- Staff / Faculty / Chairman
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Dr. Theiss has done an excellent job as chairman of the division since he took over a couple of years ago. He was the program director prior, but Dr. Khoury has taken over that post. Both of these men have worked tirelessly to improve our residency program, and the effect is clear. Our program has at least two fellowship trained surgeons in every specialty, which is something that not every program has. Several faculty have recently returned for second look interviews so I only expect that our faculty will continue to improve overall. The vast majority of our staff are easily approachable.
- Didactics / Teaching
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Three hours from 2-5pm every Thursday afternoon are committed for didactics/taching. In the summer, we focus heavily on OITE review via high yield lectures and OITE question review. Throughout the academic year, we have a variety of lectures from our own faculty or visiting faculty and saw bones / cadaver labs. Also, our program purchases a 365 day Orthobullets study plan that provides daily topics to read as well as graded tests to use to monitor our progress.
- Operating Experience
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We have a graduated operative experience here that I think works extremely well. As an intern, you are introduced to the operating room on multiple services (ortho trauma, joints, peds, plastics). You are scrubbed in with multiple other folks (attendings, residents, etc) so it allows you to learn the flow of the OR, scrubbing/gowning/gloving, instruments, orthopaedic implants, and especially to practice your closure while supervised. As you progress through each year, your hands on experience increases appropriately IF you have prepared for the case by reading ahead of time.
- Clinic Experience
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Clinic is a pretty standard experience given that some are very busy while others are more low key. You can expect to be in clinic a couple of days per week; sometimes half days, sometimes all day. You get your share of injections to perform. Also it is a great time for education to review images with your attending and discuss natural history/treatment plan/etc. with the attending.
- Research Opportunities
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Research is certainly present for those who are interested. Everyone is required to do at least one project. However, we have several attendings who are very research intensive so the opportunities are there for the taking. One resident who desires to pursue an academic career has approximately 10 publications. During the PGY 4 year, we have a two month research block. The first month, you take call two nights a week. The second month has great potential if you have completed a research project. We have had residents go to France to do an observorship with Dr. Pascal Boileau. Some have gone to Kenya on medical missions trips to Tenwek hospital. Others use the time for U.S. based externships or to travel.
- Residents
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I firmly believe that the residents are the tipping point for this program. This is what sold me on coming to UAB. There is a strong family atmosphere throughout the program without any malignant hierarchical structure. Everyone gets along very well and many residents and their spouses/kids hang out outside of work. The interns can approach their chiefs and ask them questions. They may get picked on in a friendly manner, but everyone is always willing to help. We have chief residents that will carry the ED pager for the junior resident at times so that they can get in the OR. The senior residents do a lot of teaching to the junior level residents both in clinic and the OR.
- Lifestyle
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Our lifestyle is great for a surgical residency. We absolutely work very hard. Some rotations are certainly harder and demand more time than others, but there is time for other activities and interests. The vast majority of residents are married and many have kids (some multiple!). Residents are ready and willing to help each other cover call/clinical duties when "life" happens. It is a surgical residency, so expect to work hard, but to also have fun. There are many local opportunities for outdoors activities as well.
- Location / Housing
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Birmingham is a great city to live in. It is a vibrant city with a lot of history. Renovations are occurring throughout downtown to bring back the "magic city" feel. There are many nice suburbs to live in. The majority of residents buy a home when they come to town. Overall, buying and renting is very affordable. The number of top notch restaurants with nationally known chefs continues to grow. Also, Birmingham has the oldest (Rickwood Field) and newest (Regions Field) baseball parks in the country! You are also within a few hours drive to several other major cities... Atlanta, Nashville, New Orleans... and the beach.
- Limitations
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I have no regrets about coming to UAB. If you're interested in an academic career, you can certainly obtain that through this program, but you could find more research opportunities at more traditionally academic programs.
- Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
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Overall, this is an excellent program that continues to improve. The residents are wonderful people to spend 5 years of your life with. Birmingham as a city has a lot to offer from it's history to natural beauty. Our residents graduate and go on to their respective fellowship programs and are ahead of the vast majority of their co-fellows in terms of operative experience. That cannot be discounted. I would choose UAB again.
