Fourth Year Medical Student Electives

The Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine Office of the Registrar must approve all Boston University elective rotations.  Elective rotations are based on the BU Rotation Block Schedule, to review the schedule click here. Space is limited to 5 students per block.  The elective application process to Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine for students enrolled in LCME accredited medical schools are to apply through the Visiting Student Learning Opportunities (VSLO).  The VSLO catalogue will open sometime in March to start in Block 11 (June).  Applications are verified by the BU Registrar’s office and they will release the application to the orthopaedic student coordinator for approval of elective.  For more information on VSLO, please click here or contact your school.  Positions are granted on a first come, first serve basis.

International students are also allowed to complete an elective during Blocks 17 – 20.  To set up an elective, students must contact the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine International Student Elective Program by clicking here.

As a student on the service, you will be required to complete a 10-minute case presentation at the end of your rotation. Details of the presentation will be distributed to you once your application has been approved and scheduled for your rotation.

There are six Orthopaedic Surgery Rotations that you may choose from. All rotations are on the Boston University Medical Center campus and are part of the Primary Institutions educational experience. These rotations have sub-specialty focus.  Students will participate in call at Boston Medical Center and will be on-call every fourth night.  A detailed description of each rotation is below.

TRAUMA & FRACTURE (Shortell Service)
Ortho Sub-I

Supervisor: Paul Tornetta III, MD
Instructors: Nathan Olszewski, MD; Paul Tornetta III, MD
Number of students: 1
Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

The elective will be shaped according to the individual student’s future objectives. In particular, there is access to pediatric and adult trauma as well as hand trauma and spine trauma. As an orthopaedic team member, the student will participate actively in the care of patients seen in the operating rooms, emergency rooms, clinics, and on the floors. Most of the time will be spent in the emergent care of patients, fracture reduction, application of casts and splints, and participating in the daily work effort.

Students are encouraged to go to the operating room to scrub on cases. The basic schedule begins with ward rounds, followed by a conference at 6:15 am in which the attending staff reviews all of the patients treated the previous day and their x-rays. There are teaching conferences on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and some Tuesdays. These conferences include grand rounds, didactic lectures and a weekly case review of all operations performed during the week. Attending physicians run all conferences.
Guest lecturers are frequently present for grand rounds presentations.

This elective offers multiple opportunities in the clinical and academic environment from which the student can draw. The elective is a busy one but should be extremely educational. The opportunity to get involved in research also exists.

ORTHOPAEDIC HAND SURGERY (Cotton Service)
Ortho Sub-I

Supervisor/Instructor: Gene Deune, MD; Andrew B. Stein, MD
Number of students: 1
Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

Boston Medical Center has an active orthopaedic staff with the majority of operative procedures being reconstructive operations. The student will work with orthopaedic surgeons specializing in pediatric and hand surgery. The student will act in the capacity of a junior resident with regular patient responsibilities, clinic and operating room duties. He/she will attend teaching conferences and rounds of the orthopaedic staff. It is not intended that the student act as an observer in this elective but as an integrated part of the patient care team.

Students are encouraged to go to the operating room to scrub on cases. The basic schedule begins with ward rounds, followed by a conference at 6:15 am in which the attending staff reviews all of the patients treated the previous day and their x-rays. There are teaching conferences on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and some Tuesdays. These conferences include grand rounds, didactic lectures and a weekly case review of all operations performed during the week. Attending physicians run all conferences.
Guest lecturers are frequently present for grand rounds presentations.

ORTHOPAEDIC PEDIATRIC (Foot & Ankle Service)
Ortho Sub-I

Supervisor/Instructor: Mark Yakavonis, MD
Number of students: 1
Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

Boston Medical Center has an active orthopaedic staff with the majority of operative procedures being reconstructive operations. The student will work with orthopaedic surgeons specializing in pediatric. The student will act in the capacity of a junior resident with regular patient responsibilities, clinic and operating room duties. He/she will attend teaching conferences and rounds of the orthopaedic staff. It is not intended that the student act as an observer in this elective but as an integrated part of the patient care team.

Students are encouraged to go to the operating room to scrub on cases. The basic schedule begins with ward rounds, followed by a conference at 6:15 am in which the attending staff reviews all of the patients treated the previous day and their x-rays. There are teaching conferences on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and some Tuesdays. These conferences include grand rounds, didactic lectures and a weekly case review of all operations performed during the week. Attending physicians run all conferences.
Guest lecturers are frequently present for grand rounds presentations.

ORTHOPAEDIC ADULT RECONSTRUCTION (Leach Service)
Ortho Sub-I

    Supervisor: Michael Kain, MD
    Instructors:  Ayesha Abdeen, MD; David Freccero, MD; Michael Kain, MD
    Number of students: 1
    Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

This elective focuses on the sub-specialty of adult reconstruction. The student will be involved with inpatient/outpatient simple and complex primary hip and knee replacement including partial knee placement and direct anterior hip replacement.  The student will also be involved closely with inpatient care of the orthopaedic service patients and with the surgical procedures performed by the preceptor.

Students are encouraged to go to the operating room to scrub on cases. The basic schedule begins with ward rounds, followed by a conference at 6:15 am in which the attending staff reviews all of the patients treated the previous day and their x-rays. There are teaching conferences on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and some Tuesdays. These conferences include grand rounds, didactic lectures and a weekly case review of all operations performed during the week. Attending physicians run all conferences.  Guest lecturers are frequently present for grand rounds presentations.

ORTHOPAEDIC SPINE (Leach Service)
Ortho Sub-I

Supervisor: Chadi Tannoury, MD
Instructors:  Chadi Tannoury, MD; Tony Tannoury, MD 
Number of students: 1
Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

This elective focuses on the sub-specialty of spine and the treatment of spinal disorders and ailments. The student will be involved with inpatient/outpatient as well as on the field evaluation and treatment of athletic injuries. This includes sports medicine clinics at Boston Medical Center and Boston University. The student will also be involved closely with inpatient care of the orthopaedic service patients and with the surgical procedures performed by the preceptor. Furthermore, the student will be expected, at the appropriate time of year, to attend intercollegiate athletic events with the preceptor for on-the-field management and care of athletic injuries.

Students are encouraged to go to the operating room to scrub on cases. The basic schedule begins with ward rounds, followed by a conference at 6:15 am in which the attending staff reviews all of the patients treated the previous day and their x-rays. There are teaching conferences on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and some Tuesdays. These conferences include grand rounds, didactic lectures and a weekly case review of all operations performed during the week. Attending physicians run all conferences.
Guest lecturers are frequently present for grand rounds presentations.

ORTHOPAEDIC SPORTS MEDICINE (Leach Service)
Ortho Sub-I

Supervisor/Instructor: Xinning Li, MD
Number of students: 1
Location: Boston Medical Center, Boston, MA

This elective focuses on the sub-specialty of  sports medicine. The student will be involved with inpatient/outpatient as well as on the field evaluation and treatment of athletic injuries. This includes sports medicine clinics at Boston Medical Center and Boston University. The student will also be involved closely with inpatient care of the orthopaedic service patients and with the surgical procedures performed by the preceptor. Furthermore, the student will be expected, at the appropriate time of year, to attend intercollegiate athletic events with the preceptor for on-the-field management and care of athletic injuries.

Students are encouraged to go to the operating room to scrub on cases. The basic schedule begins with ward rounds, followed by a conference at 6:15 am in which the attending staff reviews all of the patients treated the previous day and their x-rays. There are teaching conferences on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and some Tuesdays. These conferences include grand rounds, didactic lectures and a weekly case review of all operations performed during the week. Attending physicians run all conferences.
Guest lecturers are frequently present for grand rounds presentations.