University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Program

The Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Training Program at McGovern Medical School, part of the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, offers a comprehensive five-year program designed to provide residents with a robust education and training in orthopaedics. Each year, the program matches six medical students, ensuring a small and personalized training environment. The curriculum is focused on balancing knowledge, skills, and experience while immersing residents in various subspecialties within orthopaedic surgery, exposed to a high volume of trauma cases in a Level One Trauma Center, which admits over 7600 cases annually 1.

Curriculum Overview 4

The curriculum is structured into a two-year cycle, allowing residents to revisit each section twice throughout their training. Residents participate in 3-hour core orthopaedic conferences each Thursday, along with subspecialty-specific sessions correlating to weekly rotations. The program includes planned educational activities like Grand Rounds and cadaveric dissection labs that emphasize hands-on learning. It also integrates practice management topics to prepare residents for real-world pressures they will encounter after training.

Training Sites 10

The residency uses several notable training institutions, including Memorial Hermann Hospital, which serves as the primary teaching hospital, providing a vast range of clinical experiences. The program also utilizes Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, known for its busy emergency services, and Memorial Hermann Orthopedic & Spine Hospital, dedicated to specialised orthopedic care.

Rotation Structure 9

The first year (PGY1) includes a combination of surgical and non-surgical rotations alongside six months dedicated exclusively to orthopaedic training. As residents progress to the subsequent years, they gain experiences across various subspecialties, including trauma, pediatrics, and sports medicine, ensuring a comprehensive exposure to orthopaedic practices. The final PGY5 year emphasizes leadership and management, with the chief residents taking on added responsibilities.

Research Opportunities 8

Residents are encouraged to engage in research projects, with every resident required to submit a project proposal by the midway point of their PGY1 year. The program values scholarly achievement and aims for each resident to publish a manuscript prior to graduation. A supportive research environment is fostered through various ongoing projects within the Department.

Benefits and Support 11

Residents receive ample support including educational days for conference attendance, a generous vacation allowance of three weeks each year, and funding for board review courses. The program also offers visa support and can sponsor J-1 or H-1B visas for international medical graduates, demonstrating a commitment to diversity in training candidates.

Competitiveness and Applicant Requirements 2

The program is highly competitive, welcoming applications from both U.S. MD graduates as well as DO and international medical graduates (IMGs), making it inclusive yet competitive. Specific application requirements include the submission of USMLE Step 1 scores, and applicants should aim to have no more than one failed attempt on STEP exams. Additional documents such as letters of recommendation and a personal statement are also required to complete the ERAS application.

Resident Life 12

Residents describe the environment as familial, with a strong commitment from faculty and staff to support their personal and professional development. This culture is essential in fostering not only strong clinical skills but also resilience and camaraderie among peers.