Participants and leaders of the UCSF Perry Initiative gather at Pride Hall at Zuckerberg San Francisco General on Dec. 3, 2024. Hosted by the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the event brought together orthopaedic surgeons, residents and medical students to inspire women to pursue careers in orthopaedic surgery and engineering. (Photo: UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 14, 2025 — In celebration of 15 years of inspiring young women to pursue careers in orthopaedic surgery and engineering, the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery recently hosted the annual Perry Initiative event at Pride Hall at Zuckerberg San Francisco General in San Francisco. The event brought together five prominent orthopaedic surgeons and over 20 UCSF medical students and residents to inspire the next generation of female leaders in these fields.
Dr. Nicole Schroeder and Dr. Stephanie Wong led the event, which featured hands-on workshops, mock surgeries, and mentorship opportunities. Dr. Eliana Delgado, Dr. Jacqueline Hill, Dr. Lauren Santiesteban, and Dr. Rosanna Wustrack also participated, sharing their expertise and experiences with attendees.
“The UCSF Perry Initiative is about showing future surgeons and engineers that they belong in this field,” Dr. Wong said. “We aim to provide inspiration and practical skills to help them succeed.”
A UCSF medical student drills during a hands-on workshop at the UCSF Perry Initiative event on Dec. 3, 2024, at Pride Hall, Zuckerberg San Francisco General. The event, hosted by the UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, aims to inspire and train women to pursue careers in orthopaedic surgery and engineering. (Photo: UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
Held annually, the UCSF Perry Initiative is part of a national program addressing the underrepresentation of women in orthopaedics. This year’s event continued to build on the program’s mission of empowering future leaders in medicine and engineering.
Dr. Nicole Schroeder (right) instructs UCSF medical students during a hands-on workshop at the UCSF Perry Initiative event on Dec. 3, 2024, at Pride Hall, Zuckerberg San Francisco General. (Photo: UCSF Department of Orthopaedic Surgery)
About the Perry Initiative
The Perry Initiative, established in 2009 at UCSF by Dr. Jenni Buckley and Dr. Lisa Lattanza, inspires young women to pursue careers in orthopedic surgery and engineering, fields where women have been underrepresented.
Named for Dr. Jacquelin Perry, a pioneering orthopedic surgeon known for her contributions to gait analysis, the initiative continues her legacy of mentorship and innovation.
Since its founding, the Perry Initiative has held more than 600 outreach programs nationwide, engaging more than 16,000 high school and medical students. Programs include the Perry Outreach Program (POP), offering hands-on mock surgeries for high school students, and the Medical Student Outreach Program (MSOP), which provides similar experiences for medical students.
The initiative has had a significant impact: about 85% of high school alumnae pursue careers in STEM fields, with 60% entering biosciences and 25% focusing on engineering. More than 20% of medical student participants have matched into orthopedic residency programs, increasing gender diversity in the field.
By providing early exposure and mentorship, the Perry Initiative plays a key role in addressing gender disparities in orthopedic surgery and engineering.
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