#'s over a big name! Any suggestions?

Take a look at Allegheny General in Pittsburgh. They are really underrated. Not a big name, not a huge emphasis on reseach though readily available, but an amazing operative experience. R2s operate a lot, as ancillary services are great and many services have PAs. And all rotations are at one hospital. I rotated as a student in my 3rd year and 4th year and had the best experience.

There are plenty of great programs in the midwest that will fit your criteria. I have listed programs at which I either rotated or interviewed. These programs are mostly considered community based programs, although many of these programs no longer consider themselves strictly community based due to university affiliations. I would give academic programs a look as well since they also have a lot to offer, but for me community based programs will top the list. I gave a short blurb for each program, but keep in mind that this is just one person's snapshot. A lot of these programs have been discussed before if you want to do a search. Most programs will favor rotators, but it is definitely not a requirement to match at community programs.

SIU: outstanding group of residents, blue collar program, one-one-one with faculty, outstanding jr operative experience, quality of life is great

Grand Rapids / MSU: outstanding trauma experience, residents seem to do a lot together outside of residency, four residents per year which makes it slightly larger than most community programs

Akron SUMMA / NEOUCOM: tight knit group of residents who often work out together after check-out, ortho hospital, very well balanced, great peds hospital

Akron General / NEOUCOM: laid back group of residents, extremely well rounded program, more opportunities for research than you will find at most "community programs", great peds hospital

Kalamazoo / MSU: smaller two person per year program although are looking to add a third, outstanding operative experience, great town for the size, residents seem to be treated very well

Allegheny General: seemed to have one of the heaviest case loads based on info at the interview, very well balanced program, in a larger city (Pittsburgh) compared to the majority of community programs

Other midwest programs that I did not interview at but heard good things from rotators or other interviewees on the trail include Beaumont, Wright State, Kansas-Wichita, Mt. Carmel, Fort Wayne, & Flint. If you are looking for a change of scenery, there are a number of programs outside the midwest which will meet your criteria as well.

Feel free to PM me with any questions.

i agree with what OrthoOverhaul said. I interviewed at most of these places and would have been happy at any of them. They all seemed pretty solid and the residents seemed happy.

I'd agree with all those from what I remember on the interview trail last year....
I would caution you not to assume that it's that cut and dry though. Just b/c a program is a smaller "community" type program doesn't mean you'll be doing skin to skin 2000 cases a year starting as an intern. On the flip side, just b/c a program is "big name" doesn't mean you'll be holding hook as a chief on a washout. Every program is unique, and while in general big academic centers will probably have a little less volume and a little later autonomy than the smaller community places, program to program there's a huge variation.
Also, beware of TOO MUCH autonomy. If you're doing cases on your own as a two, is that b/c you've been taught all you need to know already and are ready to be set free.......or are you just a two with no supervision, whackin' away with the scrub nurse holdin' Cambell's open for you ? Early and often is great, but if nobody's taught you anything you're not really better off just b/c you get the chance to screw up royally earlier and more often. Also, how variable is the case load. Sure, maybe you do really simple things early, but if you don't see enough variety you're doing the same simple cases over and over and over, and you may not be as well prepared when you get in the real world (again, program specific).
You're best resource is still talking to the residents about each particular place, as most of us have no reason to BS you one way or the other (I would hope). I certainly don't, and from what I've seen so far at a "big name" midwestern program I think our OR exposure is not a problem.
Just my thoughts on the matter, and I'm sure the applicant's wants and needs are just as variable as the OR exposure the programs have to offer, but something to think about.

University of South Carolina has what you're looking for.