Here's one perspective from a current UAB student:
It is true that a few members of the ortho department have left within the past few years -- Alonzo, Stannard and Volgas. Why exactly I do not know. Volgas left most recently to join Stannard at Missouri-Columbia I think. The trauma department is now headed by Dr. Stewart who is a very good surgeon but considered by many to be rather abrasive. They've also hired 2 new trauma guys but their names escape me at the moment. I wouldn't say there have been major changes in the program given all of this though. The reputation of the program may have dropped a little because those guys left, but the training is still quite outstanding. The chair is a good guy who seems to be a decent resident advocate.
Interactions between faculty and residents are pretty good. There are a few attendings that go out and grab a beer with the residents. Its maybe not the closest faculty/resident relationship out there, but it's not uncomfortable either.
Operative experience is amazing. Chiefs, especially on the trauma service, basically run their own rooms with good operative opportunities as early as second year. Even interns are encouraged to get into the OR during their trauma months, especially those with 2 interns covering. UAB is a regional trauma center so yes, like any other you are going to see a LOT of trauma and rotate through it a pretty good portion of residency, but I wouldn't call it "too trauma heavy". They have EVERY branch of orthopedics very well covered, so if you have no idea what specifically you want to do you will get great exposure to everything. The weakest is probably tumor (which I gather is true of a lot of places). You get to rotate with the Andrews Group as a 4 or 5 ( I can't remember which) which from a resident standpoint I've heard isn't that great of a learning experience, but if you're a sports guy/gal is still pretty cool just because it's Andrews.
In general the program is quite good and you'll be a very solid surgeon coming out of there. The residents all seem like very cool people and most of them hang out together. Birmingham is actually a very underrated city to live in. It's a mid-sized city, good college sports, good cultural events, lots of great outdoor spaces and activities, and some really outstanding restaurants. The single scene isn't the best. There are a few good bars around but there isn't a huge night life or anything like that, although lets be honest, when are you going to have time to go out as a resident anyway.
