Program Overview
Application Process
Application Requirements
Non-ACGME Additional Requirements
Foreign Medical Graduates
Interview Selection Criteria
Interview Dates
Contact us
Program Overview
Program Training Director: Rachel M. Reilly, MD
Associated faculty: Malcolm DeBaun, MD, Christian A. Pean, MD, Steven A. Olson, MD
Fellowship Dates: August 1 through July 31
Number of fellows: One (non-ACGME; OTA accredited)
The Duke Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery Fellowship experience includes an opportunity to participate in the acute evaluation and management of orthopaedic injuries and the evaluation and treatment of post-traumatic deformities and nonunions. Special emphasis will be placed on both acute and delayed reconstruction of pelvic and acetabular fractures and osteotomy in the adult hip for treatment of hip arthritis.
Duke University Medical Center offers exposure to acute orthopaedic injury and a referral practice for complex post-traumatic conditions. The fellow participates as part of the orthopaedic trauma team and is expected to participate in resident education.
An opportunity for basic science research is also available, emphasizing research in hip mechanics and post-traumatic arthritis.
Application Process
Accepting applications: 2025-2026 (Fall 2023)
Match participation: SF Match
Application deadline: November 1
We accept applications through the Central Application Service (CAS), a service provided through SF Match that distributes applications to training programs. Using CAS assures that applications are uniform, complete, and distributed orderly. You must register with the SF Match and pay an additional fee to access CAS. Please refer to SF Match for more information.
Application Requirements
Applicants must apply through the SF Match by completing an online fellowship application form, submitting the program application list, and providing the following documentation.
Submit the following documentation online through the Central Application Service (CAS); for details, refer to the CAS Applicant Instructions.
- Fellowship Application Form
- Personal Statement
- Curriculum vitae
- Letter of Good Standing
- Three letters of recommendation:
- Letters must be on official letterhead and may not be older than six months
- USMLE/COMLEX (or equivalent) transcript - all three steps; passed within three attempts – NCMB requirement
Non-ACGME Additional Requirements
To be eligible for non-ACGME fellowship training:
- You must prove that you have taken and passed all three steps (within three attempts) of appropriate medical licensure examinations (USMLE/COMLEX/FLEX/NBME or Canadian examinations), which the North Carolina Medical Board requires. (This requirement can be waived if you’ve been certified/recertified by an approved specialty board within the past ten years; see medical licensure requirements.).
- You must qualify for a full medical license in North Carolina.
- You must obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital.
Foreign Medical Graduates
Foreign medical graduates are eligible for this non-ACGME fellowship; however, in addition to meeting the above requirements:
- Applicant must be a permanent U.S. resident (hold a green card)
- Applicant must have completed three years of accredited training (see medical licensure requirements)
- Applicant does not require visa sponsorship
- Applicants applying for a non-accredited (i.e. ACGME or ACGME-I) fellowship position, who also require H-1B visa sponsorship, are not eligible for this position because the applicant will be employed as “faculty” requiring a prevailing wage for “surgeons” of six-figures; which is not comparable to the salary of a fellow trainee. Accredited fellowship training positions are most appropriate for applicants requiring visa sponsorship.
Foreign medical graduates must hold a valid and current ECFMG Certificate. For foreign nationals who are medical graduates of LCME-accredited schools in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, copies of the diploma will suffice instead of an ECFMG Certificate.
Interview Selection Criteria
Fellow applicants are selected for an interview based on preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity. In particular, we consider:
- Educational accomplishments
- Letters of Recommendation
- Experience
- Research
Important intangibles that are fundamental to the selection process include:
- Leadership
- Work ethic
- Communication skills
- Enthusiasm
Additional attributes that our committee considers:
- Determination
- Strength of character
- Overcoming obstacles
Fellow applicants are selected for appointment to our program based on their interview and review of the above-listed criteria.
Interview Dates
For interview date(s), please refer to "Fellowship Progams At-A-Glance" => Click Here.
Interviews are extended to applicants in late Fall or early Winter for interviews occurring in the preceding Winter months.
Contact us
Cheryl DePaolis, Fellowship Program Coordinator
Wendy Thompson, C-TAGME, Senior Program Coordinator, Medical Student Sub-Internship and Residency Training
Tyranicia Green, Program Coordinator, Residency Training and CME Associate for Orthopaedics