Drs. Lorena Floccari, Sheryl Handler-Matasar and Julie Samora pave the way for tomorrow’s orthopedic surgeons.
Akron Children’s is unique in that three of its 11 orthopedic surgeons are women, well above the national average of just 7%. Orthopedic Surgeon Julie Samora, MD, PhD, chairs the Akron Children’s Orthopedics department, which is also rare. The trio of female orthopedic surgeons – Drs. Samora, Lorena Floccari and Sheryl Handler-Matasar – recently led the first “Perry Initiative” event at Akron Children’s to inspire the next generation of women to consider careers in orthopedics.
About the Perry Initiative
“The Perry Initiative is a national not-for-profit organization focused on increasing women in the fields of orthopedic surgery and engineering,” Dr. Samora said. “We hosted our first Perry Initiative program Jan. 31 and Feb. 1 – and we had 28 high school students and 13 medical school students attend.”
Dr. Floccari participated in the Perry Initiative during her fellowship training at Scottish Rite for Children, an orthopedic-focused pediatric hospital in Texas. Dr. Samora helped to organize the first Perry Initiative program for medical students in Columbus several years ago, and she has participated in multiple Perry events over the years. That’s why they were eager to bring the program to Akron Children’s.
Dr. Samora teaches medical school students while they get hands-on practice.
The Perry Initiative features mock orthopedic surgery simulations and other hands-on learning activities, lectures from orthopedic surgeons, networking opportunities and question-and-answer sessions.
Trinity Kronk is a medical and PhD student at Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED) who attended the Akron Children’s event. “The Perry Initiative has been on my radar for years. I regularly checked the schedule, hoping for an opportunity to attend a session in my area,” she said. “When Dr. Floccari reached out to share that Akron Children’s would be hosting the Perry Initiative, I was beyond excited and eager to take part.”
NEOMED student Trinity Kronk was thrilled when Akron Children’s brought the Perry Initiative to northeast Ohio.
The Perry event wasn’t just meaningful to the students. The orthopedic surgeons enjoyed the experience, too. “My favorite part of the program was the question-and-answer sessions,” Dr. Handler-Matasar said. “The participants were able to ask questions about life as a female orthopedic surgeon or engineer in a judgement-free zone. I enjoyed hearing other people’s responses and sharing my own experiences with the students.”
Mentorship matters
Dr. Floccari credits female mentors who showed her that women can excel in orthopedics – personally and professionally. “I actually worked with Dr. Samora when she was a resident, and I was a med student during my first orthopedics rotation at Ohio State,” she said. “Dr. Samora was one of the first people who really made me think, ‘I can do this!’ Along my journey through residency, fellowship and into practice, I am so grateful for mentorship and support from several outstanding female surgeons.”
Dr. Floccari teaches high school students how to put on and remove casts.
For Trinity, the Perry Initiative validated that she can be a great doctor and mom. “As both an MD/PhD student and a mother to an amazing 1-year-old son, balancing my passion for medicine with my commitment to my family is always at the forefront of my mind,” she explained. “Seeing other women at the Perry Initiative – including some who are thriving in their careers while embracing motherhood – reassured me that this path is possible.”
Orthopedics is a team ‘sport’
Teamwork is important in all aspects of health care, especially in orthopedic surgery. “I was an NCAA Division I softball pitcher at Saint Louis University, so I naturally gravitated toward orthopedics,” Dr. Floccari said. “You develop many skills during athletics that directly translate to a surgical career: work ethic; teamwork; hours spent on mental and physical preparation and honing skills; and receiving constructive feedback.”
Dr. Samora was a multisport athlete in high school – playing basketball, softball and tennis. “I played tennis at Carnegie Mellon University for four years and was captain of the team my senior year,” she shared. “I always wanted to be a surgeon but wasn’t sure which specialty until I had the opportunity to experience all the subspecialties in medical school. Orthopedics is a team-based ‘sport,’ which is very attractive. It is also a fun and rewarding specialty, with great surgeries and the ability to improve patients’ lives.”
Dr. Handler-Matasar shares her knowledge with a Perry Initiative participant.
Dr. Handler-Matasar played varsity volleyball in high school and intramurals in college. She agrees that skills she learned playing volleyball – from teamwork to setting goals – have benefitted her throughout her medical education and career. “As the saying goes, ‘There’s no I in team,’” she said. “My advice for anyone interested in orthopedics is to set goals and work hard at them; constantly reassess your goals and modify them as needed; and don’t give up on your dreams. Becoming an orthopedic surgeon is a long process, but in the end, I would not have done anything differently.”
The Akron Children’s Orthopedics team is planning to host another Perry Initiative event in 2026, so stay tuned for details. In the meantime, learn more about Akron Children’s Orthopedics.
