Mercy St Vincent Medical Center Program

The Orthopedic Surgery Residency at St. Vincent Medical Center is designed to provide in-depth training across various orthopedic specialties over a five-year period. This program accepts three new residents each year, with a total of 15 approved resident positions. The aim is to cultivate well-rounded orthopedic surgeons capable of performing effectively in both tertiary care centers and community settings 1.

Program Aims

The residency program has several core aims, including:

• Achieving and maintaining excellence in orthopedic training with a focus on patient care, surgical skill, and research.
• Providing comprehensive exposure to a wide array of orthopedic cases.
• Offering an organized and progressive educational experience that increases resident responsibilities over time.
• Encouraging the compassionate, safe, and effective care of patients aligned with resident training levels.
• Promoting continuous medical knowledge acquisition through active participation in educational and scholarly activities 1.

Curriculum and Rotations

The residency features a robust curriculum marked by early and continuous access to surgical exposure. Residents will engage in daily morning lectures which contribute to outstanding board examination performances, boasting a history of first-time board passage rates and high performance on the Annual Orthopedic In-Training Examination (OITE) 4.

During the first year (PGY-1), residents spend six months in the orthopedic service, along with rotations in other relevant specialties such as plastic surgery, musculoskeletal radiology, trauma surgery, and more. For the subsequent years, residents encounter a variety of clinical services including:

• Adult reconstruction
• Level I trauma
• Foot and ankle
• Hand and upper extremity
• Shoulder and elbow
• Pediatric orthopedics
• Orthopedic oncology
• Spine
• Sports medicine and general orthopedics

Each resident is expected to accumulate between 2,000 and 3,000 surgical cases over the span of their training 4.

Research Opportunities

An essential part of the residency involves scholarly activity which leads to opportunities for faculty and resident publications and presentations. The program encourages residents to participate in research to enhance their knowledge and clinical skills 4.

Application Process

The application deadline for the program is December 15 each year, with interviews conducted via Zoom. Prospective residents must apply through the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS) and should fulfill specific eligibility criteria:

• United States citizen or permanent resident or able to obtain a visa.
• Must possess an MD or DO degree from an accredited medical school in the U.S. or Canada or a valid ECFMG certification for international graduates.
• Eligibility requires US health care experience and successful completion of USMLE or COMLEX Step 1 and preferred Step 2 2.

The program primarily sponsors H-1B visas, with J-1 visas available in limited cases. Residents must pass all required exams on their first attempt, though there is no cut-off date for medical school graduation 2.

Benefits and Compensation

Residents in the program receive a competitive salary structure, beginning at $63,650 for PGY-1 and rising to $74,104 by PGY-5. Additionally, a range of benefits includes:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance
• Annual vacation days ranging from 15 to 20 based on postgraduate year
• Educational sign-on bonus of $2,500 for continuing education and conferences
• Relocation allowance
• Meal allowance and free parking
• On-call quarters and fitness facility access

All benefits commence from the first day of residency 3.

Living in Toledo

Toledo is characterized by an affordable cost of living, offering numerous amenities including a zoo, parks, and entertainment venues. It represents a pragmatic choice for residency training with conducive living conditions suitable for personal and professional development 5.