I am a fourth year resident at Kentucky, this is my take so far...
The faculty are young and energetic. There is definitely a big-brother - little-brother relationship. Most of the faculty are quite young and very amicable.
Trauma, trauma, trauma. We have two trauma attendings, I will most likely be returning after my trauma fellowship to be the third. None of us are going anywhere. We usually run two trauma rooms every day.. a great operative experience (if you're into that kind of thing). Lots of autonomy early.
Great sports experience. Dr. Mair does a ton of shoulder arthroscopy, Johnson tends to do more knees; however both attendings will do shoulder and knees. A heavy outpatient operative course.
The Shriner's hospital for children has a unit in Lexington. This is a GREAT educational experience with six months (three as a second and fourth year) entirely at the Shrine. We have five fellowship-trained pediatric orthopaedic attendings. This is a nice break from the university trauma call. Peds attendings also have clinic / OR at the university.
We have one spine surgeon and one spine fellow who will be staying on next year as a second attending. Dr. Shaffer is the attending and is quite possible the most talented surgeon/educator I know: he is an exceptional role model both personally and professionally. Dr. Cassidy (fellow) was a resident at this program and is a fantastic surgeon and will make a great addition to the faculty.
We have two hand surgeons - lots of elective hand coupled with upper extremity trauma.
The foot and ankle surgeon is great: likes to publish a lot. Lots of bread and butter bunions / ankle fractures etc...
We are currently interviewing three joint surgeons. Right now Dr. Selby (trauma) does about 8- 10 total joints per month with a considerable total joint experience at the VA (rotate as a 3 and 5).
The residents are the real outstanding attribute of the program. We are a very tight team. I consider each and every one a friend - not a coworker. When we are not working and our wives let us out for a while, we spend time at the gym, playing racquetball or just hanging out.
The resident complement has been increased from three to four this year and the division of orthopaedics has become the department of orthopaedics for what that's worth.
In short, this is a fantastic program that does not get a lot of pub. The department is growing rapidly with a new medical center scheduled to be completed in the near future. If any of you would like to discuss what I consider to be the best kept secret in orthopaedic education, please e-mail me at [url=mailto]
[email protected][/url]. Good luck on your interviews!
Stay hungry,
WC
