Oklahoma State University
11/20/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 11/20/2024 11:20
Checketts named Outstanding Resident of the Year in Orthopedics
Checketts named Outstanding Resident of the Year in Orthopedics
Wednesday, November 20, 2024
Media Contact: Sara Plummer | Communications Coordinator | 918-561-1282 | [email protected]
Dr. Jake Checketts was no stranger to doctors' offices and hospitals growing up. Born with Tetraology of Fallot, a heart defect, he underwent several heart surgeries, but instead of being marred by the experience, he was inspired.
"That's pretty much what's guided me. As early as I can remember, really, I've wanted to go into medicine," said Checketts, a fifth-year OSU Medicine orthopedic surgery resident and OSU College of Osteopathic Medicine alumnus.
Checketts, who grew up in Plain City, Utah, applied to several allopathic and osteopathic medical schools across the country, but he was drawn to OSU-COM because of the OSU Medical Center teaching hospital, the residency placements and the opportunity for research.
"I talked to people on Dr. Matt Vassar's medical student research team. And then I got here for my interview and met everyone, and the atmosphere was great, the school was awesome. They had just started building the Tandy Medical Academic Building so there was a lot of cool stuff on the horizon, and all that sold it for me," he said.
Before starting medical school, Checketts already had an interest in surgery, but he learned something about himself early on at OSU-COM.
"I realized that I did not like hearing about the heart. It was too close to home for me. It actually stressed me out a little bit," he said. "So orthopedic surgery was perfect. You fix bones and stay away from the heart."
That's not the only reason Checketts was drawn to the specialty.
"I think it's the instant gratification in a lot of ways. Someone comes in with a broken bone, you fix it. Or someone who can't go to their grandkid's soccer game because their knee hurts, you give them a knee replacement and it gets better. I like to see the impact these surgeries have on the patients, that means a lot to me with my history," he said.
"I've always felt like coming to OSU was kind of a God thing for me. It was like the universe did that for me - being at OSU at the right time with the right mentors."
During his time as a medical student and as a resident, Checketts has been lead or co-author on about 75 research studies and has been heavily involved in a number of professional organizations and societies.
"In residency, you want to be able to diagnose and treat patients and see a wide breadth of cases for both the operating room and in the clinic, and we definitely do. I also like being involved in research and going to professional meetings and trainings, and we have those resources here and I've been able to keep doing that," he said.
His hard work was noticed by his residency program director and several of his instructors who nominated Checketts for the American Osteopathic Foundation and American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics' 2024 Outstanding Resident of the Year in Orthopedics.
Checketts said he was surprised when he learned he had won.
"You never know how big the pool of applicants is, and there's a lot of people out there doing really good work," he said. "I thought I had a chance because we do a lot of research and we're doing a lot of good things here at OSU, but so are a lot of people."
Checketts believes the opportunities to conduct research and be so involved with his profession during his residency at OSU is a big reason why he was honored with the resident of the year award and why he was selected for the prestigious University of Washington Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Shoulder and Elbow Fellowship in Seattle.
"It really set me apart. My fellowship is one of the top fellowships in the country, and I was the only DO they interviewed this year, and I got a spot. I know that all of that has to do with the resources at OSU. The opportunities given to me by the school and residency program allowed me to build my CV," he said.
Checketts said he will always be grateful to OSU-COM and the people who helped him along his nine-year journey through medical school and residency.
"I've always felt like coming to OSU was kind of a God thing for me. It was like the universe did that for me - being at OSU at the right time with the right mentors," he said. "I'm just grateful. I think if I would have gone to another school, I don't think I would have been given the resident of the year award. I'm so grateful to the orange and black."