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The Orthopaedic Surgery Residency at the University of Arizona graduated our first resident in 1973 and today has 100+ alumni. With a culture focused on collaboration, growth and improvement to optimize patient care, we are constantly evolving to meet resident needs through regular and constructive feedback!

At a Glance
  • 5-year program
  • Admits 4 residents per year
  • Rotations of 2 - 3 months
Click the headers below for more information.

We are set up primarily as a team-based residency, with one-on-one learning with attending surgeons to allow for a great operative and clinical learning experience. 

Our fundamental educational rationale is that residents rotate on each specialty as both a junior and senior resident. 

For example, as PGY2, you rotate with a primary focus with one pair of hand specialists for 3 months, then do so again with another pair of hand specialists as a PGY4. 

In this way, not only do our residents get great early operative experience, they also develop the full skill set of medical decision-making.

Banner Health Care serves as the clinical partner for the orthopedic residency program and the University of Arizona overall:

For an opportunity to experience private practice, there are rotations throughout the residency with community partners in Tucson. 

There are also one out-of-town rotations:

Our five-year program features rotations of two to three months, which we believe allows residents to develop relationships of trust and apprenticeship with their mentors. 

PGY - I
  • 3 Months Orthopaedic Trauma
  • 3 Months at Veteran's Affairs Hospital
  • 1 Month Surgical Skills Training
  • 1 Month Emergency Medicine
  • 1 Month Acute Care General Surgery
  • 1 Month Musculoskeletal Radiology
  • 1 Month Plastic Surgery
  • 1 Month Vascular Surgery

PGY - II
PGY - III
  • Spine
  • Foot & Ankle
  • Trauma
  • Sports
PGY - IV
  • Adult Reconstruction
  • Shoulder/Community
  • Hand
  • Pediatrics 
PGY - V
  • Sports
  • Trauma
  • Tumor
  • Adult Reconstruction

Example of a typical weekly conference schedule.

Tuesday

6:30 a.m. - Clinical Specialties Conference
Various specialties, emphasizing indications and planning

Wednesday

7:00 a.m.Grand Rounds Conference Presentation (Faculty) 
8:00 a.m.   Resident Case Presentations

Thursday - Trauma Conference 

6:30 a.m. - Fracture Conference
Journal Club (3rd Thursdays monthly)