Program Review
Staff / Faculty / Chairman
Chairman: Walter Lowe-Sports<br />
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Program Director: William McGarvey-Foot and Ankle<br />
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Sports:<br />
1.Mark Adickes-Hip Scopes, Knee and Shoulder <br />
2.Steven Flores-Shoulder and upper extremity<br />
3.Gregory Harvey-Knee and Shoulder<br />
4.Walter Lowe-ACL reconstruction, Sports. Team physician for the Rockets, Texans, Univ of Houston<br />
5.Wade McAlister-Knee and Shoulder<br />
<br />
Trauma:<br />
1.Timothy Achor-Fellowship trained Trauma<br />
2.Andrew Burgess-New Vice Chairman, Pelvic Trauma<br />
3.Allen Criswell-Trauma/General Orthopedics<br />
4.Kyle Dickson-Pelvis and Acetabular revision, Trauma<br />
5.John Munz-Trauma, past Chief resident recently signed on as new faculty<br />
6.Milan Sen- Head of Trauma, fellowship trained in both trauma and hand/upper extremity<br />
7.Alan Rechter-Trauma/General Orthopedics<br />
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Joints:<br />
1.Terry Clyburn-Total Hips and Knees<br />
2.Michael Grecula-Head of LBJ Orthopedics Hips and Knees<br />
3.Frank "Marty" Ivey-Hips and Knees<br />
4.Kenneth Mathis-Head of Arthroplasty service at Methodist hospital, Hips and knees<br />
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Spine/Oncology:<br />
1.Vivek Kushwaha-Ortho Spine<br />
2.Rex Marco-Chief of Spine and MSK oncology, Dual Fellowship trained. <br />
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Hand:<br />
1.Jeffrey Budoff-Hand<br />
2.Joseph Kearney-Hand<br />
3.Fernando Levaro-Hand<br />
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Foot and Ankle:<br />
1.Sonya Ahmed Foot and Ankle, general ortho<br />
2.William McGarvey-Foot and Ankle<br />
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Peds:<br />
1.Douglas Barnes-Pedi Ortho Shiners Hospital<br />
2.Allison Scott-Pedi Ortho Shiners Hospital
Didactics / Teaching
Mon through Fri: 6-7am Daily AM fracture conference<br />
Mon: (1st and 3rd of month) Cadaver Dissection lab 6:45-7:45am<br />
Mon: 5pm Ortho trauma conference (trauma team only)<br />
Tues: 7-8am Didactic lecture<br />
Wed: 7-8am OITE review<br />
Thurs: 7-9am Didactic lectures, Guest Lectures, (Journal club monthly)<br />
Friday: 7am Grand rounds (twice per month to monthly)
Operating Experience
The Operative experience here is truly second to none. Memorial Hermann was recently named the busiest trauma hospital in the country. Ortho residents at this program operate early and very often. Residents here feel more than comfortable with all orthopedic procedures. I rotated at several programs out of state and have worked with visiting ortho residents from neighboring programs as well. I can say with full confidence that the residents here perform on a level at least 1-2 years above their peers at other programs.
Clinic Experience
Clinic experience is mostly gained from LBJ general orthopedic/trauma clinic and from the sub-specialty rotation clinics. Clinic at LBJ is Mondays and Thursdays with residents also doing cases in the O.R. as well. Sub Specialty Clinic schedules vary for each rotation.
Research Opportunities
Each resident is required to present 1 publishable journal quality research project by the time he/she graduates. Dr Catherine Ambrose heads up the orthopedic Research department and is very active in supporting resident research. Research funding and project ideas are readily available, and many residents choose to participate in multiple research projects.
Residents
The residents themselves are truly the strength of this program. With the department currently selecting 3 residents per year (15 total residents), each resident is an integral part of the program. Everyone here is extremely bright, personable, and someone you would want to hang out with outside of work. There is a sense of teamwork and family here that stems from this relatively small group of dedicated people working together to care for patients at this incredibly busy hospital.
Lifestyle
Make no doubt about it- The residents here work hard, but they also know how to have a good time. The residents and the department often organize social events for residents, faculty and family that almost everyone attends. The 80 hour work rule is enforced at this program, and with the night float system in place, it really is not an issue. The majority of residents at this program are married, but everyone likes to go out and have a good time on the weekends...and sometimes on the week days too.<br />
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The rotating medical students here have a unique experience in that they have the opportunity to rotate on multiple services and meet several faculty and residents. The away rotators usually spend 1-2 weeks on trauma, 1 week at LBJ, and 1-2 weeks on one of the specialty services including spine, sports, foot and ankle, peds, hand, joints. The rotators are invited to all didactic lectures and conferences and participate in all aspects of patient care. They do not do floor scut work and usually operate all day long. The med students create their own call schedule and they are actively involved in the ER and OR at night with the resident/faculty.
Location / Housing
Houston is the 4th largest city in the U.S. and has the largest medical center in the world. The med center is in a beautiful part of town right across the street from Rice University. Housing is abundant, and residents usually choose either to rent an apartment on home inside the 610 loop close to work, or to rent/buy a home outside of the 610 loop in Pearland or the neighboring areas. Traffic can be bad in houston during the business day, but it is usually never an issue when heading to and from work. Houston is known for its restaraunt scene, and there is plenty of night life here as well.
Limitations
Limitations of this program in the past have all been erased by the hard work of the new Chairman, Dr. Lowe, and the Program Director, Dr. McGarvey. The UT Houston Ortho program that was once on probation, is now an up and coming superstar program. It is fully accredited, with a massive influx of new faculty, new ideas, and more positive changes on the way.
Overall Rotation Experience / Conclusion
This is a very exciting time for UT Houston Orthopedics. As I stated earlier, this residency is an up and coming superstar program. The addition of so many new faculty members, combined with top quality residents and their unbelievable clinical/operative experience makes for a truly impressive and well rounded program. I would strongly recommend this program to any medical student applying for residency in Orthopedic Surgery.
