Bridging Borders: How Online Mentorship Transforms Opportunities for International Medical Graduate Women.

Abstract

International medical graduates (IMGs), particularly women, face unique challenges in navigating the competitive landscape of orthopedic surgery. Cultural barriers, limited access to mentorship, and systemic biases amplify the difficulty of breaking into this male-dominated specialty. This letter highlights the author's perspective as an IMG, highlighting the pivotal role of mentorship in bridging opportunity gaps. Lacking traditional mentorship pipelines, the author turned to online platforms and global connections to build a supportive network, showcasing the transformative power of virtual mentorship. By sharing her experiences, the author advocates for an inclusive approach to mentorship, emphasizing its power to overcome structural disadvantages, foster diversity, and inspire future generations of women surgeons. This call to action encourages mentors to recognize and support underrepresented groups in orthopedics, ultimately strengthening the global surgical community.