Rush would have to be one of them. They have a very well-known joints staff.

This is a common topic and I think there is no easy answer; A program that is "good" or "well known" in an area may be a good place to train but not necessarily as a resident. A lot of the KNOWN departments are very fellow heavy which may make it hard to get cases as a resident. My program is fellow-free and we get a fantastic joint experience. We also rotate at a very well known Ivy League program that is fellow heavy and the residents are great at doing discharge summaries for joints (that they didn't even actually scrub on!) but are not as comfortable at doing the case. Not just my take.... they agree.

Short answer = well known divisions/departments may not lead to well trained residents.

This might just be my experience, but any place I've been with a VA has a strong joints service.

Mayo - chairman is Dan Berry, also have Arlen Hanssen, Robert Trousdale, Pagnano, and many other leaders on the field of joint replacement.

Tufts - New England Baptist (Bierbaum, McCarthy, Mattingly, Scott)

Rush - Rosenberg, Berger (2-incision THA), Paprosky, Jacobs, Della Valle

Stanford - Goodman, Maloney, et al

Utah - Aaron Hofmann, Peters, Dunn

Wash U - Barrack, Clohisy, et al

Iowa - Callaghan

HSS, HJD, Wichita, UCLA, and Harvard are strong joint programs as well.

These are some of the guys that are consistently at the important joint meetings and are at the top of their field.

There are many programs with strong joint replacement experience - chances are that you will get to do joint replacement surgery at any of these. Those that are fellow-heavy will result in less operating, but better connections for fellowship - if that is your goal.

Thanks. That was very helpful. There is a small article in US News Hospital Ranking on Knee and Hip replacement. HSS was mentioned.

don't forget about Jefferson...arguably the strongest joints experience in the country.