UPMC Medical Education (Harrisburg) Program

The Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at UPMC in Central Pennsylvania comprises a comprehensive five-year program that is designed to develop the skills needed to become competent orthopaedic surgeons. Accredited by both ACGME and AOA, the program welcomes applications from both osteopathic and allopathic candidates and includes a current cohort of 25 residents. The overarching mission of the program is to provide academic and clinical education at the highest level, along with opportunities for mentorship and a commitment to compassionate patient care.

Throughout the residency, residents will experience a structured curriculum that embraces core training while also exposing them to various specialty areas of orthopaedics, which include Sports Medicine, Hand and Upper Extremity, Foot and Ankle, Orthopaedic Spine, Adult Reconstruction and Joint Replacement, Orthopaedic Trauma, Pediatric Orthopaedics, and Orthopaedic Oncology. Residents also receive hands-on training through an outpatient clinic that runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays under the supervision of attending surgeons.

The residency curriculum includes a balanced mix of clinical rotations and didactic education across various specialties. First-year residents (PGY-1) participate in a variety of rotations including General Surgery, Internal Medicine, Plastic Surgery, and Musculoskeletal Radiology, each lasting approximately four weeks. As residents progress through the program into their second year (PGY-2), they begin to focus heavily on adult reconstruction, sports medicine, and trauma. This is preceded by a foundational year that also includes exposure to pediatric orthopaedics and basic fracture courses.

By the third year, residents will further hone their skills in multiple orthopaedic subspecialties and receive certifications such as ATLS. The fourth and fifth years of training feature extensive hands-on experiences in adult reconstruction, trauma, and oncology, culminating in the chief residency where residents take on leadership roles in managing patient care.

UPMC in Central Pa. emphasizes scholarly activities, encouraging residents to engage in research and innovative practices. The program utilizes advanced technological platforms for training such as virtual reality systems, which replicate the operating room environment, thereby enabling residents to practice procedures in a risk-free setting. The program also conducts weekly inpatient fracture reviews and meets with attendings to foster a strong academic environment alongside clinical practice.

Training takes place across a network of renowned facilities, including UPMC Harrisburg and UPMC West Shore, among others. Notable affiliations extend to leading health care institutions such as Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center and Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, providing residents with diverse case experiences and collaborative learning opportunities.

The UPMC Orthopaedic Surgery Residency is competitive in nature, looking for candidates with strong academic backgrounds, along with clinical rotation experiences in orthopaedics. Applicants are highly encouraged to complete an audition rotation at UPMC to enhance their chances of selection. To qualify for a rotation, applicants must provide USMLE or COMLEX scores; the minimum threshold for COMLEX is 550 and for USMLE, it is 235. The program generally encourages applications prior to mid-October, with interviews scheduled between November and January.

UPMC in Central Pa. offers visa sponsorship for eligible candidates, ensuring that international medical graduates (IMGs) can pursue residency in the United States. The program is committed to inclusiveness, promoting a diverse applicant pool that welcomes both DO and MD candidates without preference.

Residents in the program experience a supportive work environment within a leading health care system in Central Pennsylvania. With a connected network of over 11,000 employees across multiple facilities, residents are part of a thriving academic community that is involved not just in medical practices, but also in community health initiatives.