Orthopaedic Residency

PGY-1

The resident’s first year of training includes three 4-week blocks of general surgery rotations including general surgery trauma and surgical intensive care. The resident’s first year also includes three months on non-orthopaedic surgery rotations: vascular surgery and plastic surgery, six weeks each. The remainder of the first year is spent on orthopaedic surgery rotations designed to enhance the resident experience in the care and management of orthopaedic patients (inpatient and outpatient). Formal instruction in basic surgical skills, implemented longitudinally over the course of the first year of training, is also included to help prepare the PGY-1 to participate in orthopaedic surgery cases. The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery surgical skills modules experience is designed to integrate with skills training in subsequent post graduate years. 

PGY-2

The resident’s second year of orthopaedic training includes eleven months of adult orthopaedics and fracture/trauma at the Queen’s Medical Center (ACS Level I Trauma Center). The resident has on-call duty approximately every fourth night. PGY-2 residents work closely with the Chief Residents and the attending physicians. Physician extenders (PAs) are available to assist – this ensures that the resident experience maintains a high education over service value. Six-weeks of the PGY-2 year is spent on a subspecialty hand rotation. The resident does not have on-call duties during this subspecialty rotation.

PGY-3

The resident’s third year of orthopaedic training includes a two-month rotation spent at Tripler Army Medical Center where the resident is exposed to extensive outpatient orthopaedics, including foot and ankle and orthopaedic oncology. Two months of pediatric orthopaedics training is also included in the third year at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. During the PGY-3 year, the resident has multiple six-week clinical specialty rotations including spine, foot and ankle, total joint and adult reconstruction, as well as a subspecialty elective of choice. Electives at host institutions outside of the University of Hawaii are allowed with Program Director and DIO approval. The resident also returns to the Trauma Service at Queen’s to allow the PGY-2’s to participate in the above-described subspecialty rotation. *Subject to change

PGY-4

The resident’s fourth year of orthopaedic training includes three months each of pediatric orthopaedics at Shriners Hospital for Children – Honolulu and at Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. The PGY-4 year also includes a six-month sports medicine rotation under the direction of subspecialty trained attending physicians at Queen’s Medical Center, Straub Medical Center, Tripler Army Medical Center, and Kaiser Foundation Hospital – Moanalua.

PGY-5

The resident’s final year of orthopaedic training, as Chief Resident, includes six months on the General Orthopaedic and Trauma Service at Queen’s Medical Center and three months each on both the Hand and Spine Services. A one-month elective rotation is permitted during the subspecialty rotation months upon Program Director approval. The Chief Residents assume administration of specific program functions and total patient care responsibility for clinic patients under the direction of the Program Director. Chief residents participate in institutional and medical center committees which address residency training, patient safety and quality improvement issues. Upon successful completion of the PGY-5 year, residents are considered safe and competent to perform orthopaedic surgery in an unsupervised setting. The great majority of program graduates go on to subspecialty fellowship training.