Curriculum

The curriculum is divided into a two-year cycle which allows each resident to see the cycle twice as they proceed through their PGY1 to PGY5 years. On Thursdays there are three hours of core orthopaedic educational conferences which are then supplemented by specific conferences by some of the subspecialty rotations throughout the week. All residents are expected to convene and are relieved of clinical responsibilities.

Monthly Schedule

  • First Thursday
    • PEC – faculty
    • Resident Administrative Time
    • Resident/PD
    • Subspecialty Teaching
      • Every other month – ethics, business of Ortho, communications
    • Second Thursday
      • Grand Rounds
      • Subspecialty Teaching
    • Third Thursday
      • M&M
      • Subspecialty Teaching
    • Fourth Thursday
      • Journal Club
      • Subspecialty Teaching
      • Every 2 months – Visiting Professor
    • Fifth Thursday
      • Grand Rounds
      • Subspecialty Teaching

Didactic Conferences, Basic Science, Indications, Problem Fractures, Cadaveric Sessions

These are didactic conferences which are presented by an attending, fellow or assigned resident on a rotating basis. Attendings and upper level residents quiz junior residents giving them experience in presentation style and allowing them to begin determining appropriate evaluations, laboratory, x-ray workups and treatment options.  Practice management topics are included to cover issues that residents will deal with outside of the usual medical knowledge required for patient care (e.g. coding, billing, contracts and office management).

  • Basic Science – follows the AAOS textbook on basic science.
  • Trauma didactic lectures – fellow/resident rotating on the service is responsible for arranging one or more representative case presentations and short review of the current literature on that topic.
  • Anatomy – The anatomy sessions are taught through the use of cadaveric dissection labs. Various anatomic regions are covered in the regular rotation throughout the year. Emphasis is placed on the surgical approaches of the region as well as the surrounding anatomical structures.

Journal Club

Held the 4th Thursday of each month and subspecialty specific. Articles are primarily from the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery but also include the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and subspecialty journals.  Both faculty and residents attend this session. These sessions are used to develop the residents’ abilities to critically evaluate medical literature and research, support continuing education, and promote awareness of newer methods in research.  Residents are assigned articles to discuss and are critiqued by faculty.

M&M

This conference serves as a peer review quality control for MHHS-TMC and LBJ-HCHD Hospital, and is held monthly.  All complications are reviewed under the supervision of the Chairman of the Department.  Recommendations for avoiding problems in the future are made by the faculty.  All residents and faculty attend this conference.  Held the 3rd Thursday of each month.  All M&M cases are recorded in accordance with hospital policy.

Visiting Professor

Invited speakers will present every other month on the 3rd Thursday from 7:00-9:00am.  The program director and assistant program director select the topics and presenters. Topics are of a clinical nature or research interest. These are designed to highlight current approaches to musculoskeletal problems or new technology.  It is common to have community orthopedists present or health care workers from other departments.  This generally is a CME accredited time block.

Subspecialty

Will be scheduled on a rotating basis throughout the academic year.  In addition, subspecialties will continue to hold lectures on days of their choosing for the residents rotating on their service.

Trauma Morning Fracture Conference and Sign-Out Rounds

This conference held daily at 6:00am and is attended by all involved, directly or peripherally.  The intent of this daily interaction between attending physicians, mid-levels and residents is to efficiently transition the continuity of care to the incoming trauma team.  The team evaluates orthopedic injury films from the emergency room department every morning.  The conference is attended by the trauma service team which includes the upper and lower level residents, the trauma fellow and trauma staff.  Classification systems are discussed as well as treatment options including operative and non-operative treatments.

Wednesday Afternoon Trauma Conference

This conference held on Wednesdays 5:00-7:00pm is attended by orthopedic trauma faculty and residents.  Review is made of the inpatient service of orthopedic trauma patients including initial evaluation, work-up (to include pre-op planning), treatment operative vs. non and on-going care and rehabilitation issues.