Program Overview
Application Process
Application Requirements
ACGME Additional Requirements
Non-ACGME Additional Requirements
Foreign Medical Graduates
Visa Sponsorship
Interview Selection Criteria
Interview Dates
Contact us
Program Overview
Program training director: Michael P. Bolognesi, MD
Associate program director: Thorsten M. Seyler, MD, PhD
Associated faculty: William Jiranek, MD, Samuel S. Wellman, MD, Sean P. Ryan, MD, Joseph T. Cline, MD
Fellowship Dates: August 1 through July 31
Number of fellows: Four (one ACGME, three non-ACGME)
The Duke Orthopaedic Adult Reconstruction Surgery Fellowship provides significant exposure to:
- Hip and knee arthroplasty
- Revision hip and knee arthroplasty
- Osteotomy of the hip and knee
- Arthroscopy of the hip and knee
- Variety of other adult reconstructive surgical procedures
Fellows will gain experience in the most up-to-date techniques in joint arthroplasty and revision of joint arthroplasty, as well as osteotomy, arthroscopy, and soft-tissue reconstruction. Fellows also participate in resident education and basic clinical research. We have an active orthopaedic research laboratory with various projects in lower extremity biomechanics.
We expect fellows to complete at least one clinical project, culminating in a manuscript for publication and presentation at a national meeting. They are also expected to attend weekly conferences.
Fellows must have completed an orthopaedic residency and must be board-eligible.
Application Process
Accepting applications: 2025-2026 (Fall 2023)
Match participation: SF Match (ACGME SF Match ID #3924, Non-ACGME SF Match ID #5009)
ACGME program number: 2613613031 (one position ACGME/ three positions non-ACGME)
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
- ECFMG Certificate (applicable to international graduates)
ACGME Additional Requirements
To be eligible for ACGME-accredited fellowship training, you must adhere to the following application requirements:
- You must have completed an ACGME-accredited, ACGME International-accredited, RCPSC-accredited, or CFPC-accredited residency program. Exceptions may apply for exceptionally qualified applicants (institutional GMEC approval is required). For details, refer to the “Fellowship Appointments – Eligibility Criteria” in the ACGME Common Program requirements.
- You must prove that you have taken and passed all three steps (within three attempts) of appropriate medical licensure examinations (USMLE/COMLEX). The North Carolina Medical Board requires this and is a Duke institutional policy for all graduate medical trainees—whether U.S. or international medical school graduates at the PGY-3 level or higher; as well as qualify for a resident training license in the state of North Carolina to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital.
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 the State of 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: additional requirements (for ACGME position)
Foreign medical graduates must hold a valid and current ECFMG certificate and meet the above requirements. Your ECFMG Certificate must be valid as of the program's start date. 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.
Foreign medical graduates: additional requirements (for Non-ACGME position)
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.
Visa Sponsorship
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery will provide visa sponsorship for a J-1 Clinical House Staff Visa (ECFMG sponsored); which is sufficient for clinical fellowship training for individuals participating in an ACGME accredited fellowship.
As standard practice, the department does not sponsor an H1-B visa for a couple of reasons: 1) the H1-B isn’t required for accredited fellowship training, and 2) the H1-B comes with fees of approximately $3000, where the division does not have the funding. For extenuating circumstances, applicants invited to interview may request an exception to this rule when accepting the offer to interview.
Non-ACGME positions are not eligible for visa sponsorship. For more visa information, please visit Duke Visa Services.
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 either late Fall or early Winter for interviews occuring 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
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
DUMC Box 104002 | IPE – 311 Trent Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27710