Mission

Graduates of the Tripler Orthopaedic Residency will be technically competent, compassionate surgeons, fully capable of independent practice whether deployed in austere environments or in the civilian sector.

Vision

Developing physician leaders in musculoskeletal medicine.

Aims

Graduates of this program must be competent and innovative orthopaedic surgeon- leaders.
Specifically, graduates of this program will be:

• Capable of independent general orthopaedic practice
• Able to practice orthopaedic surgery in a deployed/austere environment
• Competitive for subspecialty fellowships
• Fulfill key leadership roles within the profession
• Active in promoting orthopaedic advances
• Pioneers in improving orthopaedic education

Program academics occurs weekly on Thursday from 7 a.m. - 12 p.m. The curriculum is focused on fundamental orthopaedic knowledge but changes intermittently to reflect the current focus of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and Orthopaedic In-Training Examination/in-service examinations. Faculty surgeons provide specialty focused lectures, while residents largely perform case presentations. Residents also participate in the production and delivery of lectures. We believe that this is a foundational exercise to develop future leaders in academic medicine. Annually, all residents participate in the Hawaii Orthopaedic Association Research Symposium, University of Hawaii Orthopaedic Oncology Conference, and the Tripler Orthopaedics Alumni Foundation Resident Research Day. Renowned guest speakers are brought into each of these events to share their in-depth knowledge and experience. Monthly sawbones/skills labs are incorporated with the academic curriculum. On program is exceptional in that it provides the residents with weekly research time from 12 - 3:30 p.m. on the academic day in which they are protected from clinical duties. On Thursday at 3:30 p.m. each week, the residents participate in athletics to provide a mental break and build esprit de corps.

Additional components to our academic program include:

• Surgical Indication conference
• Morbidity and Mortality conference
• Research meeting
• Surgical simulation training
• Surgical cadaver sessions
• Team specific training curriculum

The academic year is divided into 13 four-week block rotations. Rotations at TAMC include sports, spine, hand, joints, musculoskeletal oncology, and foot and ankle. Away rotations take place during program years three, four and five, and include:

• Trauma at Queen's Medical Center-QMC (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Shock Trauma (Baltimore, Maryland).
• Pediatrics at Shriners Hospital for Children (Honolulu, Hawaii) and Texas Scottish Rite (Dallas, Texas).
• Total joints (Honolulu, Hawaii).

Elective rotations are available by request.

Primary call is taken as a PGY-2 and PGY-3 while on rotations at TAMC.

• Primary call is home call and generally averages every four days.
• On service interns are available to assist with primary call from 7 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (six days per week).

Chief call is taken as a PGY-4 and PGY-5 while on rotations at TAMC.

• Chief call is also home call and is generally every four days.

The primary role of a military orthopaedic surgeon is to preserve fighting force. Our residents prepare to fulfill this role by completing a rigorous training program with an educational emphasis on sports medicine and orthopaedic trauma. TAMC is the only military Level 2 trauma center in the Pacific and serves as the tertiary referral center for the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Area of Responsibility. Our residents spend an additional eight months of training at level one trauma centers honing their trauma skills.

Military specific graduation requirements include successful completion of the Combat Casualty Care Course and the Emergency War Surgery Course.

• Advanced Cardiac Life Support
• Advanced Trauma Life Support
• Combat Casualty Care Course
• Pediatric Advanced Life Support
• Association of Osteosynthesis Basic Course
• Association of Osteosynthesis Advanced Course
• Musculoskeletal Oncology Course
• Board Review Course

Our simulation curriculum is robust. All residents are required to complete the simulation curriculum before completion of their junior sports rotation.

PGY-4 selected for American Osteopathic Association C. McCollister Evarts Resident Leadership Forum.

Monthly department meetings and quarterly engagements with the Review Committee. Residents are required to complete one research/Quality Improvement project during their training. On average our residents graduate with 7-8 peer reviewed publications.

Includes:

• Monthly Morbidity and Mortality conference
• One research or QI project

The Tripler Ortho program has built-in professional development lectures.

• Tripler Army Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
• Queen's Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
• R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center, Baltimore, Maryland
• Texas Scottish Rite, Dallas, Texas
• Dallas Children's Hospital, Dallas, Texas
• Shriners Hospital for Children, Honolulu, Hawaii

All MS4 medical students can rotate for 4-weeks during the interview season. Shorter rotations during the interview season are possible but will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis. Students on non-Active Duty Training rotations must establish a training agreement with TAMC and their medical school if one does not already exist. Please contact the TAMC GME office for assistance.

Applicants completing an MS4 rotation will have the opportunity to interview in person during their rotation. Any applicants that are unable to rotate in person will have the opportunity for a virtual interview. Contact the TAMC Ortho Program to schedule an interview.

TAMC Orthopaedic Residents must take their United States Medical Licensing Examination Step 3 or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination Level 3 during the intern year. Residents will also complete the Orthopaedic in Training Examination annually in November.

Requirements for orthopaedic board certification can be found on the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery website.

Orthopaedic residents will have opportunities to teach medical students who are rotating at TAMC throughout the year.

The University of Hawaii's anatomy lab provides additional teaching opportunities.

TAMC faculty have fellowship training in sports medicine, shoulder and elbow, hand, spine, musculoskeletal oncology, adult reconstruction, and foot and ankle.

All residents are highly encouraged to seek out a faculty mentor.

Hawaii is a beautiful state with ample activities to participate in outside of the hospital. Residents are given one day every quarter for a team building activity and are free from clinical responsibility during the duty day. The residents also have an annual retreat during which all are free from clinical duty for a weekend.