Description of Resident Assignments

The listing below outlines the residency rotations as they are currently offered. The rotations may change slightly year to year based on changing needs, opportunities, and resident educational goals.

The year is divided into five rotation blocks and five residents at different levels rotate at different times to maintain continuity of care.

PGY-1
Upon completion of medical school, all residents begin their training at Boston Medical Center (BMC) as a PGY-1 Resident in Orthopaedic Surgery. This year allows the resident to develop the basic knowledge and skills necessary to formulate principles, as well as assess, plan, and participate in the care of surgical patients. The management of emergency, multi-system trauma, and critically ill patients is emphasized.

6 months: Orthopaedic Surgery
2 months: General Surgery Trauma
2 months: Critical Care Medicine
1 month: Radiology
1 month: Plastic Surgery
1 month: Vascular Surgery

PGY-2
2.5 months: BMC Cotton Service (pediatrics)
2    months: BMC Night Float
2.5 months: BMC Shortell Service (fracture/trauma)
2.5 months: Lahey Clinic (foot & ankle)
2.5 months: Massachusetts General Hospital (orthopaedic oncology)

PGY-3
2.5 months: BMC Leach Service (joints)
2    months: BMC Night Float
2.5 months: BMC Shortell Service (fracture/trauma)
2.5 months: Lahey Clinic (hand)
2.5 months: BMC Pediatrics

PGY-4
2.5 months: BMC Leach Service (spine)
2.5 months: Boston Veterans Health Care System
2.5 months: Lahey Clinic (joints)
2.5 months: Lahey Clinic (sports medicine)
2.5 months: Boston Children’s Hospital

PGY-5
2.5 months: BMC Cotton Service (hand)
2.5 months: BMC Leach Service (joints)
2.5 months: BMC Leach Service (sports medicine)
2.5 months: BMC Shortell Service (fracture/trauma)
2.5 months: Lahey Clinic (general orthopaedics/trauma)

6-Year Research Program
The program offers a separate matched research position, comprising a six-year educational program that will incorporate a year of protected time to conduct basic science research. This research year will occur between the first and second years of orthopaedic surgery training (typically between the pgy2 and pgy3 year). During their research year the resident designs and performs experimental studies in the Orthopaedic Research Laboratory at the Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. The resident will be expected to submit at least two manuscripts to major, peer-reviewed orthopaedic or physical science journals, prepare and give podium and poster presentations at national and international conferences and meetings. A very limited amount of call is assigned to maintain clinical exposure.