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St Louis University School of Medicine
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St Louis University School of Medicine Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program
User reviews
4 reviews
Overall rating
7.0
Staff Surgeons
6.8(4)
Didactics/Teaching
6.3(4)
Operating Experience
6.8(4)
Clinical Experience
7.3(4)
Research
7.8(4)
Residents
7.8(4)
Lifestyle
7.0(4)
Location
7.0(4)
Overall Experience
6.8(4)
Not anyone's first choice
Overall rating
2.6
Staff Surgeons
3.0
Didactics/Teaching
2.0
Operating Experience
4.0
Clinical Experience
3.0
Research
2.0
Residents
2.0
Lifestyle
3.0
Location
2.0
Overall Experience
2.0
Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
Overall some of the weakest faculty around. Not only are they not very well known in their field, they are not tremendously great operators nor are they great people.
Didactics / Teaching
Minimal didactics. The teaching to service ratio is very low.
Operating Experience
The seniors get to operate. There's enough trauma with accompanying service requirements on the floor and ED, coupled with lack of support, that the junior residents spend most of their time applying splints and building traction beds.
Clinic Experience
Clinic is typical: usually one day a week, and moves quick. Not too much education to be gained during clinic.
Research Opportunities
A six year program with a "research" year that is really a non-dedicated year of extra service, rather than being given the opportunity to do any real research.
Residents
Not a happy bunch. It seems most do not want to be here.
Lifestyle
Long hours and little fun.
Location / Housing
Let's be real: Saint Louis is not the most exciting city in the nation.
Limitations
The extra year is very tough.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
A trauma hospital that is intended for people who like to grind, and don't mind where they train as long as it's Ortho.
Qualification
I am an alumnus of this program.
Date of Rotation
2017
GL
George Lopez
Top 50 Reviewer
SLUH
(Updated: January 01, 2012)
Overall rating
8.9
Staff Surgeons
8.0
Didactics/Teaching
9.0
Operating Experience
8.0
Clinical Experience
9.0
Research
9.0
Residents
10.0
Lifestyle
9.0
Location
9.0
Overall Experience
9.0
Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
Dr. Moed is a get-what-you-see kind of guy. He tells you what he thinks, whether it's nice or not. I appreciate that, but some find it intimidating. Picking the brains of the "trauma gods" at SLUH for even 10-20 minutes is invaluable, and they all have great contributions to the program (as well as their individual little quirks).
Didactics / Teaching
You get out what you put in. They will teach you, but not hold your hand and pull you through every detail. You are expected to be prepared. Seems reasonable, actually.
Operating Experience
Gets better and better as you advance through the program, but you get to close and do some nails/fixation even as an intern. And no one does procedure-based learning like SLUH trauma ortho - traction pins, joint challenges and aspirations - even if you're not in the OR, you are all ortho.
Clinic Experience
Fine. Busy, and it's an indigenous trauma population, so it can be frustrating. But it's clinic, and the attendings usually make it as painless as possible.
Research Opportunities
1 entire year, and some residents follow up with this throughout their training.
Residents
I love 'em all. Great group, true team, and - like Moed, they are upfront. They don't sugar coat mistakes, but they also really mean it when they compliment.
Lifestyle
Trauma service can be brutal, otherwise there is a lot of home call and what seems to be time for a life.
Location / Housing
Some great places in St. Louis. It's a big city, so of course there are areas to avoid. But I haven't met any residents who've been shot walking down the street.
Limitations
Sports, although they just hired a great sports guy whose wonderful with letting residents operate and teaches very well. Tumor - they have a tumor surgeon, but his practice is somewhat small, though steady. Non-trauma spine is a little tough to come by.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
I like SLUH. It's a program that requires hard work, but if you can take it, you'll be a great surgeon when you're done.
Qualification
I rotated as a medical student at this program
Date of Rotation
2008
CB
cody bellard
Top 500 Reviewer
SLU
(Updated: January 01, 2012)
Overall rating
8.5
Staff Surgeons
8.0
Didactics/Teaching
7.0
Operating Experience
8.0
Clinical Experience
9.0
Research
10.0
Residents
10.0
Lifestyle
8.0
Location
8.0
Overall Experience
8.0
Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
I think there are several staff at SLU that are truly exceptional (Puryear and Watson for example) and most of the others are at least above average. Like all programs, there are some staff that are more difficult to work with, but all in all I think they are a positive for the program. The are best known for their trauma staff (Moed, Watson, Karges, Boudreau) and several are considered top in their respective niches. I think Dr. Moed can be a little intimidating, but in the end he is nice and definitely pro-resident.
Didactics / Teaching
Contrary to the other review, I found their scheduled didactics at least solid. There were several that were resident delivered, but this is common at many programs. They are taught well while in the OR and clinic as well.
Operating Experience
SLU Hospital is definitely a county hospital in everything but name; this has its ups and downs. They get considerable autonomy and get their hands "wet" early. This also has the down side of slow OR turn over (not as bad as VA's, but getting there.)
Clinic Experience
The residents are given appropriate autonomy in patient managment and care. It is similiar to the other programs I have seen.
Research Opportunities
They have an additional year (between the R-1 and R-2 years.) They have many opportunities including a biomechanical lab.
Residents
I really like the residents at SLU. They were a great bunch that really looked out for each other and got along well.
Lifestyle
Trauma call can be crazy and with NSGY's lose of their spine guys, ortho now takes ALL spine call (great experience, lots of calls to ER!) While on other services it is not too bad, so you just have to put in the time while on trauma.
Location / Housing
The STL area is underrated and overexaggerated (when it comes to crime and ghettos.) I think the longer you spend time in St. Louis, the more it grows on you and as long as you don't run through East or North St. Louis, you shouldn't have any trouble with crime. The suburbs and, increasingly so, the downtown are great places. Has all the pluses of a big city as well, sports, art, music, clubs, etc...
Limitations
I don't feel like there are any major flaws at SLU, I do think they would be better served if they protect the research year, but this maybe already happening due to the increase of the program to 4 per year. I also think they could spend a couple fewer months on trauma and more on the other subspecialties.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
Solid program, I would recommend people take a look at it if they want a great trauma experience, good research and are not afraid to get their hands dirty.
Qualification
I am a medical student at this school.
Date of Rotation
Summer of 2007
AC
Austin Crow
Top 50 Reviewer
SLU
(Updated: October 23, 2007)
Overall rating
8.2
Staff Surgeons
8.0
Didactics/Teaching
7.0
Operating Experience
7.0
Clinical Experience
8.0
Research
10.0
Residents
9.0
Lifestyle
8.0
Location
9.0
Overall Experience
8.0
Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
Staff are variable. There were some that didn't let the seniors do anything. At least as a med student, I got to pull traction. Chairman is nice enough, but even after a few minutes of meeting him, you can imagine how he is when he's pissed off. Limited number of faculty in the different subspecialties.
Didactics / Teaching
When I was there it was ok. Not a lot of conference which some people like.
Operating Experience
Again, it seemed variable. The main hospital as a whole was kind of third world. Not sure what their numbers are, but turnover time on average was measured in hours. They have at least two other hospitals in the county where they rotate--its probably better there. The program also seems trauma heavy.
Clinic Experience
Only went once the month I was on. It wasn't connected to the rest of the hospital, but the facilities were nice.
Research Opportunities
The opportunities better be good. You get an entire extra year dedicated to it.
Residents
Very agreeable group.
Lifestyle
Busy, like most programs. But I was told they are fairly compliant with 80 hours.
Location / Housing
St. Louis is a patchy town. Lots of gun and knife club patients from the surrounding neighborhoods. There are other areas that are very nice and affordable.
Limitations
The program director has been very receptive to the needs of the program, as you can see above. In one year, we have addressed many of the shortcomings noted in the previous review. While this program, like all, has areas that can be improved, it is obvious that the administration behind the University of Florida program is committed to addressing those deficiencies quickly.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
Felt like the overall educational experience was adequate, but not great. The main hospital is definitely a drawback to the program. The new chairman is still planning on making the program bigger. Eventually, it may be a great program, but still one that will always live in the shadow of the institution down the street. Six years kind of sucks.
Qualification
I am a medical student at this school.
Date of Rotation
Fall 2007
JK
jay kay
Top 500 Reviewer
Contact Information
City
St Louis
State/Province
Missouri
Program Information
Residents per class
3
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