A select group of teenagers got the opportunity to receive hands-on experience in the field of orthopedics under the guidance of some of the state’s experts.

A program called the “Perry Initiative” is a national program that creates a pipeline for women looking to get into orthopedic surgery and engineering.

“We host a one-day activity where we invite high school females from all around the state,” Dr. Christina Salas, an associate professor at the UNM Department of Orthopedics, told KOB. “They are actually performing mock surgeries using the actual synthetic bones that are used by our orthopedic residents who are in training.”

Orthopedic specialists fix bones, joints, and muscles. KOB reported that according to a journal published in the National Library of Medicine, only 7.4% of orthopedic surgeons are women as of 2022.

“Women are extremely underrepresented in both orthopedic surgery and in engineering, specifically mechanical engineering,” Salas said.

Nearly 40 young women participated in this year's program, giving them a unique opportunity to network with established professionals and gain insight into the profession.

“I’m very excited because there are other people that want to do the same things as me, and it’s like women, so it feels very empowering and great to be here,” Alondra Aguilere, a high school junior, told KOB.

Salas knows the importance of having mentors that might have a better understanding of the challenges and issues prospective students face.

“When I was coming through my undergraduate degree, I was one of only two females who graduated with a class of like, 50 or so from my college,” Salas said. “I’ve had students who’ve actually not only completed our high school program, but ended up coming to UNM to do an undergraduate engineering degree, and then ended up working in my lab as either a research assistant.”