Education and Training
Orthopedic Residency and Fellowship Programs
The Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston prides itself on providing an unparalleled education through access to faculty and the inclusion of the latest technologies and tools to further your development at all levels of your education. From the fundamentals through exposure to all of the major subspecialties within orthopedics, resident education is comprised of three main components: knowledge, skills, and experience.
Orthopedic Residency Program
The orthopedic residency program has traditionally been one of the busiest and most active clinical training programs in the country. This is anchored by the nation’s busiest orthopedic trauma service and a functional, integrated county hospital system, along with a nationally recognized, committed and dedicated core faculty ensuring that each trainee receives a comprehensive orthopedic education. Continued recruitment of superbly trained specialty surgeons ensures that each respective facet of orthopedic care delivery and instruction is carried out in a well supervised and highly technologically advanced environment.
The five years of ACGME accredited education and training ensure that the residents meet the standards of the ABOS. The high volume of clinical cases and adequate dedicated faculty allow a one-to-one training environment in all subspecialty rotations. Graduated operative responsibility provides the trainee with the appropriate supervision to learn surgical skills. This begins in the PGY1 year with simulation training based on the ABOS modules during a 4-week protected time block. Subsequently, PGY2-PGY5’s are graded on designated procedure-specific cadaveric milestone simulations to actively gauge their skills acquisition. This is supplemented by a rigorous well-balanced/comprehensive didactic educational program that is centered on a two-year rotating curriculum developed and presented by experts in the orthopedics subspecialties.
Expansion of the research division has been strongly enhanced by the addition of renowned scientific experts in the fields of cellular regenerative medicine, along with orthopedic biomechanics and kinematics.
Each year, the Department of Orthopedic Surgery matches five medical students to enter its residency program. The Department of Orthopedic Surgery prides itself on providing an unparalleled education through access to faculty and the inclusion of the latest technologies and tools to further your development as a resident.
Sports Medicine Fellowship
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s Sports Medicine Fellowship is an ACGME accredited post-graduate sports medicine fellowship. Three fellows will be accepted and fall under the direction of Dr. Christopher Harner. This fellowship offers in-depth experience in sports medicine intended to provide the Fellow with the skills and knowledge to perform at a high level. There is a high volume of patients, including athletes from all levels of competition that require diagnostic and surgical decision-making.
Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston’s Orthopedic Trauma Fellowship is accredited
by the Orthopaedic Trauma Association and the Texas Medical Board. Four fellows will be accepted each year. This fellowship offers in-depth experience in orthopedic trauma intended to provide the Fellow with the skills and knowledge to perform at a high level.
Working in the busiest Level One Trauma Center in the nation, trauma fellows are exposed to all varieties of orthopedic trauma, with a focus on building expertise in pelvic and acetabular reconstruction. Memorial Hermann Texas Medical Center will see on average, more than 5,000 admissions per year.
Annual CME Lectures
- The Houston Orthopaedic Trauma Symposium is in its fifth year offering an update on the evolving concepts and techniques in orthopedic trauma.