Curriculum
The intent of this five-year training program is to develop fully competent orthopaedic surgeons. At the end of the program, all residents should successfully complete the qualifying and certifying examinations of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) and function as independent practitioners of orthopaedic surgery at the highest level of performance expected of a board certified specialist.
Orthopaedic residents are provided a sufficient number and variety of simple and complex cases for the achievement of adequate operative skills, surgical balance, and experience. Residents will participate in the preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative care of their patients. This will be accomplished by participation in clinics, operating room, and postoperative follow-up on the wards and clinics.
The PGY-1 intern year consists of thirteen 4-week blocks, and includes six blocks of structured education on non-orthopaedic surgery rotations:
- Anesthesiology
- Surgical Intensive Care
- General Trauma Surgery
- Emergency Medicine
- Burns
- Hand Ortho
- Ortho Surgery
- Vascular Surgery
These rotations are designed to foster proficiency in basic surgical skills, the perioperative care of surgical patients, musculoskeletal image interpretation, medical management of patients, and airway management skills.
The remaining rotation blocks focus on orthopaedic surgery and are also designed to foster proficiency in basic surgical skills, as well as the general care of orthopaedic patients, both as inpatients and in the outpatient clinics, the management of orthopaedic patients in the emergency department, and the cultivation of an orthopaedic knowledge base.
PGY-2 though PGY-5 rotations range from one to four months in length and continue to expand residents’ skills in orthopaedic specialties. Residents have two six-week rotations of protected research time during their residency, as well as two elective rotations in the sub-specialty of their choice.
Residents are required to attend conferences held during their specialty rotations, as part of an active involvement in scholarly activities.
Orthopaedic Surgery Grand Rounds
These conferences are presentations to faculty and residents on a variety of topics relevant to orthopaedic education. Subspecialty lectures focus on Foot/Ankle, Spine, Sports, Joints and Trauma. Occasional talks are given by visiting professors, in their area of expertise. There is also a monthly Pediatric Orthopaedic Grand Rounds conference held by Valley Children’s Hospital.
Orthopaedic Journal Club
During all five years, residents participate in Journal Club, with an emphasis on critical appraisal skills. Residents are asked to review articles using a worksheet that walks them through the research methodology.
Orthopaedic X-Ray Fracture/Indications Conference
A weekly conference, alternating resident presentations on types of fractures with faculty case review presentations. Focus is on the use of x-ray films and practical departmental cases.
Specialty Conferences
The Adult Reconstruction rotations feature a weekly case review conference. For all residents, there are Hand and Shoulder/Elbow conferences twice a month, as well as a Foot/Ankle conference. There is also a monthly M&M conference.
The Anatomy Lab is held twice a year, when available. Residents have the opportunity study and dissect anatomic specimens under the supervision of faculty. Lab agendas include:
- Shoulder
- Humerus & Elbow
- Forearm
- Wrist & Hand
- Pelvis
- Hip
- Femur & Knee
- Distal Tibia, Foot & Ankle
- Spine