Heavy operating programs

U of Mississippi operates pretty early.

Kalamazoo
I graduated from there. Me and the other chief (they added a third res only a couple years ago) both had around 2300 cases, which is not unusual for our program

At Jefferson in Philly - REALLY HIGH volume for elective cases. As a pgy-3/4/5 they get probably get more operative experience in Spine, Joints, Sports, Shoulder than any major program in the country. As a pgy-2 it seems like they do have a lot of scut because of the volume of patients, but apparently even that has changed and they are getting into the operating room earlier. I've seen that as a 3/4/5 they are really getting to do the cases, with the attendings stepping back.

harbor-ucla.

Let's just change this to the "name your ortho program" thread, because we all know that no ortho program operates more than your own ortho program.

Last year a chief with 3900 cases. This year they have ~3600

LSU- New Orleans operates early as well. Even intern early. The 2's get priority but if you take care of floor work and get down to the OR the upper levels will often let you operate especially if it is toward the end of your intern year when many of the 2's are getting comfortable. On my trauma rotation the 2's do everything with the upper levels scrubbed and teaching and staff stepping back and observing.

A recent resident told me that he graduated with 2700+ cases, and he logged over 4100 CPT codes with the ACGME

No doubt the more cases you do the better you will become at operating. No doubt the heavier research places are known for more complex cases but definitely fewer cases altogether than the community programs known for more routine cases but more volume. I ask this, how prepared do surgeons who trained at academic places feel? Places like Penn, Special Surgery, Mass Gen, all known for academics. Do surgeons trained here feel prepared? Also, how much does fellowship affect your training? Can a fellowship compensate for a residency with less volume?

I think the answer to your question depends on what you mean by "prepared". I agree that the places you list are well known as academic programs, but you have to make the decision of whether you are interested in pursuing a career in academics or you want to go into private practice. If you want to do a fellowship, then going to these places will set you up well. If you want to go straight into practice, maybe consider other programs that are known for higher volume.

san francisco combined ortho program (st mary's). Far more OR's than residents, lots of bread and butter, plenty of complex stuff, no fellows (except spine), always 1 on 1 with attdg.