Program Information

The Department of Orthopedic Surgery at SUNY Upstate Medical University currently accepts four residents each year into a comprehensive five-year program. The first year is comprised of a number of off-service rotations and three months of orthopaedic surgery. Rotations during the subsequent four years are devoted to Orthopedic Surgery, and are organized to provide graduated responsibility to the trainee. The majority of the general/community rotations occur during the PG-2 and PG-3 years. Sub-specialty rotations occur primarily in the PG-4 and PG-5 years. Attending physician coverage on all services is provided for by both full-time and voluntary faculty at each of the affiliated hospitals.

Sub-Specialty Rotations

All of these rotations are based at University Hospital in Syracuse. There is no requirement for rotations in different cities. The subspecialty rotations include:·

hand and upper extremity surgery (PGY 3 & 5)
sports medicine (PGY 4)
spine surgery (PGY 4)
orthopaedic oncology (PGY 4)
arthroplasty (PGY 5)
foot and ankle surgery (PGY 5)
pediatric orthopaedics (PGY 2 & 4)
trauma (PGY 5)

Trauma exposure is included in all the general orthopedic rotations but there is also a dedicated three month trauma rotation as a chief resident.

Appointments

Appointments are renewable annually at the discretion of the resident and the department chairman. Quarterly evaluations are provided according to the requirements of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. Residents participate in the annual Orthopaedic In-Training Examination (OITE) administered by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS), and an annual oral exam is administered by the department to further evaluate development of skills essential to the practice of orthopaedic surgery.

Other Details

Residents are provided with three weeks of vacation during the PGY1 year and four weeks of vacation each year during the PGY2 through PGY5 years.

Funding for a resident trauma course during the PGY3 year, and the annual meeting of the AAOS during the PGY5 year is provided. Funding for presentation of original research at major North American Orthopaedic Meetings is also available.

Department funding for microsurgical loupes is provided.

A fully stocked orthopedic library, and multiple computers with broad band web access is also present within the department offices at the hospital for the residents' use 24 hours a day.

Night call varies from rotation to rotation, but in general involves in-house coverage every third night during the first two years. Call schedules are variable during the final two years, but calls are usually taken at home once a week. Call on all rotations conforms to New York State Code 405 regulations and the new ACGME standards.

Professional employment outside of required house staff responsibility is permitted only with approval of the department chairman.

Stipends for house staff:

Effective July 1, 2006

l st year post-M.D. $41,679
2nd year post-M.D. $44,859
3rd year post-M.D. $46,971
4th year post-M.D. $48,919
5th year post-M.D. $51,214
6th year post-M.D. $53,331

Individuals who are designated as senior residents in each department receive $500 in addition to their regular stipend. All stipends are in lieu of maintenance, although a room for sleeping is provided for residents on call in the hospital. House officers are covered by an institutional medical malpractice insurance policy. Health and hospital insurance is provided through the Upstate Medical University by compensatory arrangements.

Residence Life

A list of available rooms and apartments is maintained by the director of residence halls and the Interns-Residents Spouses' Club helps new house officers in obtaining appropriate living facilities. Additional information regarding housing can be obtained by writing:

Director of Residence Living
SUNY Upstate Medical University Residences
175 Elizabeth Blackwell St.
Syracuse, New York 13210
or

Interns-Residents Spouses' Club
c/o House Staff Office
SUNY Upstate Medical University
750 East Adams St.
Syracuse, New York 13210
or

Graduate Medical Education Offices
SUNY Upstate Medical University
750 East Adams St., Room 1814
Syracuse, New York 13210