Resident comments on their experience at the University of Minnesota
“Quite a few residents elect to pursue fellowships after their orthopaedic training as they have specific areas in which they would like to specialize. They are always competitive in whatever fellowship they pursue including Spine, Adult Reconstruction, Foot and Ankle, and Hand Surgery. Residents who go directly into ‘private practice’ and general orthopaedics always come back saying they have been well-trained.”
— PGY 4 Resident
“As you might expect, residency training demands a large amount of your time and energy. That doesn’t mean there isn’t time for family and the other important things in your life. A number of residents in the program have children. There are definitely nights in which you’re unable to tuck them in, but overall it is easier than you might think to be available for your family.”
— PGY 4 Resident
“The relationship between residents and staff is generally good. There is definitely a strong commitment to your education and training in this program. There are scheduled lectures or journal clubs on a nearly daily basis regardless of what rotation you are on. Every Friday morning there are ‘Grand Rounds’ and ‘Core Curriculum’ lectures. These compliment and help direct your studies.”
— PGY 3 Resident
“Call isn’t too bad. It is definitely more tolerable than I had anticipated before starting the program. Call for the trauma rotations are the busiest and generally keeps you in the hospital every fourth night. Most of the rotations are ‘home call’ every fourth night and one full weekend a month. That leaves three weekends a month you have free for family and studying. I don’t know if you find that in other programs.”
— PGY 2 Resident
“I thought the intern year was the most difficult, but mainly because I was eager to start ‘studying orthopaedics.’ You find, however, that the year spent doing your surgical internship is valuable in teaching you how to manage patients and any general medical issues that might arise. The surgical intern year is a good experience and provides a strong foundation of knowledge for when you begin your orthopaedic studies. The required rotations are actually directed at making you a better orthopaedic doctor as opposed to simply ‘scutting’ you out with daily chores.”
— PGY 3 Resident
“When you start reading orthopaedic textbooks, you begin to realize that many of the chapters are actually written by our attendings. It’s pretty satisfying to know your training is associated with the likes of Moe and Winter, Lonstein, Denis, Gustilo, Kyle, and Swiontkowski.”
— PGY 4 Resident