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The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is an integrated, full-service department offering extensive experience in inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and operative orthopaedic education. The orthopaedic surgery residency program is approved for four residents at the PGY I level and 16 residents at the PGY II through V levels. In this 60-month program, 51 months are completed in orthopaedic surgery while the first nine months are completed in surgery, surgical subspecialties, or medicine during the PGY I year. The residency training occurs across several Denver metropolitan hospitals including UH, DHMC, VAMC, TCH, and the AIP and AOP. These hospitals represent a diverse patient population in terms of pathology and socioeconomic background.

As an equally diverse group, the residents are considered competent and independent in the practice of orthopaedic surgery at the completion of their training in the following rotations:

PGY I – The residents are part of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery from the time of the match. The first year is a rotating surgical internship with broad exposure to those surgical and medicine-based subspecialties which are integral to orthopaedic surgery training and meet RRC requirements.

PGY II - During the second year, focus is placed on developing basic operative and diagnostic skills, heavily weighted toward exposure in traumatic and adult orthopaedics. The year consists of training largely at DHMC and UH.

PGY III - Emphasis is placed on further refining surgical skills with specific focus in management of the upper extremity, oncology, and adult reconstruction. The rotations are completed at DHMC, VAMC, and UH.

PGYIV - This year is considered a senior year due to its exposure in specialized areas of orthopaedic surgery, including pediatric orthopaedics, sports medicine, and spine surgery. The rotations occur at UH, TCH, and DHMC.

PGY V - With an emphasis on leadership, this year is considered the chief resident year. The resident assumes greater responsibility in the organization of services, teaching, and education in advanced surgical techniques. The year is heavily weighted towards trauma and adult reconstruction, with training occurring at DHMC, UH, and VAMC. A didactic core curriculum is offered on a two-year rotating cycle, and presented by the faculty or invited lecturers. The curriculum covers the basic science fundamentals of orthopaedics, dissection and anatomy, and surgical technique. Grand rounds are offered monthly, often featuring a nationally recognized expert in the field of orthopaedic surgery.

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery currently operates two basic science research facilities. Each lab, under the direction of a Ph.D. scientist, not only offers opportunities for the Department to contribute to the advancement of orthopaedic surgery, but also for residents to pursue research opportunities in biomechanics, gait, biocompatibility, epidemiology, and molecular biology. The Department employs a statistician/medical editor who is available to residents in drafting IRB proposals, grant applications, and manuscript preparation. During the residency, each resident completes one adult and one pediatric research project.

Orthopaedic Surgery Rotations
The following table outlines the five years of rotations in orthopaedic surgery at UCHSC. During the PGY I year, call is no more frequent then every fourth night and is generally in-house call. During the remainder of the residency program, call at all institutions is taken from home with the exception of trauma call at DHMC, which is in-house call during the PGY II and III years. The orthopaedic surgery residency program has been in compliance with the ACGME work-hour guidelines since July 1, 2003. During in-house and beeper call nights, meal tickets are provided at each of the training facilities.

	First Quarter	Second Quarter	Third Quarter	Fourth Quarter
PGY I	Adult & Trauma	Urology & Vascular Surgery	Rheumatology, PMR, & Plastics	Neurosurgery & General Surgery
PGY II	Adult Reconstruction	Trauma	Adult Reconstruction	Trauma
PGY III	Tumor	Hand	Adult Reconstruction	Hand
PGY IV	Pediatrics	Spine	Pediatrics	Sports
PGY V	Adult Reconstruction	Trauma	Adult Reconstruction	Trauma

Residency Application Information
For PGY 1 residency positions, the application deadline is November 1 each year. Interested applicants should apply through ERAS and submit 3 letters of recommendation. No supplemental materials are necessary.