Career Development - Orthopaedics

What Does Training Look Like?

Residency in orthopaedics is typically five years in a categorical program, although some programs have an six year program, with the sixth year usually being a research year.

Subspecialties

Hand, Foot/Ankle, Shoulder/Elbow, Sports Medicine, Spine, Oncology, Pediatrics, Total Joint Replacements, Trauma.

What Does a Typical Workday Look Like?

An attending's schedule can be quite variable depending on the subspecialty that you choose and the setting within which you choose to work.  Nearly all graduating orthopaedics residents (~90%) complete fellowships within which their career will be focused.  Most attendings have clinic 2-3 times a week and operate the other 2-3 days with call responsibilities in addition to this depending on the job you take.  An academic career also includes additional time for research, education and didactics.  Most orthopaedic surgeons spend time in the “on call” pool with their practice partners/hospital(s).  Call schedules vary from practice to practice and often depend on subspecialty, and average 4-6 call nights per month.

Important Qualities and Traits

Qualities recognized as important to orthopaedics include:

  • Hard working
     
  • Organized
     
  • Honest
     
  • Caring
     
  • Efficient

Shadowing Opportunities

There is an eight-week elective available to T1 and T2 students (Orthopaedic Pathways: Intro to Orthopaedic Surgery ORTH 5053) that provides an early shadowing opportunity with four clinical rotations of two weeks each.  Once you are enrolled in the Pathways elective, you can contact the Ortho Pathways student coordinator and Ms. Elizabeth Wesley to confirm your particular shadowing schedule.

The Orthopaedics Interest Group can also help connect students with faculty to inquire about shadowing opportunities. 

Ortho Pathways Faculty Advisor: Dr. Leland McCluskey

Research Opportunities

The Orthopaedics Department has numerous research opportunities, including clinical, basic science, biomechanical, and education related studies. They hold in-person research meetings about every six weeks and any students interested in orthopaedics are welcome to attend. Students can find out about dates and news through the Orthopaedics Interest Group or by contacting the Residency Program Coordinator, Ms. Elizabeth Wesley. To inquire about ongoing research projects, students may also reach out to:

Dr. Bill Sherman, Research Committee Chair 

and

Dr. Chandra Vemulapalli

Additionally, students may want to pursue research opportunities through theDeBakey Scholars ProgramThis program offers medical students the opportunity to pursue and complete a longitudinal, structured, closely supervised research experience culminating in a capstone presentation prior to graduation. For more information, contact Dr. Derek Pociask. 

Specialty Interest Group

The Orthopaedics Interest Group (OIG) is a student-run organization for medical students interested in orthopaedics. Students who are interested in orthopaedics are strongly encouraged to join the OIG.

Orthopaedic Grand Rounds are being held in-person and virtually on Tuesdays from 6 pm to 8 pm, and many OIG members attend. Please contact OrthoGrandRounds@tulane.edu directly if you'd like to participate. We look forward to each of you having the opportunity to develop your interest with us!

Who are the Specialty Academic/Career Advisors for this Specialty? 

Dr. Chandra Vemulapalli, Associate Program Director and Clerkship Director

Other orthopaedic department contacts:

Ms. Elizabeth Wesley - Senior Administrative Program Coordinator

Dr. Michael O’Brien – Residency Program Director

Dr. Bill Sherman – Research Committee Chair

Dr. Leland McCluskey– Course Director, T1/T2 electives: Ortho Pathways and Intro to Orthopaedics

 

Recommended T3 & T4 Coursework

It is recommended that students take a clinical Orthopaedic elective early in their fourth year. The School of Medicine Curriculum Committee sets prerequisites for students for each course.  Please check the requirements to ensure you are prepared and eligible before 4th year. T3 students may be granted permission to take a two-week elective in Orthopaedics in rare circumstances.

Dr. Chandra Vemulapalli is the Orthopaedic Clerkship Course Director. 

Away rotations are very important. Students are encouraged to apply early for away rotations at other programs of interest.

Orthopaedic Research electives are also available to students.

Sample-T4-ORTH-Schedule.pdf

 

Specialty Statistics

Summary Statistics (from "Charting Outcomes in the Match 2024")

Matched N = 587

 

1.    Mean number of contiguous ranks

11.8

2.    Mean number of distinct specialties ranked

1.1

3.    Mean USMLE Step 1 score*

244

4.    Mean USMLE Step 2 score

257

5.    Mean number of research experiences

8.1

6.    Mean number of abstracts, presentations, and publications

23.8

7.    Mean number of work experiences

2.5

8.    Mean number of volunteer experiences

4.8

9.    Percentage who are AOA members

34.2

10. Percentage who graduated from one of the 40 U.S. medical schools with the highest NIH funding

33.0

11. Percentage who have Ph.D. degree

1.3

12. Percentage who have another graduate degree

18.2

Note: Only U.S. MD Seniors who gave consent to use their information in research are included. 

*Only applicants who indicated completion of Step 1 prior to the transition to Pass/Fail reported numeric scores.

Special Considerations When Applying for Residency

Orthopaedics has a highly competitive application process. According to the NRMP 2024 Data Report, there were 218 orthopaedic resident programs, and 916 PGY-1 positions offered in the Match. 1,008 MD Seniors (1,492 including other applicants) applied for orthopaedic residency positions.  726 MD Seniors matched (915 including other applicants). All but 1 orthopaedic residency positions were filled in the first round.

Important Advice

Away rotations are critical. If you are interested in a particular residency program, make an effort to get to know them and apply there for an away rotation.

Start preparing for orthopaedics early in your medical school career if you are interested. This ensures you have appropriate research and other experiences.

Establish contact with orthopaedic faculty advisors and mentors. Enroll in orthopaedic electives. Reach out to get involved in research or other opportunities. Doing so is critical for earning strong letters of recommendation.

Get involved with research. Students applying for orthopaedic residencies are expected to have multiple research projects and publications by the time they submit their applications in their 4th year.

Where Past Tulane Students Have Matched

M

San Antonio Military Medical CenterSAN ANTONIOCA2020
UCLA Med Ctr‐CALOS ANGELESCA2020
Ascension Providence/MSUCHM‐MISOUTHFIELDMI2020
Baylor Coll Med‐Houston‐TXHOUSTONTX2020
Tulane Univ SOM‐LANEW ORLEANSLA2020
Duke Univ Med Ctr‐NCDURHAMNC2020
St Louis Univ SOM‐MOST LOUISMO2020
Ochsner Clinic Foundation‐LANEW ORLEANSLA2020
UC San Francisco-Fresno-CAFRESNOCA2021
Penn State Hershey Med Ctr-PAHERSHEYPA2021
U Connecticut School of MedicineFARMINGTONCT2021
Hosp of the Univ of PAPHILADELPHIAPA2021
Cedars-Sinai Med Ctr-CALOS ANGELESCA2021
Tulane Univ SOM-LANEW ORLEANSLA2021
Harbor-UCLA Med Ctr-CATORRANCECA2021
U Texas Southwestern Med Sch-DallasDALLASTX2021
Tufts Medical Center-MABOSTONMA2021
Harbor-UCLA Med Ctr-CATORRANCECA2022
St Lukes Hosp-Bethlehem-PABETHLEHEMPA2022
Tulane Univ SOM-LANEW ORLEANSLA2022
U Arizona COM-PhoenixPHOENIXAZ2022
Tulane Univ SOM-LANEW ORLEANSLA2022
Tulane Univ SOM-LANEW ORLEANSLA2022
Emory Univ SOM-GAATLANTAGA2022
Harbor-UCLA Med Ctr-CATORRANCECA2022
Albany Med Ctr-NYALBANYNY2022
San Antonio Military Medical CenterSAN ANTONIOTX2022
U Miami/Jackson Health System-FLMIAMIFL2023
Barnes-Jewish Hosp-MOST LOUISMO2023
Harbor-UCLA Med Ctr-CATORRANCECA2023
UC San Diego Med Ctr-CASAN DIEGOCA2023
Tulane Univ SOM-LANEW ORLEANSLA2023
Oregon Health & Science UnivPORTLANDOR2023
U Rochester/Strong Memorial-NYROCHESTERNY2023
Loyola Univ Med Ctr-ILMAYWOODIL2024
Medical College of GeorgiaAUGUSTAGA2024
U North Carolina HospitalsCHAPEL HILLNC2024
U Michigan Hosps-Ann ArborANN ARBORMI2024
Stony Brook Teach Hosps-NYSTONY BROOKNY2024
Walter Reed Military Medical CenterBETHESDAMD2024
Medical College of GeorgiaAUGUSTAGA2024

How Many Programs Should I Apply To?

Most applicants apply to 66-102 programs.

You should discuss your specific application with a mentor or one of the ortho faculty advisors to determine what number is right for you.