Journal of Orthopaedic Reports (Sep 2025)
Demographic analysis of academic orthopaedic oncologists in the United States
Abstract
Importance: This information may help guide education and recruitment efforts of fellowship directors and societies. It may also help orthopaedic surgical residents considering orthopaedic oncology. Objective: The purpose of this study was to characterize the demographics, education, professional activities, and location of practice of all academic orthopaedic oncologists in the United States. Design: Academic orthopaedic oncologists affiliated with orthopaedic residency programs in all fifty states, Washington D. C., and Puerto Rico were included. Demographics, education, and professional data was obtained from orthopaedic program faculty websites and Doximity profiles. Current Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) committee membership was determined based on the MSTS website. Setting: academic medical center, tertiary referral center. Participants: not applicable. Results: 250 orthopaedic oncologists affiliated with 202 residency and fellowship programs were included. 18.8 % (47) of all orthopaedic oncologists and 18.2 % (16 of 88) of orthopaedic oncology directors were female. While female representation in orthopaedic oncology was not different from female representation among academic orthopaedic surgeons (20.5 %) (p > 0.05; Chi-Square test), it was higher than female representation among all orthopaedic surgeons (5.8 %) (p < 0.0001; Chi-square test). Of 71 (28.4 %) academic orthopaedic oncologists who completed an additional orthopaedic fellowship, 26.8 % (19) trained in adult reconstruction, 16.9 % (12) trained in pediatrics, and 16.9 % (12) trained in trauma. 19.6 % (49) of academic orthopaedic oncologists were actively involved in MSTS committees. States with the most academic orthopaedic oncologists included New York (30), California (21), and Texas (19). There were nine states with two academic orthopaedic oncologists, nine states with one academic orthopaedic oncologist, and eight states with no orthopaedic oncologists. Conclusion: Female representation in orthopaedic oncology was similar to female representation across all academic orthopaedic surgeons. Many orthopaedic oncologists complete additional fellowship training. Orthopaedic oncologists are not distributed evenly across the US, which may lead to disparate access and discrepancies in orthopaedic oncological volume for each surgeon.
