Geisinger Health System (Danville) Program

Geisinger Health System offers a comprehensive Orthopaedic Surgery Northeast Residency program, designed to cultivate exceptional orthopaedic surgeons through a unique educational approach while maintaining a strong commitment to patient care. The program seeks to develop well-rounded, board-eligible physicians who prioritize compassion in their practice.

Program Overview

The Geisinger Orthopaedic Surgery Northeast Residency spans five years and accepts four PGY1 residents each year, starting July 1. The residency aims to foster personal and professional growth in an environment enriched with diverse clinical training experiences. The curriculum is built around Geisinger's core values of kindness, excellence, learning, and innovation, ensuring that residents are equipped to learn alongside highly skilled faculty members from various orthopaedic subspecialties, enhancing their understanding of comprehensive orthopaedic care.

The unique preceptorship model allows residents to work closely with attending physicians during dedicated three-month rotations, maximizing their surgical exposure and autonomy. The location of the residency in northeastern Pennsylvania exposes residents to a wide patient demographic, including professional athletes and care for communities in urban and rural settings. This diverse patient population is supported by two busy Level II trauma centers, allowing residents to experience a variety of clinical cases.

Curriculum Structure

The residency curriculum consists of a structured and systematic approach to orthopaedic training, including daily didactics. Protected teaching time occurs from 6:30 to 8:00 a.m., featuring various conferences and lectures across multiple subspecialties such as trauma, pediatrics, adult reconstruction, sports medicine, and more. Notable weekly activities include a fracture conference on Mondays and a rotating topics schedule that covers critical areas in orthopaedics every four weeks.

Hands-on Experience

Residents are given ample opportunities for hands-on experience through a variety of practical sessions, including laboratory experiences and journal clubs. Quarterly laboratory sessions allow practicing operative techniques in controlled environments, further enhancing surgical skill development.

Research Opportunities

Research and scholarly activity are pivotal components of the residency. Residents are encouraged to engage in longitudinal research projects during their training, presenting their findings during designated conferences. Resources for conducting research are robust, with support from dedicated research fellows and funding opportunities available for residents.

Training Sites

The residency encompasses multiple training sites where residents can experience varied clinical settings. This includes exposure to a community-centered health system that serves a large geographical area, allowing for comprehensive learning in diverse conditions and patient interactions, which is critical for skilled practice.

Visa Support and Competitiveness

Geisinger supports international applicants by sponsoring specific visa types, enabling foreign medical graduates to participate effectively in the residency program. The program is known to be competitive yet is welcoming to DOs and IMGs.

Application Requirements

Application to the residency program is through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Applicants should be mindful of selecting the right materials, including medical school transcripts, letters of recommendation, and available USMLE scores. There are specific requirements regarding the year of graduation and the maximum number of attempts for STEP exams, aiming to maintain a standard of excellence among candidates.

Overall, the Geisinger Orthopaedic Surgery Northeast Residency program stands as a compelling option for medical students seeking a rigorous, supportive, and high-quality training experience in orthopaedic surgery.