Brad M. Askam, MD

Welcome to the University of Arizona Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program. Our mission is straightforward: train exceptional orthopedic surgeons who will become leaders in patient care, surgical innovation, and medical education.

Since graduating our first resident in 1973, we have over 100 alumni providing outstanding care across the nation. Under the leadership of Dr. John Elfar, our Department Chair, we're expanding our faculty, integrating new fellowships, and building on our already strong foundation in surgical training and scholarly work.

As a Level 1 trauma center serving the Southwest, we see extraordinary case complexity and volume. Our residents don't just observe, they operate. From day one, you'll be immersed in patient care under the mentorship of surgeons committed to your development. We structure rotations for two to three months because we believe continuity matters. You'll follow your patients from the emergency department through surgery and into rehabilitation, learning technical skills alongside clinical judgment and the demands of real doctor-patient relationships.

Our educational approach is designed to build both competence and confidence. You'll rotate through each subspecialty as both a junior and senior resident, gaining early operative exposure while developing the complete skill set of an independent surgeon. We believe in graduated autonomy, rigorous assessment, and honest feedback. Our culture demands excellence but supports growth. We want you to know your strengths and your weaknesses, and to develop the self-awareness that separates good surgeons from great ones.

We expect our residents to engage in research, to question established practices, to teach, and to lead. The surgeons we train will shape orthopedics in their communities, with many moving into leadership positions in academics and healthcare.