Program Overview

Introduction to the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program

The Joseph Barnhart Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine offers a comprehensive residency training program designed to educate residents in becoming highly skilled, compassionate, and ethically sound orthopedic surgeons. The program aims to develop leaders in the field who will contribute to the advancement of orthopedic surgery in academic and clinical positions.

Program Overview

The residency program is diverse and unique, located in the heart of Houston in the Texas Medical Center, the largest health science complex in the world. Baylor has affiliations with several highly respected hospitals and leading universities, providing unparalleled access to clinical, surgical, and research resources.

Clinical Settings

Residents work in a variety of clinical settings within the Texas Medical Center, including:

• Ben Taub Hospital, a county hospital and one of only two Level One trauma centers in Houston
• The VA Hospital, one of the largest and busiest in the country
• Texas Children's Hospital, one of the largest children's hospitals in the country
• MD Anderson Cancer Center, the largest cancer center in the country
• Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center, a large academically focused community hospital

Program Strengths

One of the strengths of the program is the balance of early clinical and surgical exposure, resident independence, and autonomy with appropriate faculty supervision. This balance allows residents to develop excellent clinical judgment and high-level decision-making skills, preparing them well for practice upon completion of their residency.

Academic Foundation

The program provides a strong academic foundation, including:

• A core lecture series each Wednesday morning
• Weekly conferences for each subspecialty service
• Orthopedic Surgery grand rounds and other conferences each Friday morning
• Access to the Baylor College of Medicine Surgical Skills Laboratory and Simulation Center for enhancing surgical skills

Research Opportunities

Residents are expected to complete at least one research project of publishable quality. The department has laboratories in biomechanics, tissue engineering, and cartilage research, and collaborates with the Rolanette and Berdon Lawrence Bone Disease Program of Texas. Residents have at least 60 days of protected time for research throughout their training.

Program Leadership

The program is led by Melvyn Harrington, M.D., FAOA, Professor and Residency Program Director, Vice-Chair for Diversity and Inclusion, Joseph Barnhart Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine.

Conclusion

The Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program at Baylor College of Medicine is a comprehensive and diverse program that provides residents with the skills, knowledge, and experience necessary to become highly skilled orthopedic surgeons and leaders in the field.