Clinical orthopaedics and related research
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Antibiotic beads have been used as a drug delivery system for the treatment of various surgical infections. In this study, the copolymer 50:50 poly(DL-lactide):co-glycolide was mixed with vancomycin powder and hot compressing molded at 55 degrees C to form five types of biodegradable antibiotic beads. The beads were placed in 1 mL of phosphate buffered saline and incubated at 37 degrees C. ⋯ Copolymers with low heat of formation temperatures are required for making a controlled release system to prevent antibiotic decomposition, which occurs when using the hot compressing molded method. The rate and duration of release from the antibiotic beads can be adjusted by varying the diameter of the beads. This offers a convenient method to adjust the release rate to meet the specific antibiotic requirements for different patients.
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Orthopaedic surgery represents a specialty in which applicants are abundant, residency slots are limited, and all candidates presumably are qualified. Orthopaedic residency programs have members of the resident selection committee review medical school performance measures for the purpose of screening candidates to interview and, subsequently, include on their rank order lists for the residency match process. The performance measures universally reviewed include the United States Medical Licensing Examination scores, Alpha Omega Alpha distinction, grade point averages, class rank, personal statements and letters of recommendation. ⋯ Although the selection process is open to any medical student or medical school graduate, the process fails to make any substantive strides in addressing the diminutive representation of certain ethnic and racial minorities within the profession. The intent of this manuscript is to expatiate on the effect various dynamics have on the orthopaedic profession, relative to underrepresented minorities in the profession. Those dynamics comprise (1) the size of the applicant pool; (2) the applicant screening criteria; (3) the underrepresented minority specialty preference; and (4) the perception underrepresented minorities have of orthopaedic surgeons.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · May 1999
Historical ArticlePerspectives from the historic African American medical institutions.
The historically African American medical schools have been at the center of medical education for African American physicians in the United States since the Howard University College of Medicine opened in 1868. Although there were more than a dozen African American medical schools established during the next few decades, as propriety or church affiliated schools, only two survived the Flexner Report in 1910. Howard University (1868) and Meharry (1876) survived and trained generations of African Americans. ⋯ Recent court decisions prohibiting schools from considering race as factor in admission and the end of affirmative action programs have resulted in a drop in total minority enrollment. The historically African American medical schools, that admitted approximately 15% of the African American medical students during the era of affirmative action programs, will see this percentage decrease as the majority institutions admit fewer African American medical students and minority students. In the United States this trend already has been observed in admission data and graduation data for 1996 and 1997.
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America is founded on high humanitarian, democratic ideals. The historic facts of slavery, discrimination, and segregation challenge and taint these democratic principles. Although progress has been made, serious racial problems remain. ⋯ Healthcare facilities with diverse staffs are more likely than homogeneous facilities to attract and successfully serve the nation's diverse population. A University of California at Davis School of Medicine study showed that diversity can be achieved without compromising quality of patient care. Clinically and ideologically, diversity in orthopaedics is good for patients and for the country.
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Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. · May 1999
Quality and fairness: achieving the paradigm. A personal perspective.
African Americans and those traditionally underrepresented and discriminated against by society face particular roadblocks in achieving success. In the case of training for orthopaedic surgery selection, this paper presents fundamental concepts addressing misconceptions regarding the pool of underrepresented applicants for positions in orthopaedic surgery residency and the notion and definition of the terms qualified and best qualified regarding the residency applicant pool. The paper underscores the fact, that despite advances in the century, racism continues to be pervasive in America, and efforts at leveling the playing field should be used.