The fellowship program is a joint effort between the Florida Orthopaedic Institute and the Foundation for Orthopaedic Research and Education. The integration of clinical practice and research was the vision of FOI founder Philip Spiegel. In honor of Dr. Spiegel’s vision, the Adult Reconstruction Fellowship at FOI is academically focused, and research driven.
This adult reconstruction fellowship training covers a wide spectrum of complex reconstructive problems and techniques that can only be experienced in a highly specialized, high volume referral center. Since its inception, the fellowship has graduated 81 fellows. Fellows work one-on-one with board certified, fellowship trained faculty with extensive knowledge and experience with adult reconstruction surgery. Fellows rotate every 6 weeks with one of the four senior attending physicians. Fellows participate in pre-operative planning, act as an assistant for surgical procedures, and evaluate and treat post-operative patients. This fellowship program has a high academic focus with the Foundation for Orthopaedic Research and Education (FORE) that provides complete support for clinical and biomechanical research. Together, the clinical and biomechanical research departments have produced nearly 165 manuscripts and presented research at national and international meetings. FORE’s ACCME accredited CME department provides single and multi-day courses and symposia, hands-on workshops, and e-learning activities for physicians, fellows, and other medical professionals. Additionally, FOI is affiliated with FIVE Labs which is a Surgical Training Center where fellows can improve their knowledge of anatomy and learn the latest surgical techniques to improve their surgical skills.
Fellows attend a weekly conference with the attending physicians, research staff, and physician assistants. After the hour-long didactic provided by one of the attending physicians, fellows participate in a case review. This gives the fellows the opportunity to demonstrate their clinical problem-solving skills and development of treatment plans to manage patients with a variety of lower extremity disorders. They are required to develop a differential diagnosis and subsequently define how they would manage and treat the patient based on the patient’s presentation to the clinic.
Fellows are required to complete at least one research project during their training as well as attend monthly journal club meetings to review current topics in adult reconstruction. These requirements provide a tremendous learning experience in terms of evaluating medical literature and research. Fellows design an experiment around a research question and hypothesis. They work with the attending physicians and FORE scientists to design the protocol for their research project. FORE provides the consultation, hardware, software, and facilities where the research is to take place. The fellows work closely with the research staff throughout the length of the project. The fellows are expected to produce a manuscript that is ready for submission to a peer-reviewed journal by the end of the fellowship year. Each fellow presents his project at the Orthopaedic Research Day conference, which is CME accredited by FORE. Each year a guest lecturer is asked to moderate the Fellow’s Day conference as well as provide feedback on each of the projects. Fellows also submit abstracts for their projects to the AAOS and AAHKS annual meetings. If their project is selected for either podium or poster presentation, they are encouraged to attend and present their research. Fellows are also asked to assist with Grand Rounds lectures for the residents at the University of South Florida with case presentations and lectures.
Academic program facilitators
Duration: 1 year (August 1 to July 31)
Number of fellows: 4 fellows per year
Requirements and expectations
Fellows are evaluated after each rotation based on the following criteria: patient care through direct observation, medical knowledge including biomedical and clinical knowledge, practice-based learning through an improvement in clinical care and surgical technique, communication skills through direct observation with staff and patients, professionalism through direct observation, and systems-based practice through direct observation.
Clinic objectives
- Learn to obtain an accurate history and perform a thorough physical examination with the formulation of a differential diagnosis and treatment plan for patients with hip and knee arthritis and failed joint replacements of the hips and knee
- Develop and execute patient management plans
- Demonstrate proficiency in performing office procedures such as intra-articular and bursal injection of the hip and knee
- Evaluate and treat post-operative orthopedic patients
- Develop proficiency in imaging interpretation (plain and fluoroscopically guided X-rays, nuclear medicine scans, MRI, CT scans) and laboratory analysis of patients with arthritis and failed total joint replacements
- Demonstrate competence in diagnosing common conditions in the arthritic and failed total joint patient and have a comprehensive differential diagnosis plan for investigation of less common conditions, including failed previous surgeries
- Become knowledgeable in the indications for surgical intervention
Surgery objectives
- Become knowledgeable in preparing patients for surgery
- Become familiar with the orthopedic operating room procedures
- Participate as an assistant in orthopedic procedures and perform certain aspects of procedures with the goal of proficiency performing simple and complex joint reconstruction procedures
- Demonstrate competence in open and arthroscopic surgery
- Develop skills in medical and surgical treatment of diseases and injuries including knowledge and proficiency (when appropriate) in contemporary concepts and technique including computer navigation, small incision and muscle-sparing joint replacement
Research objectives
- Choose an appropriate research topic
- Appropriate literature search
- Draft study protocol with specific aims
- Data collection and data analysis
- Draft manuscript for presentation at national meeting such as the AAOS annual meeting and for publication in a peer-reviewed journal
- Presentation of research project at the annual Fellow’s Day conference
Stipends, vacations, and benefits
- Each fellow is paid at the relevant PGY 6 level, which is approximately $70,000 for the 2022-23 academic year and thereafter. Additionally, health care coverage and malpractice insurance is included.
- Each fellow is awarded four weeks of vacation per year.
- Fellows are required to attend all Industry Certification Labs, Orthopaedic Research Day and CORIN Adult Reconstruction Fellowship Day.
- Fellows are able to attend the CCJR (Winter) Course, Mayo Revision Course, and any course where the fellow will be presenting.
Application requirements
All applicants must be board eligible and must have completed an accredited Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program in the United States.
The following application materials must be submitted:
- Adult Hip & Knee / Tumor Fellowship application found on the SF Match Website
- USMLE / COMLEX
- Curriculum Vitae
- 3 Letters of Recommendation
- Personal Statement
- Picture
All applications must be submitted through the SF Match website.
Any questions regarding your application may be addressed to Sherri Leverett at (813) 558-6834 or Sherri Leverett, email: sleverett@foreonline.org.
Deadline
Applications are accepted continuously, but it is recommended to have your application submitted by October 15th. Completed applications will be reviewed and applicants selected for an interview will be notified by email or phone.
We participate in the SF Match Program. Rank list submission deadline is the second week of April. To apply, visit the SF Match Website. Our Program ID is 3903.
Criteria for the selection of fellows
Fellows are selected for interview on the basis of preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, and performance during residency training, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity.
