Tattoos and Orthopedics Residency

[Ttubule]

Hi!

I’ve seen this discussed a bit here and there on SDN but it’s hard to parse out who is really giving their opinion so I’d love to hear from ortho residents attending a if possible.

I’m a third year shooting for ortho, and so far on track to have a pretty solid application (250+ step 1, tons of ortho research and presentations, built great relationships with lots of our attendings and residents, etc).

I also have a few visible tattoos (half sleeve on one arm and a couple forearm tattoos). Nothing wildly offensive or poorly done, and I generally do my best to cover them up when I can with either a long sleeve under my scrubs or an OR jacket, mostly because I would hate to make any patient uncomfortable (and when they’re covered up I look like I’d be showing up at your door to sell you on Mormonism, lol). I’ve asked a couple of our attendings and they’ve all basically said no one cares and seem surprised I’m asking, but I’m also at a fairly open minded program closer to the west coast.

Does anyone know of any ortho residents/attendings with tattoos, or of anyone who has had specific problems at any residency programs over them?

Thanks all! Really appreciate your insight.

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[ru4real1666]

I currently attend a residency where they would care but if you did a good job or interviewed well, they would be willing to overlook it. At my program though, they want everyone clean shaven at all times unless on ortho truama.

 

[TheOther]

I currently attend a residency where they would care but if you did a good job or interviewed well, they would be willing to overlook it. At my program though, they want everyone clean shaven at all times unless on ortho truama.

I have a follow-up question: should I do my best to keep them covered on away rotations?

 

[Ttubule]

I currently attend a residency where they would care but if you did a good job or interviewed well, they would be willing to overlook it. At my program though, they want everyone clean shaven at all times unless on ortho truama.

Thanks for the reply!

That’s sort of what I’ve been wondering-if I kick ass on my subI and/or interview well and have a solid app overall, if there are programs that would be like “Na I saw that guy had a forearm tattoo when he was scrubbing in.. NEXT!” Lol

Like I said I try to keep them covered regardless since I don’t want to make older patients uncomfortable but there’s those times that you just can’t around the OR.

 

[OrthoTraumaMD]

We don’t care. Half of my class had tattoos.


Sent from my iPhone using SDN mobile

 

[ru4real1666]

For an overall reply:

My viewpoint is - are the tattoos a part of who you are? I presume they are because they are permanent and you have them on self. Do you want to hide your true self and reveal yourself to the program slowly when/if you match there or do you want to match at that program knowing that they took you for you?

It's an individual decision.