Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
Great staff overall. Personally worked with Chair: Dr. Yoo (Spine), PD: Dr. Hart (Spine), Dr. Mararchi (Hand/UE), Dr. Orfaly (Hand/UE), and Dr. Crawford (Sports). Many new hires over the last year or two. A completely different department within the last 5 years. Dynamic and approachable, big on teaching. Representation: 3 spine, 2 tumor, 2 trauma, 2 hand/ue, 2 sports, 2 joints, 2 peds, 2 foot/ankle, 1 general/va, 2 pm&r. A great academic/clinical mix.
Didactics / Teaching
Could be better, but improving. Fracture/ER every AM. GR on Mondays. Weekly spine, bi-weekly sports, hand conferences. OITE review. Not bad, but I've certainly seen much better.
Operating Experience
Good experience beginning early on. R2s certainly get into OR. Never double scrubbed- frequently you and the attending. One fellow in spine, who does not compromise the spine experience.
Clinic Experience
Beautiful clinic down the hill in the new OHSU Center for Health and Healing (take the Portland Aerial tram to get there-- great view!). 1-2X per week on most rotations. Fair amount of independence. Decent patient mix with good variety of orthopedic problems.
Research Opportunities
Certainly a past weakness, improving. A commitment of the dept. to address. Available, not emphasized at this point.
Residents
A great group from top to bottom. Feels like a close knit team- certainly help each other. Very competent by chief year. All work hard and have great life outside as well.
Lifestyle
A true plus of the program. Night float in place. Life outside of program is important to everyone as well. They live in a great place; hard not to take advantage of that.
Location / Housing
Portland is a wonderful place. I had never been before my rotation, but found time to explore the city. Very green, efficient, and manageable. Skiing, coast, rivers, the gorge all close by. Housing seems reasonable for a city like Portland-- many residents own, some homes, some condos.
Limitations
Not quite there yet, but making huge strides. Didactics need work. Research is still getting going. Some growing pains as new staff get settled and department further defines identity.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
Rotation: 2 weeks on one service, 2 weeks on another (can submit preferences). Most students do spine (Chair, PD). Call is flexible and what you make of it...a great chance to get involved though. All students give 20-30 min presentation in front of entire dept. before GR and is a big part of the rotation.<br />
<br />
As a program, OHSU is great and getting better. With main hospital, ambulatory surg. center, Shriners, another children's hospital and a VA all part of the same complex, your education is very complete. Tight group. Great young attendings that are enthusiastic about OHSU, teaching, and what they do. A dynamic, present chairman with great vision. Plans to expand residency from 4-->6 residents/year if approved. A great program on the verge of prominence. Cannot beat the location and lifestyle, hands down.
