Tripler Army Medical Center Program

The Tripler Army Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program is a five-year ACGME-approved program that trains residents from PGY-1 through PGY-5 levels. They have a close working relationship between attendings and residents with a 1:1 ratio, offering easy attendings' accessibility. The program is located in Honolulu, HI, serving a diverse population of over 250,000 active military members, family beneficiaries, and VA patients.

This program stands out for being a tertiary referral center for the Pacific region, including support for forward deployed units in numerous countries. Residents benefit from trauma training at level I trauma centers, dedicated research time, and a high level of house staff responsibility. The program boasts a mix of experienced senior surgeons and recently fellowship-trained surgeons, offering a robust academic environment with significant support for graduate education.

Residents are selected based on various criteria like medical school transcripts, academic performance, and potential as military physicians. The program has a strong emphasis on training through simulation centers and cadaver labs to develop residents' surgical skills progressively throughout their residency. The curriculum includes essential resident courses at each PGY level, such as Combat Casualty Care, AO Basic Course, Dallas Short Course for prosthetics and orthotics, Enneking Pathology Course, and Combat Extremity Course.

The program focuses on resident achievement and quality outcomes, with a 100% board certification rate for graduates on ABOS part II examinations and a 92% rate for ABOS part I. Tripler Orthopaedics demonstrates consistent scholarly activity, with numerous publications and national presentations annually.

Overall, the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program at Tripler Army Medical Center offers a high-quality training experience, exposure to a diverse patient population, and a supportive academic environment in a picturesque location.