The Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program provides a comprehensive core curriculum in orthopaedics.

First Year (PGY-1)

This year consists of primarily general surgery. Additional experience is gained through rotations in critical care, trauma and surgical disciplines closely related to musculoskeletal medicine. The intern takes general surgery call for the first six months of the year.  The second half of the year (6 months) the intern will be scheduled for orthopaedic call with another in-house resident for a more seamless transition to full-time orthopaedics. The year culminates with three months of orthopaedic surgery as a basis for continued training in which the PGY-1 is viewed as a fully integrated junior resident on the orthopaedic team.. This multidisciplinary year of study provides a well-rounded foundation and fully meets the training requirements of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Residency Review Committee and the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS).

Second Year (PGY-2)

Fundamentals are stressed as is an early operative experience. A thorough grasp of the orthopaedic evaluation of a patient and trauma management is mastered. The opportunity to develop proficiency in the management of fractures by closed and open methods and in the proper application of casting materials is provided. The resident is expected to learn the basic science behind all aspects of orthopaedic surgery and is given instruction in biomechanics and gait. Patient care issues are taught. Under the supervision of an attending, the PGY-2 resident is directly responsible for the pre-and postoperative care of patients assigned to his service. Details of the history and physical exam specific to orthopaedic problems are emphasized. The resident will learn basic surgical skills in the operating room for all orthopaedic cases and surgical anatomy and approaches. Due to the mentorship structure of the Program, all residents (PGY 2-5) work one on one with the attending on their service, both in and out of the operating room.  

During the second year, one month of protected time is allotted for basic science and clinical research projects.  The resident is relieved of clinical duties with the exception of Monday and Friday afternoon clinic as well as the normal call schedule.

Third Year (PGY-3)

Development of a broad understanding of indications and the more common surgical procedures is fostered. The resident is expected to assume greater responsibility for patient care. At this level of training he/she will be expected to perform basic arthroscopic procedures of the knee and shoulder. The resident is expected to perform, with assistance, the repair of shoulder dislocations, long bone plating, intramedullary fixation, tension band techniques and uncomplicated fractures of the hip. He/she must be able to properly apply and use external fixations and become familiar with various diagnostic roentgenographic procedures. He/she will develop expertise in the operative treatment of joint fractures. The PGY-3 resident's educational experience is supplemented by participation in the treatment of adult spine disorders involving the traumatic adult spine, degenerative scoliosis, myelopathy and other disease of the adult spine. Due to the mentorship structure of the Program, all residents (PGY 2-5) work one on one with the attending on their service, both in and out of the operating room.  

One of two residents in the PGY-3 year will serve a six-month pediatric orthopaedic rotation at Shriners' Hospital and St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. The other resident will complete his/her pediatric orthopaedic training in the first six months of the PGY-4 year.

Fourth Year (PGY-4)

Operative and nonoperative experience is gained as a senior resident. Advanced theory and techniques are mastered with attending supervision. Decision-making skills are honed with regards to the treatment of reconstructive surgery, joint replacement, upper extremity and hand surgery, neuromuscular disorders and sports medicine. The fourth-year resident should be able to manage complex trauma by open and closed means. He/she receives extensive training and experience in the evaluation and surgical management of patients with complex neuromuscular disorders including stroke and traumatic brain injury. Due to the mentorship structure of the Program, all residents (PGY 2-5) work one on one with the attending on their service, both in and out of the operating room.  

During the fourth year of orthopaedic training, one resident is involved in full-time pediatric orthopaedic training at Shriners Hospital for Children for four months, immediately followed by two-months of pediatric orthopaedics/trauma at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children. During this experience the resident participates in the entire spectrum of pediatric orthopaedic surgery. The attendings at Shriners Hospital for Children, including Randall Betz, MD and Scott Kozin, MD (an Einstein Alumnus) are leaders in their respective orthopaedic fields with numerous publications.  Einstein residents have collaborated with the attendings at Shriners Hospital on various research projects resulting in multiple abstracts and publications. St. Christopher's Hospital for Children is a busy Level One pediatric trauma center that offers the resident an unparalleled experience in pediatric orthopaedics.

During the fourth year, one month of protected time is allotted for basic science and clinical research projects.  The resident is relieved of clinical duties with the exception of Monday and Friday afternoon clinic as well as the normal call schedule.

Fifth Year (PGY-5)

Residents at this level of training begin to take on the responsibilities of an independent orthopaedic surgeon. In addition to clinical responsibilities, the chief resident assumes a role as educator for junior residents and medical students. The administrative chief resident is responsible for scheduling of resident on-call assignments, structuring of conferences and attendance and supervision of the outpatient clinic. A senior resident is on call at all times as a back-up to the junior resident for clinical, educational, administrative and support issues including leading the junior residents through orthopaedic trauma cases. The fifth-year resident should be knowledgeable with operative arthroscopy and surgery of the hand, foot and spine. He/she should be able to manage complex and severe trauma in its various aspects. He/she provides consultation to other services under the guidance of the attending orthopaedic staff and takes a major role in management of interdisciplinary problems as seen in the multiply injured patient.

Chief residents are allotted one month for a clinical elective in a subspecialty of their choice under the auspices of a prominent orthopaedic specialist. Several residents have applied for and have been accepted for AO electives in Europe.

Following the new guidelines implemented by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Education (ACGME) for the 80-hour resident work week; the department is in full compliance with these standards with the implementation of a night float rotation into the orthopaedic surgery resident curriculum. Following this curriculum, the resident (PGY- 1-5), by graduation, will have completed six months each of training in spine, hand/upper extremity neuromuscular, foot and ankle/lower extremity neuromuscular, joints, sports medicine, pediatrics, consult pager (2-Bone) and night float in addition to 2 months of research and one-month senior elective.  Due to the high volume of trauma cases seen in the Level One trauma center, the night float resident frequently has the opportunity to scrub emergent orthopaedic cases during their shift.