The Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program provides the resident with a rich educational experience through its home institution and the Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Rotations are available at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City and Shriners Hospitals for Children in Spokane Washington.
Rotations are provided in the clinical subspecialties of Hand and Foot Surgery, Microsurgery, Oncology, Pediatric Orthopaedics, Spinal Surgery, Sports Medicine, Joint Replacement and Reconstruction, Upper Extremity Surgery, and Orthopaedic Oncology. There is uninterrupted participation in the comprehensive management of patients in all subspecialties, from the initial ambulatory encounter through admission and treatment processes to rehabilitation and follow-up. All residents receive experience in clinical and diagnostic orthopaedics, and comprehensive training in the surgical management of all orthopaedic problems.
Postgraduate Year 1
The following rotations are primarily based at Stony Brook University Hospital, with variable experience at the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
- 4 Months General Surgery (any of the following):
- General Surgery
- Trauma Surgery
- Pediatric Surgery
- Plastic Surgery
- Ear, Nose & Throat Surgery
- 1 Month Musculoskeletal Radiology
- 1 Month Anesthesia
- 6 Months Orthopaedics (any of the following):
- Spine
- Hand
- Trauma
- Adult Reconstruction
- Sports Medicine
- Consult Pager
- Surgical Skills
The first year of residency provides for an introduction to evaluating, assessing, and treating surgically-related complaints. The non-orthopaedic experience teaches residents to consider multi-organ complications. The orthopaedic experience provides for a strong foundation and introduction to operative and non-operative orthopaedics.
Postgraduate Year 2
The following rotations are divided between Stony Brook University Hospital and off-site Private Hospital
- Consult Pager
- Night Float
- Pediatrics
- Spine
- Trauma
- Adult Reconstruction
- Sports Medicine
- Research
The second year of residency marks the first year of full immersion into orthopaedics, with residents handling floor, emergency, preoperative, and postoperative orthopaedic complaints autonomously, with supervision as needed. Operative experience becomes paramount as residents develop a depth of orthopaedic knowledge for treatment plans.
Postgraduate Year 3
The following rotations are divided between Stony Brook University Hospital, Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center, off-site Private Hospital, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center.
- Hand
- Foot & Ankle
- Adult Reconstruction
- Sports
- Trauma
- Orthopaedic Oncology (SBUH & at MSKCC)
- Research
Third year residents have increased responsibility and tremendous operative time. A significant portion of the experience is more of the elective part of orthopaedic practice, as rotations through the Northport VA and Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center are added for autonomous and unique experiences.
Postgraduate Year 4
The following rotations are primarily based at Stony Brook University Hospital, with variable experience at off-site Private Hospital.
- Trauma
- Adult Reconstruction
- Orthopaedic Oncology
- Hand
- Pediatrics
- Foot & Ankle
- Spine
- Sports Medicine
- Research
In the fourth year of residency, responsibility and role in the decision-making processes of orthopaedic management are greatly increased. Additionally, there is a dedicated one month research rotation where clinical duties are greatly reduced and attention is directed toward academic pursuits.
Postgraduate Year 5
The following rotations are primarily based at Stony Brook University Hospital, with variable experience at off-site Private Hospital and the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center.
- Trauma
- Adult Reconstruction
- Orthopaedic Oncology
- Sports Medicine
- Elective
- Research
All fifth year residents are referred to as Chiefs. Chiefs are in charge of the services on which they rotate. Case selection has much more flexibility and can be slanted toward resident interest when possible. Two residents are additionally selected as Administrative Chiefs, which adds the responsibility of monitoring and improving elements of the entire Residency Program.
