Orthopaedics offers a varied and rewarding career for physician assistants, and we are proud to offer a training program at Duke, the birthplace of the physician assistant profession.
As one of the nation’s leaders in the delivery of orthopaedic care and resident education, we offer a 12-month residency designed to help PAs develop the knowledge and skills to make an immediate impact on their postgraduate practice.
Our residency program will provide residents with both didactic and clinical education. Residents will have first assist OR training, first call responsibility, and extensive clinical training to provide sound skills to practice as a physician assistant in orthopaedics. Residents will be exposed to all aspects and subspecialties within orthopaedics.
Mission and goals
Our mission is to provide PA residents with the clinical and surgical skills necessary to ethically practice in either an academic or community setting at the highest possible level of competence.
The goals of the residency are for residents to master the fundamentals of clinical science as applied to orthopaedics, including but not limited to:
- Suturing
- Fracture reduction and stabilization
- First assisting in OR
- Evaluation of clinic patients and disease process
- Surgical anatomy
- Casting/splinting
- Metabolic process of bone healing
- Surgical pathology
- Wound healing and management
- Homeostasis
- Evaluation of the orthopaedic trauma patient
Credential awarded
Upon your successful completion of the residency program, you will be awarded a certificate from Duke University Medical Center and the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.
The Duke Orthopaedic PA Residency Program is committed to providing residents with an outstanding didactic and clinical experience, challenging each resident to grow as an individual and as a practitioner. Through this training, residents will be prepared to provide exceptional patient care during a career as an orthopaedic physician assistant.
Didactic curriculum
The didactic curriculum will be delivered on a continuous basis throughout the 12-month program. Each clinical rotation has a didactic phase. Additionally, residents will attend the basic science course along with orthopaedic residents.
Weekly conferences:
- Specialty lectures
- Journal clubs
- Seminars
- Grand rounds
- Radiology conference
Clinical curriculum
The clinical curriculum allows residents to function as first-year (PGY1) physician orthopaedic residents. Resident duties include:
- History and physical examinations
- Writing patient orders
- Making rounds and recording notes in the patient chart
- Examining patients in the ER
- Ordering diagnostic test
- Surgical first assisting
Residents will develop skills in fracture reduction, splinting and casting. Extensive exposure to the clinic will give residents the opportunity to develop physical exam skills and learn how to create treatment plans. Additionally, residents are assigned first-call responsibilities with appropriate supervision at all times. Night and weekend call will be assigned on a rotating basis.
Clinical rotations
- Foot and ankle
- General orthopaedics
- Hand and upper extremity
- Pediatrics
- Spine operative and nonoperative
- Sports medicine
- Total joint replacement
- Trauma
- Elective rotation
Compensation and benefits
- Stipend of $45,000
- Two weeks vacation
- Medical, dental, and basic life insurance
- Professional liability insurance
- Two lab coats
Resident handbook
Download our PA resident’s handbook (PDF) for additional details.
Contact us
If you have questions about the PA Orthopaedic Surgical Residency Program, please contact:
Ryan D. Clement, PA-C, Director
Phone: 919-470-7162
Email: ryan.d.clement@dm.duke.edu
Thank you for your interest in our Physician Assistant Orthopaedic Surgical Residency Program. We consider applicants who have:
- Graduated from an accredited master’s-level physician assistant program
- Passed or are eligible to take the NCCPA certification examination
- Earned BLS and ACLS certification
Class of 2022–2023 Application Timeline
January 1, 2021 – April 1, 2021: Applications accepted
April 1, 2021: Last day for applications to be accepted
April 20, 2021 – May 1, 2021: Candidate interviews
May 2021: Acceptance letters mailed
December 1, 2021: Program start date
What you’ll need
- Completed application form (PDF) and signed authorization release form (PDF)
- Sealed official transcripts from all college/universities attended
- Sealed official transcripts from your physician assistant program
- NCCPA exam scores
- Copy of NC Medical Board License
- Copies of current BLS and ACLS cards
- DEA certificate (if available)
- Two passport-sized photos
- A one-page personal narrative stating interest or experience in orthopaedics
- Three evaluation forms (Word doc): one peer recommendation, one from an orthopaedic surgeon/PA and one from a clinical preceptor or PA program professor
- $50 application fee, made payable to Duke University
Mail all application materials listed above in a sealed envelope without any staples to:
Duke Orthopaedic Physician Assistant Surgical Residency Program
4709 Creekstone Drive
Durham, NC 27703
Attention:
Ryan D. Clement, PA-C, Director PA Residency
Ray Malaguti, PA-C
Questions about applying?
Call us at 919-470-7093 or email Ryan D. Clement at ryan.d.clement@dm.duke.edu.
PA Residency Medical Director
James A. Nunley II, MD, MS
Chair Emeritus
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Duke University Medical Center
Foot and Ankle Surgery
PA Residency Program Director
Ryan D. Clement, PA-C
Senior Physician Assistant
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Duke University Medical Center
ryan.d.clement@dm.duke.edu
PA Resident Advisors
Beth Turner, PA-C
Senior Physician Assistant
Co-Team Lead Advance Practice Providers
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Duke University Medical Center
Elizabeth.j.turner@dm.duke.edu
Joe Shinnick, PA-C
Senior Physician Assistant
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Duke University Medical Center
joseph.shinnick@duke.edu
Contact
Ryan D. Clement, PA-C, Director
(919) 470-7093
ryan.d.clement@dm.duke.edu
Duke Orthopaedic Physician Assistant Residency Program
4709 Creekstone Drive
Durham, NC 27703
Contact us
If you have questions about the PA Orthopaedic Surgical Residency Program, please contact:
Ryan D. Clement, PA-C, Director
(919) 470-7093
ryan.d.clement@dm.duke.edu
Duke Orthopaedic Physician Assistant Residency Program
4709 Creekstone Drive
Durham, NC 27703
Attention: Ryan D. Clement PA-C, Director PA Residency
Ray Malaguti, PA-C