Residency Program

Please watch this video for a general overview of the OHSU Orthopaedics Residency Program.

Program overview

Intern year

The first year as an intern gives residents the opportunity to learn orthopaedics from the start. Half the year is dedicated to orthopaedic surgery and related specialties, including physical medicine and rehabilitation. The other half is focused on subspecialties of general surgery relevant to orthopaedics, such as vascular surgery, trauma ICU, trauma surgery, plastic surgery, and pediatric surgery. 

Orthopaedic interns are encouraged to attend orthopaedic Grand Rounds, teaching conferences and journal clubs. Interns also have sufficient time outside  the hospital to explore everything that Portland and the beautiful surrounding areas have to offer.

PGY2-PGY5 years

These years are dedicated to the study of orthopaedics. This part of the program is set up as a mentorship program, with each resident working with 1-3 attendings on each rotation. This helps individualize training and helps residents develop surgical skills. Residents also have early exposure to the operating room to learn these skills. 

As an example of the number of procedures residents might do, one OHSU orthopaedics resident had 682 CPT codes recorded by the end of the R2 year. Most of these came from operating room cases; however, this number also included some fracture reductions and other minor procedures in the emergency department. Furthermore, the only surgical fellowship that the Department of Orthopaedics offers is in spine surgery, which leaves a wider range of educational experiences open to residents only.

The rotation cycle is designed to expose  residents to all orthopaedic subspecialties by the end of their third year. This training is useful when residents decide whether to pursue fellowship training, and in what specialty.  Finally, the orthopaedics residency includes a dedicated research rotation. Residents have protected time to focus on this important component of our resident education program. 

Title IX compliance

OHSU provides equal opportunities to all individuals without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, disability, age, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other status protected by law. It does not discriminate on any status protected by law. This policy applies to all employment, education, volunteer, and patient care related activities or in any other aspect of OHSU’s operation. Retaliation for reporting discrimination is prohibited. To make an inquiry or report an incident of discrimination, contact OHSU’s Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity (AAEO) Department at 503-494-5148, .

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”) protects individuals from discrimination and harassment on the basis of sex or gender in any educational program or activity operated by recipients of federal aid. OHSU, as a recipient of federal funds, complies with Title IX and 34 CFR Part 106 by prohibiting sex and gender discrimination and harassment, which includes sexual misconduct and sexual violence, in education programs, activities, employment, and admissions. Inquiries about Title IX compliance or sex/gender discrimination and harassment may be directed to the OHSU Title IX Coordinator: Laura Stadum.

Contact Laura Stadum, JD at 503-494-0258 or .

Inquiries may also be directed to the U.S. Department of Education, Western Region Office for Civil Rights at 206-607-1600, .