An Introduction to the Program

The Emory University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery offers a five-year residency training program that satisfies the eligibility requirements of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. At present, 24 full-time Emory faculty participate in the educational program, in addition to numerous community physicians. Through a multidimensional approach, the department strives to offer the highest quality resident education possible.

To achieve this goal, the program allows residents extensive exposure to all subspecialties in Orthopaedics. Residents develop their clinical skills by participating in the busy clinical services of the department in a wide variety of practice settings. As they progress through the program, they receive increasing responsibility in patient care, a central tenet of the program's educational philosophy.

The department's large clinical patient base provides ample training in all recognized subspecialties, with all rotations taking place in Atlanta. During the academic year, residents attend core curriculum lectures, a two-year cycle of faculty and resident lectures designed to give exposure to all aspects of the field. Grand Rounds, M&M, Complex Case Conference, Journal Club, and rotation specific conferences add additional experiences. During the summer months, residents break from the schedule of Grand Rounds to focus on surgical anatomy, relevant basic science, and development of psychomotor skills. The fresh dissection laboratory enhances the residents' abilities to master surgical anatomy.

Postgraduate Year 1

The PGY-1 year is performed under the direction of the Department of Orthopaedics. Interns are expected to master pre-operative evaluation and post-operative management of the surgical patient. Academic goals include mastery of basic anatomy and general principles of orthopaedic fracture care and fixation. Rotations include three months on the Orthopaedics service, four months of differing General Surgery subspecialties, one month of Surgical ICU, one month of Anesthesia, one month of Musculoskeletal Radiology, one month of Rheumatology, and one month of Neurology.

Call responsibilities are largely within the Department of Orthopaedics, allowing first year residents significant early orthopaedic exposure. Operative experience is ample, with a focus on basic surgical techniques.

Postgraduate Year 2

The second year of residency begins formal orthopaedic education, focusing on patient assessment, work-up and triage of orthopaedic injuries, and their initial management. The principal objective of the PGY-2 year is development of skills related to primary assessment and outpatient care of the orthopaedic patient. Faculty teach residents the cognitive aspects of preoperative evaluation, formulation of a surgical plan, fundamental surgical indications, and postoperative care skills.

Beginning in the PGY-2 year, all rotations are ten weeks in length. Residents spend three rotations at Grady Memorial Hospital, one rotation on the Musculoskeletal Oncology Service, and one rotation on the Spine Service.

Postgraduate Years 3 and 4

During the third and fourth years of training, the resident's responsibilities in patient management increase, as does their exposure to subspecialty orthopaedics. Surgical autonomy increases based on each resident’s skill set.

As PGY-3s, residents spend one block at Grady Memorial Hospital, in addition to rotations in pediatrics, hand and upper extremity, sports medicine / foot and ankle, and adult reconstruction. PGY-4 rotations include Grady Memorial Hospital, the VA, sports medicine / foot and ankle, spine, and pediatrics.

Postgraduate Year 5

To ease the transition into independent clinical practice, the department gives chief residents in their year of training considerable patient care responsibilities, enabling them to refine their diagnostic, surgical, and decision-making skills, especially at Grady Memorial Hospital. All services have direct faculty supervision, but the chief resident is responsible for all aspects of patient care, including outpatient assessment and preoperative planning, surgical procedures, acute postoperative care, and rehabilitation.

Two residents are elected Administrative Chief Residents and have significant responsibility in organizing and overseeing the academic schedule for the residency.

How to Apply

We have no requirements outside of that required by the online ERAS application. Five residents are admitted yearly through the NRMP. Please address any inquiries to:

Katherine Strozier
49 Jesse Hill Jr. Drive, #307
Atlanta, GA 30303
404-778-1567
email kstrozi@emory.edu