Ortho, not being like family practice or int. med, does not have many true community programs. I think most of them are university-equivalent programs. I would also guess that if you do well at a place like Carolinas Medcal Center you could go anywhere for a fellowship. Just my opinion... :smokin:

Some of the better community programs that I have heard about are Carolinas, Akron (Summa), Algeheny, Greenville, William Beaumont, Grand Rapids, and Kalamazoo.

I don't know what their fellowship numbers are, but I have heard nothing but good things as far their as operative experience and there OITE exam scores. I think fellowship is a lot like getting into residency. If you nail you OITE and have some good research, you will get interviews regardless of where you train.

I have also heard that Fort Worth is a "program heading in the right direction" and the Wichita is pretty solid program if you don't mind living in Kansas.

When you interview at some of the community programs you'll also discover their history of sending residents on to fellowships vs. straight into practice. I was told that although the "Top" fellowships are difficult to obtain, if you want one, you can get one, just not necessarily with the person or in the place you most desire.
Some of the top community programs I've heard about: Carolinas (of course), Grand Rapids, K-Zoo, Beaumont, Henry Ford and I'm sure there are a few others.
:smokin:

I agree with Hulk. Fact of the matter is Fellowships are a dime per dozen. If you want to do a fellowship, you will do a fellowship. One of the spine fellows coming to the CWRU program this year is from Kalamazoo. This is one of the top spine fellowships in the country (the Bohlman fellowship). So coming from a community program didn't hinder him at all.

I agree with the above...don't sweat the fellowship thing; people who want them get them. The only thing I would add is that the ortho chair at my school suggested to me that residents from community based programs tend to have a tougher time passing there boards. Just some food for thought.