Orthopedic Surgery Residency

The Department of Orthopedic Surgery consists of 67 full-time or part-time attending and voluntary orthopedic surgeons and research scientists. Two of the full-time staff are responsible for the coordination of medical education and ongoing training of the resident staff and research scientists. Clinical areas are coordinated by eight division chiefs who organize and direct the clinical experience of the resident staff, as well as programs offered to third-year medical students on rotation and electives.

The primary goal of the program is to train and graduate a well-rounded, well educated orthopedic surgeon. This is achieved by the department’s educational activities, the overall structure and organization of the residency program, and the commitment of the faculty and the institution to the teaching program.

The Department is a busy and highly motivated service, where continuing education and the participation of the entire staff at all levels combine to provide the best possible patient care, research, and quality of teaching in a closely knit setting. Comprehensive training is afforded in all areas as mandated by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery for certification, including adult and children’s orthopedics, surgery of the spine, fractures, acute trauma, surgery of the hand, surgery of the foot, rehabilitation, and basic sciences. Additional emphasis is placed on sports medicine, trauma, the surgery and pathology of bone tumors, total joint replacement, reconstructive surgery, and rheumatology. A Psychomotor Skills Laboratory and a Cadaver Laboratory are utilized in resident.

There is more than ample operating room experience supervised by attending staff. All residents participate regularly in orthopedic outpatient clinics and are expected to attend all scheduled formal conferences which include:

• Weekly Staff Conference (Grand Rounds)
• Quality Assurance Conference
• Hand Conference
• Orthopedic Radiology and Pathology Conference
• Foot and Ankle Conference
• Pediatric Orthopedic Conference
• Fracture Conference
• Spine Conference
• Sports Medicine Conference
• Shoulder and Elbow Conference
• Basic Science Lectures
• Adult Reconstruction Conference

Entry into the program is direct upon graduation from medical school. The orthopedic program has participated in the National Residency Matching Program since 1987. The residency is considered to be a full five-year program (0-5), with all five years of postgraduate training directed by the Department of Orthopedic Surgery. The program is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery.

During the first year, a broad educational experience is stressed, which includes rotations in general surgery, internal medicine, surgical ICU, and the emergency room. Cardiovascular Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery, and the other surgical subspecialties are included in short rotations.

The second year of training includes a gradual introduction to child and adult orthopedics under the supervision of the senior resident and attending staff. Residents actively participate in the operating room and in the clinical management of patients, as well as follow-up through the outpatient clinics. Residents rotate on all Lenox Hill Hospital orthopedic outpatient services in order to gain a broad introductory experience in orthopedics. They also are responsible for evaluation and treatment of patients seen in the emergency room.

During the third year, six months are spent at Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Boston for pediatric orthopedics. The remainder of the year is spent at Lenox Hill Hospital on rotations in spine, hand, and sports medicine services as an intermediate resident. During the fourth year, there is a one month elective period, which can be used for clinical experience or research. The full-time research faculty assists residents in designing and completing research projects, in both the basic sciences and clinical areas. The resident also participates in a three-month rotation at R.C Cowley Shocktrauma Center, University of Maryland MedicalCenter, Baltimore, Maryland, where a full-time faculty assists the residents in the care and surgical treatment of polytrauma patients. Each resident also completes a two month rotation at Memorial Hospital/Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, which includes comprehensive experience in musculoskeletal tumors, reconstructive surgery, and inpatient rehabilitation. There is also a four-month rotation on the Arthroplasty Service.

The fifth year is divided into senior level rotations. One resident acts as chief resident for six months and is responsible for the administration of the training program. The chief resident is also responsible for Monday morning grand rounds. During the fifth year, residents rotate on the sports, hand and general orthopedic services. Residents receive one month of elective time, which can be used to complete their research project or to pursue a clinical interest in an intensive program. Under Department sponsorship, residents in their last year attend the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting.

All residents are evaluated by the staff every six months and the attending staff is critiqued by the residents. A thesis suitable for publication and presentation at a professional meeting is mandatory. Graduating residents must present at the Department’s Annual Orthopaedic Alumni Day in May.

So as not to be overwhelmed by clinical responsibilities, residents are provided with sufficient time to devote to educational activities. This is made possible through the additional support of numerous ancillary personnel, including physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and technicians.

Application to this program is through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS).