Key Questions to Ask for Orthopedic Surgery Residency Success

Why Your Questions Matter More Than You Think

Choosing an orthopedic surgery residency is one of the most consequential decisions of your career. Programs will evaluate you—but you are also evaluating them. The questions you ask on interview day (and during pre-/post-interview communication) are one of the most powerful tools you have to:

• Understand the true culture of a program
• Gauge if it can deliver the training, mentorship, and case volume you need
• Decide where to rank each program confidently in the ortho match

In competitive specialties like orthopedic surgery, many residency programs look similar on paper: Level I trauma center, busy operative volume, subspecialty fellowships, academic faculty. Good questions help you cut through the marketing and identify where you will actually thrive.

This guide will walk you through:

• Core domains you should explore at every program
• Tailored questions to ask residents, faculty, and especially what to ask the program director
• How to adapt questions to your interests (sports, trauma, spine, etc.)
• What questions not to ask—or at least, when and how to ask them
• Red flags to listen for in the answers

Throughout, you’ll see sample interview questions for them that you can adapt to your own style.

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Strategy First: How to Approach Asking Questions

Before we dive into specific questions, it helps to have a strategy. Good questions are:

• Specific – Show that you’ve done your homework
• Open-ended – Invite honest, nuanced answers
• Comparative – Help you distinguish this program from others
• Personalized – Reflect your interests and career goals

Who You Should Be Asking

You’ll have multiple opportunities to ask questions:

• Program Director (PD) – Vision, culture, outcomes, big-picture strategy
• Associate/Assistant PDs & Core Faculty – Education structure, research, mentorship
• Current Residents – Day-to-day reality, call, workload, wellness, hidden strengths/weaknesses
• Program Coordinator – Logistics, schedules, contracts, benefits
• Chair or Department Leadership – Institutional support, growth, reputation

Tip: Ask similar questions to different people and compare answers. Consistency is reassuring. Mismatches can reveal underlying issues.

Framing Your Questions

Avoid yes/no questions. Instead of:

• “Do residents get good operative experience?”

Try:

• “Can you walk me through how operative autonomy progresses from PGY‑1 to PGY‑5? What kinds of cases a chief resident typically leads independently?”

You’ll see this approach throughout the sample questions.

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Core Domains & High-Yield Questions to Ask

This section breaks down key domains you should cover at almost every orthopedic surgery residency interview, with sample questions tailored to each audience.

1. Program Culture, Fit, and Philosophy

Culture is often the biggest determinant of your day-to-day happiness. Orthopedic surgery is demanding; you need an environment that is challenging but supportive.

Good people to ask: PD, residents, faculty.

Questions to ask the program director:

• “How would you describe the culture of your orthopedic surgery residency in 3 words, and what do you do intentionally to maintain that culture?”
• “When residents struggle—academically, surgically, or personally—how does the program typically respond and support them?”
• “What changes have you made to the residency in the past 3–5 years based on resident feedback?”
• “What distinguishes your program from other orthopedic surgery residency programs in this region?”

Questions to ask residents:

• “If you had to pick, what do you think this program values most in its residents: research, operative skill, independence, academic productivity, service, or something else?”
• “Have there been recent changes in leadership or structure? How did those impact morale?”
• “Do you feel comfortable going to faculty or the PD with concerns? Can you think of a time when that went well—or didn’t?”
• “If you could change one thing about the program, what would it be?”

What to listen for:

• Do people answer quickly and consistently, or do they hesitate and generalize?
• Do residents speak openly in front of faculty, or only in private?
• Are there specific examples of resident-driven improvements (e.g., call schedule reform, new conferences, wellness initiatives)?

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2. Clinical Training, Case Volume, and Operative Autonomy

Your primary goal is to become a competent, confident orthopedic surgeon. Case mix, volume, and graduated autonomy are critical.

Good people to ask: PD, subspecialty faculty, senior residents.

Questions to ask about operative experience:

• “How is operative autonomy structured here from PGY‑1 to PGY‑5? At what level are residents typically primary surgeons on bread‑and‑butter cases like ORIFs, arthroscopies, and arthroplasties?”
• “What is a typical chief resident operative week like here in terms of number and complexity of cases?”
• “How do you ensure cases are distributed equitably among residents, especially when fellows are present?”
• “Are there any subspecialty areas where you feel residents graduate unusually strong or unusually weak?”

Questions to ask senior residents:

• “What were your log numbers like in key categories (e.g., trauma, joints, sports, pediatrics, spine), and did you feel you needed to ‘chase’ cases?”
• “Are there ever conflicts with fellows over cases? How is that handled?”
• “On a busy trauma call, who typically manages reductions, ex-fixes, and urgent OR cases—juniors, seniors, or fellows?”
• “Do you feel ready to operate independently on standard trauma and elective cases now?”

Red flags:

• Vague answers about autonomy (“You’ll get plenty, don’t worry”) without concrete examples
• Heavy fellow presence without a clear explanation of how resident cases are protected
• Residents who say they feel underprepared for common orthopedic procedures

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3. Education, Didactics, and Evaluation

Orthopedic surgery is not just about “getting your numbers.” Structured teaching and feedback are crucial for long-term success and your ABOS exams.

Good people to ask: PD, Education Chief, didactics coordinator, residents.

Questions to ask the program director:

• “Can you walk me through your weekly educational schedule? What teaching is protected time?”
• “How do you integrate fracture conference, indications conference, and M&M into residency education?”
• “How are residents evaluated clinically and surgically, and how is feedback delivered?”
• “What has your program’s ABOS Part I pass rate been over the last 5–10 years, and what support do residents receive for board preparation?”

Questions to ask residents:

• “Is didactic time truly protected, or do you frequently get pulled away for the OR or consults?”
• “Which conferences are the most valuable here, and which feel less useful?”
• “How often do you get direct, actionable feedback from faculty on your performance in the OR or on the wards?”
• “How does the program help residents who are struggling with OITE scores or boards?”

What to look for:

• Regular, structured conferences that are respected by faculty
• A transparent system for evaluations and remediation
• A track record of strong board performance and support mechanisms

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4. Rotations, Call, and Workload

The orthopaedic residency lifestyle can be intense. Understanding the logistics of rotations, call frequency, and workload will help you realistically assess fit and burnout risk.

Good people to ask: Residents (all PGY levels), chief residents, coordinator.

Questions to ask residents about call and schedules:

• “How is call structured for each PGY year (in-house vs home, night float vs 24-hour call, weekend coverage)?”
• “On a typical call night, how many consults do you see, and how often are you in the OR overnight?”
• “What does a typical workday look like on busy services (e.g., trauma, joints, sports)? Average arrival/leave times?”
• “Do you feel your workload is sustainable across the five years, or are there particular rotations that consistently push people toward burnout?”

Questions for the PD or coordinator:

• “How do you track duty hours, and how does the program respond when violations occur?”
• “Have you made any recent changes in call structure or coverage in response to resident feedback or volume changes?”
• “How are off-service or away rotations (e.g., burn, ICU, plastics, vascular, PM&R) integrated, and are there any outside community or rural rotations?”

Red flags:

• Residents laugh nervously or look at each other before answering call questions
• Statements like “We’re always around 80 hours” said with an eye roll
• Chronic duty hour violations brushed off as “the price of good training” without attempts to fix them

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5. Subspecialty Exposure, Fellowships, and Career Outcomes

Your ortho match decision should be informed by where graduates go and how well-prepared they feel. Whether you want to pursue a fellowship or go straight into practice, the program’s track record matters.

Good people to ask: PD, fellowship faculty, senior/chief residents.

Questions to ask about career outcomes:

• “Can you share where recent graduates have gone for fellowship or practice over the last 5 years?”
• “How does the program support residents applying to competitive fellowships such as sports, spine, trauma, pediatrics, or hand?”
• “Are there faculty with strong national reputations or connections in the subspecialty areas I’m interested in (e.g., sports, joints, trauma)?”
• “For residents who choose to go directly into practice, how confident do they feel in their surgical skills, and where do they typically practice (academic vs community, urban vs rural)?”

Questions for residents, especially chiefs:

• “Did you feel you had enough exposure to all subspecialties before choosing a fellowship?”
• “How involved are faculty in helping with fellowship letters, networking, and interview preparation?”
• “Do residents ever feel pressured to pursue certain fellowships or academic paths because of departmental needs?”

What to look for:

• A variety of fellowship placements nationwide, including competitive programs
• Graduates comfortably entering both academic and community practice
• Evidence of active faculty mentorship for different career paths, not just academics

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6. Research, Innovation, and Academic Opportunities

Even if you’re not aiming for a purely academic career, most orthopedic surgery residency programs expect at least some scholarly activity.

Good people to ask: PD, research director, research residents, academically oriented faculty.

Questions to ask about research:

• “What are the research expectations for residents, and how are they supported in meeting them?”
• “Is there dedicated research time? If so, when in the residency and how is it structured?”
• “Can you describe the types of projects residents commonly do—clinical, outcomes, biomechanical, basic science?”
• “How often do residents present at national meetings (AAOS, subspecialty societies) or publish in peer-reviewed journals?”

Questions for residents:

• “How easy is it to join existing projects or start your own?”
• “Are there particular faculty who are especially strong mentors for residents interested in research?”
• “Does research feel like a meaningful learning experience or more like a checkbox requirement?”

Red flags:

• “Research is required, but there’s not much structure”—often leads to last-minute, low-quality projects
• No clear tracking of resident presentations or publications
• Residents who say they’re “too busy” to realistically engage in any scholarly activity

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7. Support, Wellness, and Life Outside the Hospital

Orthopedic surgery has long hours and real physical and emotional demands. Understanding how programs support residents as people is crucial.

Good people to ask: Residents (all levels), PD, wellness committee members.

Questions to ask residents:

• “Do you feel the program genuinely cares about resident well-being, or is wellness more of a box to check?”
• “What formal wellness resources are used (not just offered) here—counseling, peer support, protected wellness days?”
• “How often do residents realistically get to take their full vacation time, and how flexible is scheduling for major life events (weddings, births, illness in the family)?”
• “What do you and your co-residents do for fun outside of work? Do people have time for hobbies, family, sports?”

Questions to ask the PD:

• “Can you share an example of how the program supported a resident going through a difficult personal situation?”
• “What changes have been made in the last few years to address burnout or mental health concerns?”

What to observe:

• Do residents seem tired but engaged—or truly exhausted and cynical?
• Do they socialize with each other, or is everyone siloed?
• Are wellness initiatives concrete (schedule reforms, access to counseling) or purely symbolic?

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8. Program Logistics, Location, and Practical Considerations

Some topics are less glamorous but still crucial to your quality of life: housing, commute, salary, benefits, partner/family considerations, and city fit.

Good people to ask: Residents, coordinator, PD.

Questions about logistics and city life:

• “Where do most residents live, and what is the typical commute like?”
• “Is parking available and affordable for residents, especially on call?”
• “How does the cost of living here compare to the resident salary and benefits?”
• “For residents with partners or children, how family-friendly is the schedule and the city?”

Questions for the coordinator or PD:

• “What are the moonlighting policies, and at what PGY level are residents eligible?”
• “How are maternity/paternity or extended medical leaves handled in terms of training time and board eligibility?”
• “Have there been any recent changes to salary, benefits, or contract structure?”

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Tailoring Questions to Your Interests and Goals

Not every orthopedic surgery residency applicant wants the same career. Customize your questions based on what you hope to do.

If You’re Interested in a Highly Subspecialized Academic Career

• “Which subspecialties are the program’s strongest academically (grants, publications, national leadership)?”
• “Are there opportunities for advanced degrees (MPH, MS, PhD) or formal research tracks?”
• “How often do residents co-author papers with faculty or present at national meetings?”
• “Have any recent graduates matched at top-tier fellowships in my area of interest (e.g., complex spine, sports, trauma)?”

If You’re Leaning Toward Community Practice

• “How much exposure do residents get to community-based practice patterns versus tertiary academic care?”
• “Do you have community hospital rotations where residents function more independently?”
• “How well do graduates feel prepared to manage a broad general orthopedics practice in a community setting?”

If You’re Geographic- or Family-Bound

• “How many residents are originally from this region, and how many stay here after graduation?”
• “What networking or job placement support exists for residents seeking positions locally?”
• “How flexible is the schedule around major life events, especially for residents with families?”

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Questions to Avoid—or Ask Carefully

Some topics are sensitive or can send the wrong signal if phrased poorly. You can ask about them, but do so thoughtfully and often after establishing rapport.

Salary and Benefits

Important, but usually covered in materials. Instead of:

• “How much do residents get paid?”

Try:

• “Beyond the posted salary, are there any unique financial supports (e.g., educational funds, travel funds for conferences, housing stipends, childcare support)?”

Vacation and Time Off

Instead of:

• “How much vacation do we get?” (can sound like you’re focused on time off)

Try:

• “How is vacation scheduled among the residents, and is it generally easy to take your full allotment without significant conflicts?”

Matching Statistics and “How Can I Rank Here Higher?”

Avoid questions that sound like you’re asking for special treatment in the ortho match:

• Don’t ask: “Where would I need to rank you to match?” or “How many people do you usually rank?”

Instead, ask:

• “Are there any qualities you particularly value in the residents who thrive here, so I can assess my own fit honestly?”

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Putting It All Together: Interview Day Tactics

A few practical tips to maximize your time:

1. Prepare a short list. You won’t be able to ask every question from this guide. Identify your top 8–12 priorities across programs and tailor them.

2. Avoid repeating questions in the same room. If multiple applicants are asking questions, don’t re-ask what’s already been answered unless you need clarification.

3. Use pre-interview socials wisely. Ask more personal and culture-focused questions with residents there, saving high-level curricular questions for the PD.

4. Take notes immediately after. Right after Zoom or in-person interviews, jot down key points and your impressions. These will be invaluable when making your rank list.

5. Ask follow-up questions via email. If something important wasn’t covered (e.g., a new away rotation, a particular fellowship exposure), a short, professional email to the coordinator or PD is appropriate.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How many questions should I ask during an orthopedic surgery residency interview?

Aim for 2–4 thoughtful questions per formal interview (PD, faculty) and several more during resident socials and informal sessions. Quality matters more than quantity. It’s better to ask a few well-considered, specific questions than to rapidly fire generic ones.

2. What are the best “first questions” to ask a program director?

High-yield, broad questions to start with include:

• “How would you describe your vision for this orthopedic surgery residency over the next 5–10 years?”
• “What do you see as this program’s greatest strengths and areas of ongoing growth?”

These open the door to understanding priorities, culture, and future direction.

3. Is it okay to ask the same questions at different programs?

Yes—and you should. Asking similar questions across programs (e.g., about autonomy, call, research expectations) helps you draw direct comparisons when building your rank list. Just adjust details to show that you know each program’s structure (e.g., “Given that you have fellows in trauma and sports…”).

4. What if I run out of questions or everything has been covered?

It’s fine to say something like:

• “We’ve covered most of what I’d planned to ask. Is there anything you think applicants sometimes overlook about your program that you wish they would ask about?”

This shows insight and gives the interviewer an opportunity to highlight something important you may not have considered.

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By approaching interviews with a clear strategy and well-crafted questions, you transform yourself from a passive applicant into an engaged future colleague assessing where you can best train, grow, and ultimately practice as an orthopedic surgeon. Use this guide to structure your thinking, adapt the sample questions to your voice and priorities, and let the answers help you build a confident and informed rank list in the ortho match.