Program Overview

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Introduction to the Pediatric Orthopaedic Fellowship

The Johns Hopkins Pediatric Orthopaedic Fellowship provides comprehensive training for individuals who wish to practice pediatric orthopaedic surgery in a private practice or academic setting. The fellow will gain experience in both the clinic and operating room, with ample clinical and research opportunities.

Program at a Glance

• Positions: one clinical fellow
• Duration: 12 months (August 1 to July 31)
• Stipend: approximately $89,000 plus benefits
• Call: weekday and weekends, 1:6
• Location: The Johns Hopkins Hospital

About the Fellowship

Program History

The Johns Hopkins Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has a long tradition of strong academic medicine and innovation. The department's history in pediatric orthopaedics dates back to 1909 when a pediatric orthopaedic hospital was established in Baltimore. This legacy continues with the current pediatric orthopaedic service, which performs 1,300 surgical procedures and 10,000 clinical visits yearly.

Team and Subspecialties

The pediatric orthopaedics team consists of:

• Five attending physicians
• One pediatric orthopaedic fellow
• One chief resident
• Three junior residents
• Five mid-level practitioners (physician assistant
  urse practitioner) The program offers broad exposure to pediatric spine and pediatric orthopaedics, with additional experience in pediatric hand and pediatric oncology available within the orthopaedic department. Subspecialties include:
• Spinal instrumentation — anterior and posterior
• Sacral alar iliac (SAI) fixation of the pelvis
• Growing rods
• Percutaneous spondylolysis stabilization
• Periacetabular (Ganz/Bernese) osteotomies
• Surgical hip dislocation
• Physeal-sparing anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction
• Osteochondritis dissecans management
• Simultaneous multilevel surgery for cerebral palsy (CP)
• Crouch correction in CP
• Pediatric trauma management

Curriculum and Experience

Rotation Schedule

The single fellow position allows for flexibility in tailoring the fellowship experience to the individual's pediatric subspecialty interests. Traditionally, there is a weekly rotation with each of the attending physicians in the operating room and clinics.

Weekly Teaching Schedule

• Daily: Radiology board rounds
• Monday: Attending teaching conference
• Tuesday: Physical exam session
• Wednesday: Resident teaching conference
• Thursday: Grand Rounds
• Friday: Preoperative and Postoperative conference

Monthly Fellow Conference

A one-on-one session with an attending physician on a rotating schedule, typically covering key articles and cases in one pediatric subspecialty. Fellows also use this time to discuss in-depth patient cases they have managed and to obtain critique and feedback.

Additional Conferences

The program encourages fellows to further their education by attending recommended courses and symposia, such as the Baltimore Limb Deformity Course and the International Pediatric Orthopaedic Symposium (IPOS).

Fellowship Clinical Opportunities

Fellows have the opportunity to be involved in teaching and mentoring residents and medical students. They also have attending privileges, allowing them to manage their own clinic and operate on cases generated from that clinic, under the guidance of faculty.

Research Expectation and Opportunities

Each fellow is expected to carry out at least one clinical research project during the year. The department has a full-time pediatric orthopaedic research coordinator to assist with research projects and IRB management. Fellows are also encouraged to collaborate with full-time Poggi research fellows and to complete a course titled "Science of Clinical Investigation" at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Recent Fellow Research Projects

A list of recent research projects completed by fellows is available, showcasing the variety of topics and the academic productivity of the program.

Past Fellows and their Current Positions

A comprehensive list of past fellows and their current positions is provided, demonstrating the successful placement of graduates in both academic and private practice settings.

Living in Baltimore

Baltimore offers a rich cultural experience, with numerous museums, a vibrant arts scene, and a variety of restaurants. The city's location in the mid-Atlantic region provides easy access to other major cities, including New York, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C.

Fellowship Core Faculty

The core faculty includes:

• Erin Honcharuk, MD, Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
• R. Jay Lee, MD, Director, Pediatric Orthopaedic Fellowship, and Associate Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery
• Ranjit Varghese, MBBS, Medical Director, Arthrogryposis Clinic, and Assistant Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery