Orthopaedic Residency Curriculum, Research, and Leadership Opportunities

Curriculum Highlights

Flipped Classroom

Didactics at HSS use the flipped-classroom model, where orthopaedic residents independently watch prerecorded videos, and then have a discussion with the instructors in the classroom. Valuable lecture time can be used to engage with instructors and fellow students, explore high-level topics, and address any remaining questions. An audience-response system integrated during conference time allows for additional experiential learning.

Courses

Resident course participation and tuition are paid for AO Basic, Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), and Musculoskeletal Tumor.

Educational Fund

The educational fund helps residents pay for other education, such as review courses, fellowship interviews (up to three), books, and travel electives.

Travel Elective

For senior residents, 6 to 7 weeks are dedicated for international travel.

Resident Morning Conference

Residents attend regularly scheduled morning conferences and Grand Rounds.

Each Postgraduate Year (PGY) Focuses on Developing Specific Skills

PGY1 Rotations

• For all incoming residents, Surgical Skills Boot Camp kicks off a year of learning to care for orthopaedic surgery patients and hone basic surgery skills. 
• General Surgery, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (3 months): Trauma, Plastics, Vascular, Burn 
• Orthopaedic-Related Rotations, HSS OSCU (6 to 7 weeks): Metabolic Bone, Rheumatology/Radiology
• Orthopaedic Rotations, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (6 to 7 weeks): Trauma, Pediatrics, Spine, Hip/Knee

PGY2 Rotations

• Rotations are outside of HSS for most of the year. PGY2 residents lead interns on Saturday coverage.
• NewYork-Presbyterian Queens (6 months): Trauma
• NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (3 months): Trauma
• HSS (5 to 6 weeks): Spine, Foot and Ankle

PGY3 Rotations

Subspecialty rotations help residents plan for fellowships later. PGY3 residents lead interns on evening call.

• HSS (6 to 7 weeks): Pediatrics, Trauma, Hand, Sports Medicine, Hip/Knee
• NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital (6 to 7 weeks): Trauma 
• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (6 to 7 weeks): Tumor

PGY4 and PGY5 Rotations

Combined rotations during these two years give residents flexibility. In addition to rotating through services as a chief, residents have protected blocks of time to pursue research and the opportunity to complete further specialty training through local and international electives.

• James J. Peters VA Medical Center (3 months): Sports
• NewYork-Presbyterian Queens, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (6 weeks): Spine, Pediatrics, Foot and Ankle, Hand, Trauma, Tumor
• Electives (6 weeks)
• Research (6 to 7 weeks)
• Travel (6 to 7 weeks)

Step-out Research Year

All residents are required to conduct basic or clinical research. Many of them incorporate an additional full year of research into their training, lengthening the residency to six years. Some pursue a degree such as a Master of Public Health during this time.

Structured Mentorship

HSS has long been known for one-on-one learning opportunities and mentorship. During their first three years, residents work with a peer mentor and a member of the Resident Leadership Group. In addition, a faculty member serves as mentor for each PGY1 and PGY2 class. Later in residency, research mentors help residents develop new research ideas and provide guidance on grant proposals, while career mentors support residents’ career choices and research interests.

Research Opportunities

Residency at HSS offers abundant research opportunities in basic science, tissue engineering, biomechanics, clinical trials, and other areas. During PGY4/5, residents have a dedicated 6 to 7-week research block, as well as the option for step-out research time spread across two years. 
 
HSS provides support for residents to present their research at national and international meetings. HSS research support staff assist residents in preparing research protocols, navigating IRB review, and submitting grant applications. During PGY4 all residents apply for a grant from the Orthopaedic Research and Education Foundation (OREF). 

Leadership Opportunities

Residents interested in patient safety and quality improvement may serve a one-year appointment as vice chair and chair of the resident-led Housestaff Quality and Safety Council (HQSC). Opportunities are available to attend ACGME, ACS and AOA Resident Leadership Forum.
 

 

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