I cared for during my fellowship had traveled from across the nation to seek the care of our team’s faculty. Beyond the immediate team at Johns Hopkins, our research group also collaborates with leading surgeons worldwide to collectively advance the care of pediatric orthopaedics. These collaborative efforts allow Silberstein fellows to participate in truly ground-breaking research that makes a marked impact on clinical practice. Several of the projects that I contributed to were founded upon questions developed during my time in clinic and the OR. Engaging simultaneously in the clinical and academic side of our team’s practice allowed me to directly appreciate the influence that our findings were having on day-to-day patient care.
From the research to the patient care, to the team members you will be working alongside day-in and day-out, the pediatrics orthopaedics division at Johns Hopkins is the epitome of quality-based medicine. In becoming a Silberstein fellow, you inherently become a member of the pediatric orthopaedics family. The Silberstein Fellowship has been the single greatest experience of my academic career thus far, and I am incredibly grateful to Dr. Sponseller and the rest of the team for affording me this opportunity."
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Medical school: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Undergraduate school and degree: The College of New Jersey; B.S. in biology (seven-year accelerated B.S./M.D)
Hometown: Morganville, NJ"During my time as the 2021 Charles E. Silberstein fellow, I was given the opportunity to elevate my education in Orthopaedics and medicine at large to an entirely new level. The program consisted of the perfect mix of research responsibilities, clinical duties, and educational sessions. My mornings would start with a lecture by one of the faculty or residents, after which I would join them on morning rounds. The remainder of the day would be spent either seeing patients in the clinic, scrubbing into cases in the OR, or working on research projects with my team – often a mix of the three.
This perfect mix allowed me to develop an even deeper appreciation for the “why” of clinical research. Often times I would find myself interviewing and examining children in the clinic with the exact conditions that I would go on to study and write about later that same day. Other times those conditions would appear in the OR, and the attendings would teach me hands-on about the nuanced challenges of managing those patients surgically. With a deeply interconnected network of research fellows and residents from our own Division of Pediatrics as well as other branches of the department, the resources available to help me design, execute, and publish research projects were truly limitless.
I would be remiss if I did not personally thank Dr. Sponseller, Dr. Varghese, Dr. Lee, Dr. Honchurak, Dr. Jain, Dr. Aiyer and all the world-class residents personally for taking the time to teach and guide me at every step. Everything that I know about the field today, I owe to them. I’m excited to maintain these long-term relationships and continue working with such a premier group well beyond my Silberstein summer."
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Medical school: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school and degree: Stanford University; B.S. in human biology
Hometown: Riverside, CA"As a Silberstein Fellow, I was given the ultimate hands-on opportunity to refine my skills as a future academic surgeon. I divided my time between learning surgical techniques in the operating room, applying my medical knowledge in clinic and heading a variety of research projects. My projects included a complications assessment of patients with neuromuscular scoliosis undergoing both baclofen pump implantation and growth-friendly spinal surgery, an analysis of MRIs for potential neurological correlates leading to hip dislocation in patients with cerebral palsy and an updated review of the national epidemiology of cheerleading injuries.
More than these experiences, I was warmly welcomed as a member of the pediatric orthopaedics team. The mentorship I received from both the faculty and residents exceeded my expectations, and I look forward to continuing these relationships throughout my time in medical school and beyond. I am incredibly grateful for having had this opportunity."
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Medical school: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school and degree: Princeton University; B.S. in ecology and evolutionary biology
Hometown: Washington, D.C."My summer as a Silberstein Fellow was a rewarding one, as I gained clinical exposure to pediatric orthopedics while also cultivating my research skills. My projects for the summer included an in-depth review of the intralaminar screw fixation surgical technique for the repair of pars defects, as well as an analysis of post-operative radiological parameters that were associated with dissatisfaction in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Additionally, I gained experience going on rounds in the morning, hearing pre- and post-operative case presentations and seeing patients in clinic. This summer allowed me to fully immerse myself into pediatric orthopedics and it was an amazing introduction to the field."
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Medical school: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school and degree: University of Notre Dame; B.S. in science-business
Hometown: Columbus, OhioIn pediatric orthopaedics, Barry is most interested in helping children return to their normal lives swiftly and successfully after orthopaedic injuries. Barry is a graduate student leader of the BASE program at Johns Hopkins, an after-school program for young men in Baltimore aimed at improving high school graduation rates. In his free time, Barry enjoys golfing, playing ping pong and attending sports events.
"Joining the ranks of the Silberstein Fellows who went before me is an honor in its own right, but to be associated with Dr. Silberstein is truly a blessing. The first time I met Dr. Silberstein, I knew that I wanted to be just like him. His knowledge, compassion, skill and personhood are second to none. He regaled me with stories from earlier in his career as an orthopaedic surgeon and taught me lessons about life and medicine. During my time as the 2018 Charles E. Silberstein Fellow, I had the opportunity to work with truly exceptional individuals in the pediatric orthopaedic surgery division. Dr. Sponseller was the perfect mentor, and it has been a humbling privilege to be able to work with him as part of the team. I found my research work to be engaging and fascinating. Seeing the relationship between research and clinical practice made it a truly spectacular experience. The clinical and operating room exposure further solidified my desire to become an orthopaedic surgeon. In the end, it was the mentorship that made this experience most special, and I would certainly be remiss not to thank Dr. Sponseller, Dr. Lee, Dr. Shannon, Dr. Tis, Dr. Varghese and Dr. Nirenstein individually."
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Medical school: Boston University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school and degree: Boston University; B.A. in medical sciences
Hometown: Cupertino, CliforniaAt Johns Hopkins, Molly was involved in research and clinical work. Her research work included assessing hip surgery in patients with cerebral palsy, outcomes of surgery in type 2/3 supracondylar fractures and writing a hand radiography book chapter. Her interests include rhythmic gymnastics, running and traveling.
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Medical school: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school and degree:University of Notre Dame; B.S. in biological sciences.
Hometown: Columbus, OhioMatthew hopes to pursue a career as a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon. Specifically, he is most interested in treating the orthopaedic manifestations of developmental disorders, such as cerebral palsy. He is a graduate student leader of SHARE, the medical supply recycling team at Johns Hopkins Medicine and volunteers as a Peer Advisor for new medical students. In his free time, Matthew enjoys weight lifting, watching Ohio State and Notre Dame football and playing video games
"My experience as the 2017 Silberstein Fellow was the ultimate learning opportunity. Dr. Sponseller provided a strong foundation for my medical school education in the form of clinical experience, surgical experience, research opportunities, networking and mentorship. I learned critical physical exam skills in clinic and developed my interpersonal skills with patients. In the operating room, I was encouraged to scrub into cases, which helped we get comfortable in this setting. Dr. Sponseller provided several research projects for me to independently pursue. With Poggi fellows available as a day-to-day resource for any questions, I pursued my research in a nurturing environment that helped me develop my own analytical and research skills. I developed relationships with numerous orthopaedic surgery residents, fellows and faculty. Dr. Sponseller has persisted as a long-term mentor since the conclusion of my fellowship. This experience has prepared me well for my third year clinical rotations and immersed me in the orthopaedic community at Johns Hopkins. I am grateful to Dr. Sponseller and the pediatric orthopaedic team for this distinct opportunity."
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Medical school: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school and degree: Johns Hopkins University, M.S. in education; Ohio University, B.S. in chemistry
Hometown: South Salem, OhioEthan aspires to a career as an academic physician-scientist with appointments in pediatrics, orthopaedic surgery and biomedical/tissue engineering at a leading research-intensive medical institution. His other interests include cars, horses, farming and basketball.
"This fellowship has been a life-changing experience – one that has solidified my desire to pursue a career in orthopaedic surgery. It has provided me with countless opportunities, ranging from knowledge, skills and understandings in orthopaedic surgery, to relationships that I continue to cherish. As the first Silberstein Fellow, I had the opportunity to shadow Dr. Silberstein in clinic in the Kennedy Krieger Institute and later celebrate his retirement. I take tremendous pride in the name of this fellowship in the setting of personally knowing Dr. Silberstein, a truly inspirational orthopaedic surgeon and person. Likewise, I remain especially grateful to Dr. Sponseller, a living legend in pediatric orthopaedic surgery and one of the greatest mentors any trainee could hope to have. I strongly encourage anyone interested in orthopaedic surgery, especially pediatric orthopaedic surgery, to apply for this fellowship. It has been, and continues to be, an incredible blessing to me."
This fellowship has been a life-changing experience – one that has solidified my desire to pursue a career in orthopaedic surgery.
Ethan Cottrill, Summer 2016 fellow
About Dr. Charles E. Silberstein
Dr. Charles E. Silberstein served as a member of the Johns Hopkins Department of Orthopaedic Surgery for 45 years. He retired in 2011, but not before he became professor emeritus. Dr. Silberstein’s 57-year career as a physician enriched the lives of patients, students and colleagues alike. His lifelong interest in the care of children with disabilities led to his 42-year affiliation with the Kennedy Krieger Institute, where he remains on staff. His establishment of the Special Program for Children with Disabilities (now the Bennett Institute Physically Challenged Sports Program), has helped raise the self-esteem of hundreds of children through healthy competition.
Dr. Silberstein obtained his doctor of medicine from the University of Maryland in 1958. He then completed his internship and residency in orthopaedic surgery at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia in 1963 before serving as the NIH post-doctoral fellow at Jefferson, where he received his M.S.in 1964. After returning to Baltimore to begin his orthopaedic practice, he came under the tutelage and mentorship of Dr. Winthrop M. Phelps, founder and Director of the Children’s Rehabilitation Institute in Reisterstown, which then was relocated to Baltimore City to become the Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI). He has been associated with KKI since its opening in 1967, serving as director of the Orthopaedic Surgery Section from 1992
Renowned for his generous care for the underserved, Dr. Silberstein donated countless hours of care throughout Maryland during his career. He travelled to Allegheny, Garrett, Washington, Prince George’s and Anne Arundel Counties for decades to hold clinics for those without the means to travel to Baltimore. He followed many children from infancy to adulthood, and provided orthopaedic care for adults with special needs. Dr. Silberstein also served for many years as a team physician and advisor for the Orioles and for Johns Hopkins University Athletics.
His steady presence and good judgment have made him a cornerstone of orthopaedics in Baltimore.
