As such, the formal residency begins as a PGY-2, and the junior residents follow a two-year track. Rotations are organized to assure increasing responsibility and exposure to all aspects of orthopaedics as residents grow in knowledge, skills, and maturity. The resident must spend 4 years in a program whose curriculum is determined by an orthopaedic residency director. The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery requires all residents to complete 12 months of orthopaedic trauma, 12 months of adult orthopaedics, 6 months of basic science and/or clinical specialties, and 6 months of pediatric orthopaedics.

General Surgery rotations: General Laparoscopic Surgery, Acute Care Surgery (2 months), Vascular Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Surgical Intensive Care.

Orthopaedic rotations: Oncology, Hand, Trauma (day), Trauma (night), Adult Reconstruction, Rehabilitation/Amputation (see below): The PGY-1 residents also attend the monthly Journal Club and Grand Rounds. In addition, every Friday the PGY-1 residents are freed from clinical duties to attend the Core Curriculum lectures that are the cornerstone of the Department’s didactic teaching initiative for the orthopaedic surgery residents. In addition to rotations, interns complete a year long curriculum of modules to develop skills in casting, suturing, basic orthopaedic trauma principles, and joint arthroplasty, amongst other topics. Residents will also be skilled in the appropriate workup and management of patients with orthopaedic complications due to diabetes, infections, and trauma. By the end of their rotation, residents are expected to be competent in performing basic and complex amputation as well as limb salvage procedures. Weekly lectures augment clinical training.

They are taught basic prosthetics and orthotics as well as basic principles in rehabilitation. For example, during the Rehabilitation/Amputee service rotation at Rancho Los Amigos Medical Center in Downey, residents learn to manage chronic and debilitating conditions of neurological, congenital, metabolic, infectious, and traumatic origins. Orthopaedic interns are considered part of the surgical internship pool which consist of 6 general surgery rotations and 6 orthopaedic rotations.Ī unique aspect of our program is an intern year generally tailored towards developing and advancing skills expected of an orthopaedic surgery resident. The first year of training is organized into thirteen 28-day rotations in various services relevant to the care of patients. The ACGME requires 12 months of general education, which is satisfied in the PGY-1 year.

Rotation chart teachers timetable