Fellowship Programs

Thank you for your interest in Duke Orthopaedics surgical fellowship training programs. For program information and for application directions, please visit the specific program’s webpage:

• Adult Reconstruction Surgery
• Adult Spinal Surgery
• Foot and Ankle Surgery
• Hand Surgery
• Hip Preservation Surgery
• Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery
• Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery
• Sports Medicine Surgery

Other fellowship opportunities:

• Primary Care Sports Medicine

Application criteria

Fellow applicants are selected for an interview on the basis of preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, performance during residency training, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity. In particular, we consider:

• Educational accomplishments
• Recommendations from residency training supervisors
• Board scores
• Medical school performance

Important intangibles that are fundamental to the selection process include:

• Leadership
• Work ethic
• Communication skills
• Enthusiasm

Applicants selected for an interview will be notified by email or phone approximately 30 days after the program’s application deadline.

Fellows are selected for appointment to our program on the basis of the personal interview and review of the above listed criteria.

Medical, Dental, & Vision

Duke employees, including trainees can choose from 4 different health plans, which are subsidized for residents and fellows.  Individuals may choose coverage for themselves or may also choose to cover children and/or a spouse or same-sex partner.  In addition, Duke Primary care offers a concierge scheduling line for GME residents and fellows, to facilitate their ability to establish care for themselves or immediate family members.  Review those options here, https://hr.duke.edu/benefits/medical/medical-insurance.

Disability & Life Insurance

Trainees are provided specific disability and life insurance policies, and have the option to purchase additional disability and life insurance coverage at attractive rates.

Stipend

The stipends for Duke trainees are based on post-graduate year (number of years of training). Stipends are anticipated to increase yearly and generally announced in the Spring. Current stipends can be viewed on the Duke Graduate Medical Education website.

Time-off (vacation/meeting)

• Fellows receive three weeks per year
• Fellows receive Christmas or New Year's holiday time-off

Fellow Education Fund

Fellows are generally provided an educational allotment for purchasing orthopaedic textbook(s) or attending a scientific meeting at the expense of his/her fellowship training program.

Additional Benefits

Duke has partnered with many businesses and other organizations to provide discounts to all Duke employees for a variety of products and services Learn more here, https://hr.duke.edu/discounts.

 

Dates: August 1 through July 31
Program training director: Michael P. Bolognesi, MD
Associated faculty: David E. Attarian, MD; Samuel S. Wellman, MD; Thorsten M. Seyler, MD, PhD; Scott S. Kelley, MD; Rhett K. Hallows, MD, Sean P. Ryan, MD

Number of fellows: Three (one ACGME, two 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 a variety of projects in the area of lower extremity biomechanics.

We expect fellows to complete at least one clinical project that culminates in a manuscript for publication and presentation at a national meeting. Weekly conference attendance is expected.

Fellows must have completed an orthopaedic residency and must be board-eligible.

Alumni society

Graduating fellows of the Duke Adult Reconstruction program will become part of the prestigious Piedmont Orthopedic Society. Induction into this group of life-long learners includes access to an annual meeting and alumni reunions at events such as the AAOS annual meeting and the annual meeting of the Piedmont Society.

How to apply

Accepting applications: 2023-2024 (Fall 2021)

Match participation: SF Match (ACGME SF Match ID #3924, Non-ACGME SF Match ID #5009)

ACGME program number: 2613613031 (one position ACGME/ two 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. The use of CAS assures that applications are uniform, complete and distributed in an orderly fashion. You must register with SF Match and pay an additional fee in order to access CAS. Please refer to SF Match for more information. 

What you’ll need

The following application materials are required and should be submitted through CAS:

• CAS distribution choices and payment (online submission)
• CAS application service (online submission)
• Curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation;
  • One from the chairman or program training director of your training program
  • Letters must be on official letterhead and may not be older than six months
• Copy of USMLE/COMLEX transcript (all three steps; passed within three attempts)
• ECFMG Certificate (applicable to international graduates)

ACGME application requirements

In order to be eligible for ACGME-accredited fellowship training, you must adhere to the following application requirements:

• You must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency program or RCPSC-accredited or CFPC-accredited residency program located in Canada. Exceptions may apply for exceptionally qualified applicants (and institutional GME approval is required).

• You must provide proof that you have taken and passed all three steps (within three attempts) of appropriate medical licensure examinations (USMLE/COMLEX). This is required by the North Carolina Medical Board 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 in order to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital.

Foreign medical graduates: additional requirements

Foreign medical graduates must hold a valid and current ECFMG certificate in addition to meeting the above requirements. Your ECFMG Certificate must be valid as of the start date of the program. 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 in lieu of an ECFMG certificate.

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery will provide visa sponsorship, J-1 Clinical House Staff Visa (ECFMG sponsored) sufficient for clinical fellowship training, for individuals participating in an ACGME accredited fellowship. Non-ACGME positions are not eligible for visa sponsorship. For more visa information, please visit the Duke Visa Services web at https://visaservices.duke.edu/. The department does not sponsor an H-1B visa nor has the appropriate funds to support associated fees (petition, fraud detection, premium processing).
 

Non-ACGME application requirements

In order to be eligible for non-ACGME fellowship training, you must:

• Provide proof 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 is required by the North Carolina Medical Board. (This requirement can be waived if you’ve been certified/recertified by an approved specialty board within the past 10 years; see medical licensure requirements.)
• Qualify for a full medical license in the state of North Carolina
• Obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number in order to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital

Foreign medical graduates: additional requirements

Foreign medical graduates are eligible for this non-ACGME fellowship; however, in addition to meeting the above requirements, you must:

• Be a permanent U.S. resident (hold a green card)
• Have completed three years of accredited training (see medical licensure requirements)
• Not require visa sponsorship
  • Applicants applying for a non-accredited (i.e. ACGME or ICGME) 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 in lieu of an ECFMG Certificate.

Dates: August 1 through July 31
Program training director: Melissa M. Erickson, MD
Associated faculty: William J. Richardson, MD; Christopher R. Brown, MD; Brett Rocos, MD; Gloria G. Liu, MD, MS
Number of fellows: Two (non-ACGME)

Program description

The goal of the Duke Orthopaedic Adult Spinal Surgery Fellowship is to provide training in the evaluation and treatment of the full spectrum of spinal disorders including:

• Trauma
• Degenerative
• Deformity
• Tumor
• Reconstructive

Fellows will gain experience in both non-operative and operative treatment of primarily adult spinal disorders. Exposure as an observer for surgical treatment of spine deformity in children and adolescents will also be available. Fellows will have a close working relationship with the Department of Neurosurgery, which will allow fellows to broaden their experience for the evaluation and treatment of spinal disorders.

Fellows are encouraged to complete a clinical research project while in training. Time will be allotted each week for basic science research in a fully tooled and manned biomechanics laboratory. There are ongoing weekly conferences related to spinal conditions and, additionally, Fellows are encouraged to participate in resident education.

Priority will be given to applicants who have a commitment to a career in academic orthopaedics.

Alumni society

Graduating fellows of the Duke Adult Spinal program will become part of the prestigious Piedmont Orthopedic Society. Induction into this group of life-long learners includes access to an annual meeting and alumni reunions at events such as the AAOS annual meeting, and the annual meeting of the Piedmont Society.

How to apply

Accepting applications: 2023-2024 (Fall 2021)

Match participation: SF Match (Program #4375)

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. The use of CAS assures that applications are uniform, complete and distributed in an orderly fashion. You must register with SF Match and pay an additional fee in order to access CAS. Please refer to SF Match for more information. 

What you’ll need

• CAS Distribution Choices and Payment (online submission)
• CAS Application Service (online submission)
• Curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation:
  • One of which should be from the chairman or program training director of your training program
  • Letters must be on official letterhead and may not be older than six months
• Medical School Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
  • International graduates applicants may submit a fourth letter of recommendation in lieu of an MSPE
• Copy of USMLE/COMLEX transcript (all three steps; passed within three attempts)
• ECFMG Certificate (applicable to international graduates)
• Copies of medical license(s)

Non-ACGME application requirements

In order to be eligible for non-ACGME fellowship training, you must:

• Provide proof 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 is required by the North Carolina Medical Board. (This requirement can be waived if you’ve been certified/recertified by an approved specialty board within the past 10 years; see medical licensure requirements.)
• Qualify for a full medical license in the state of North Carolina
• Obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number in order to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital

Foreign medical graduates: additional requirements

Foreign medical graduates are eligible for this ICGME (non-ACGME) fellowship; however, in addition to meeting the above requirements:

• Applicant must be a permanent U.S. resident (hold a green card).
• If applicant is not a permanent resident, applicant must be eligible for an H1-B visa.
  • The department will sponsor an H1-B visa only when there are extenuating circumstances and if there are division/section funds available to provide payment for fees associated with the H1-B visa (i.e. $460 petition fee, $500 fraud fee, and $2500 premium processing fee) totaling $3460.
  • Applicants who are currently in the U.S. on a J-1 clinical house staff visa are not eligible for an H1-B visa because a J-1 visa cannot be transferred to an H-1B visa due to the 2-year home requirement. However, J-1 research visa's are transferrable.
  • Effective 2021: The ECFMG will no longer sponsor J-1 clinical house staff visa's for "non-standard" (meaning ICGME-Institutional Council for Graduate Medical Education) programs.
• 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 in lieu of an ECFMG Certificate.
• For more information, please visit the Duke Visa Services web site at https://visaservices.duke.edu/.

Dates: August 1 through July 31
Program training director: James K. DeOrio, M.D.
Associated faculty: Mark E. Easley, M.D., James K. DeOrio, M.D., James A. Nunley, II, M.D., Samuel B. Adams, Jr., M.D., Karl M. Schweitzer, Jr., M.D., Andrew Hanselman, MD, Douglas W. Schreyack, DPM, JD

Number of fellows: Four (ACGME)

The purpose of the Duke Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgery Fellowship is to offer fellows special knowledge about:

• Diagnosis and treatment of hallux valgus, flat foot deformities, and all forms of ankle arthritis
• Rheumatoid arthritis and its involvement of the foot and ankle
• Trauma as it relates to ankle, talus, calcaneus, and midfoot fractures
• Sports medicine injuries of the ankle with ligamentous injury
• Role of arthroscopy

The role and treatment of diabetic foot conditions, Charcot disease, and insensitivity will also be explored.

Fellows gain advanced knowledge in each of these specific areas, not only the basic science of understanding the anatomy but the pathophysiology responsible for each of the conditions.

In addition, you’ll get extensive experience in:

• History-taking of patients with foot/ankle problems
• Physician examination techniques
• Radiographic techniques involving fluoroscopy and stress radiography, as well as advanced interpretation of CT scans and MRIs

Other skills that will be assessed are the understanding of gait mechanics and how to properly fit patients with orthotics and prosthetics.

Advanced surgical skills in the operating theater for repair of hallux valgus and bunion, rheumatoid foot deformities, ankle arthroscopy, trauma with fracture dislocations, and reconstructive efforts in the adult, particularly for posterior tibial tendon dysfunction and diabetic neuropathy, will also be addressed. Specialized interests in ankle joint replacement will be provided.

Research

The fellowship will include a basic research component, and Fellows will be expected to complete either a clinical or a basic science research project. The orthopaedic skills laboratory and the basic science laboratory will be available for these projects, and Fellows will be mentored during the laboratory experience.

Another important component of this fellowship is a critical analysis of the literature. This will be accomplished through the Journal Club, in which you will be given instructions on evidence-based medicine and will critically evaluate the current literature.

Teaching

Teaching skills will be promoted. Fellows will give lectures during the didactic foot and ankle conference and presentations in areas appropriate to the Departmental Grand Rounds Conference and the Orthopaedic Trauma Conference.

This is a one-year fellowship after completion of residency training. Your progress will be monitored by the attendings through the weekly conferences and day-to-day presentations of cases. Your surgical techniques will be monitored as well.

How to apply

Accepting applications: 2023-2024 (Fall 2021)
Match participation: SF Match (Program #3595)
ACGME program number: 2623613008
Application deadline: November 1

What you’ll need

Applicants must apply through the SF Match by completing an online fellowship application form, submitting the program application list and providing their personal statement, curriculum vitae, and all other required application materials.

• Submit the following to the SF Match:
  • Fellowship application form
  • Personal statement
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Three letters of recommendation:
    • Letters must be on official letterhead and may not be older than six months
  • Copy of USMLE/COMLEX transcript (all three steps; passed within three attempts) 
  • ECFMG Certificate (applicable to international graduates)

ACGME application requirements

In order to be eligible for ACGME accredited fellowship training, applicants must adhere to the following application requirements:

• You must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency program or RCPSC-accredited or CFPC-accredited residency program located in Canada. Exceptions may apply for exceptionally qualified applicants (institutional GME approval is required). For details, please refer to the ACGME Program Requirements for Foot and Ankle Orthopaedic Surgery (approved but not in effect until 2016).
• You must provide proof that you have taken and passed all three steps (within three attempts) of appropriate medical licensure examinations (USMLE/COMLEX). This is required by the North Carolina Medical Board 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 in order to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital.

Foreign medical graduates: additional requirements

Foreign medical graduates must hold a valid and current ECFMG certificate in addition to meeting the above requirements. Your ECFMG Certificate must be valid as of the start date of the program. 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 in lieu of an ECFMG certificate.

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery will provide visa sponsorship, J-1 Clinical House Staff Visa (ECFMG sponsored) sufficient for clinical fellowship training, for individuals participating in an ACGME accredited fellowship. Non-ACGME positions are not eligible for visa sponsorship. For more visa information, please visit the Duke Visa Services web at https://visaservices.duke.edu/. The department does not sponsor an H-1B visa nor has the appropriate funds to support associated fees (petition, fraud detection, premium processing).

Dates: August 1 through July 31
Program training director: Marc J. Richard, MD
Associated Faculty: David S. Ruch, MD; Suhail K. Mithani, MD; Tyler Pidgeon, MD; Christopher Klifto, MD
Number of fellows: Three (ACGME)

Program description

The purpose of the Duke Orthopaedic Hand, Upper Extremity, and Microvascular Surgery Fellowship is to offer fellows special knowledge and training in the management of:

• Acute hand and upper extremity trauma
• Hand and upper extremity microvascular emergencies
• Reconstructive hand and upper extremity conditions
• Congenital upper limb deformities
• Brachial plexus and peripheral nerve injuries

Two residents, three fellows, and one plastics resident are each assigned to one or more faculty member(s) who has some or all of their practice dedicated to hand and upper extremity surgery. The hand trauma call schedule includes a dedicated attending and hand fellow daily. Hand call includes replantation / microvascular emergency services, for which our institution is a major referral center for the entire southeast United States. Our faculty appreciates a mentorship-type relationship with the fellows who are expected to participate in teaching residents and students and to gradually assume greater responsibilities in patient care in clinic and in the operating room over the course of the fellowship year, under the direct supervision of the faculty. Highlights of clinical exposure include:

Adult reconstruction includes experience in the treatment of osteoarthritis (including post-traumatic) and rheumatoid arthritis for the upper extremity, Dupuytren’s contracture, nerve compression syndromes, scleroderma, and vascular insufficiency, and tendon reconstructions. In association with the orthopaedic oncology service, treatment of benign and malignant tumors of the upper extremity is included in the education of the residents and fellows.

Trauma includes treatment of fractures and dislocations of the upper extremity, flexor and extensor tendon injuries, nerve injuries, compartment syndromes, and replantation / microvascular emergency services. Experience is obtained for both acute, sub-acute and chronic injury presentation.

Brachial Plexus and Peripheral Nerve Injuries include the evaluation and management of both adult and pediatric patients with traumatic and birth-related brachial plexus injuries as well as the treatment of acute and chronic peripheral nerve injuries.

Congenital hand includes treatment of all birth-related injuries, such as congenital absence of the thumb, radial and ulnar club-hand, syndactyly, and cerebral palsy.

Free-tissue transfer includes our significant experience with free, vascularized fibular grafting, soft tissue reconstruction with local, regional, and distant tissue transfer.

Clinic and operating room experience

Fellows actively participate in both the clinic and the operative room. In the clinic and in the operating room, a structured mentorship education program encourages the development of examination skills, diagnostic test interpretation, treatment decision making, pre- and post-operative management of patients with upper extremity disorders, and surgical techniques and principles.

Education / conferences

The following conference schedule occurs on a weekly basis:

• Tuesday: Core Lecture
• Wednesday:  Core Anatomy / Surgical Skills Laboratory
• Thursday:  Hand – Radiology Conference (1x/month)
• Friday: Indications Conference

Also, there is a monthly Hand Journal Club.

Research

An extensive orthopaedic research laboratory, including a hand and microvascular lab, is available to residents and fellows. A modern fresh cadaver laboratory fully equipped with hand surgery instruments and a microscope is available for the practice of surgical procedures and anastomosis dissections of the upper extremity. It allows for extensive research opportunities as well as the development of microsurgical skills.

Each fellow is expected to design, to lead and to complete a research project during the fellowship year. Many opportunities exist throughout the year to participate in various research projects, book chapters, review articles, based on an individual fellow’s interest.

Rotations

Each rotation is two months in duration. Fellows rotate with the senior faculty twice during the year.

Rotation	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday
Ruch	Clinic	O.R.	Clinic	O.R.	O.R.
Richard	O.R.	O.R.	Clinic	O.R.	Clinic
Pidgeon; Mithani (plastics)	O.R.	Clinic	O.R.	Clinic	O.R./Clinic

Alumni society

Graduating fellows of the Duke Hand program will become part of the prestigious Piedmont Orthopedic Society. Induction into this group of life-long learners includes access to an annual meeting and alumni reunions at events such as the AAOS annual meeting, and the annual meeting of the Piedmont Society.

Also, the Duke Hand Society is an active society that meets each year at the ASSH Annual Meeting and holds a formal Duke Hand Club meeting every three years. The next meeting is in the fall of 2022 in Marbella, Spain.

How to apply

Accepting applications: 2023-2024 (Fall 2021)
Match participation: NRMP
ACGME program number: 2633621022
Application deadline: December 15

To be considered for this fellowship, you must have completed a general surgery, orthopaedic surgery or plastic surgery program accredited by one of the following:

• Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)
• American Osteopathic Association (AOA)
• Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)

What you’ll need

Applicants should apply through the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) by completing an online application and providing other requested documents. The online application is expected to be available on October 15, 2017.

• ASSH Universal Hand Application
• Brief personal statement
• Picture
• Curriculum vitae
• List of Publications and presentations
• List of hobbies
• Copy of USMLE/COMLEX transcript (all three steps; passed within three attempts)
• Three letters of recommendation:
  • One of which should be from the chairman or program training director of your training program
  • Letters must be on official letterhead and may not be older than six months
• Copy of medical school transcript
• ECFMG Certificate (applicable to international graduates)

ACGME application requirements

In order to be eligible for ACGME-accredited fellowship training, you must adhere to the following application requirements:

• You must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency program or RCPSC-accredited or CFPC-accredited residency program located in Canada. Exceptions may apply for exceptionally qualified applicants (and institutional GME approval is required). For details, please refer to the Fellowship Appointments section of the ACGME Program Requirements for Hand Orthopaedic Surgery (approved but not in effect until 2016).

• You must provide proof that you have taken and passed all three steps (within three attempts) of appropriate medical licensure examinations (USMLE/COMLEX). This is required by the North Carolina Medical Board 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 in order to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital.

Foreign medical graduates: additional requirements

Foreign medical graduates must hold a valid and current ECFMG certificate in addition to meeting the above requirements. Your ECFMG Certificate must be valid as of the start date of the program. 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 in lieu of an ECFMG certificate.

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery will provide visa sponsorship, J-1 Clinical House Staff Visa (ECFMG sponsored) sufficient for clinical fellowship training, for individuals participating in an ACGME accredited fellowship. Non-ACGME positions are not eligible for visa sponsorship. For more visa information, please visit the Duke Visa Services web at https://visaservices.duke.edu/. The department does not sponsor an H-1B visa nor has the appropriate funds to support associated fees (petition, fraud detection, premium processing).

Dates: August 1 through July 31
Program training director: Steven A. Olson, MD
Associated faculty: Richard C. Mather III, MD; Brian D. Lewis, MD; Marc J. Richard, MD; Robert K. Lark, MD
Number of fellows: One (non-ACGME)

Program description

The Duke Orthopaedic Hip Preservation Surgery fellow will gain experience in the most up-to-date techniques in hip preservation surgery, including:

• Hip arthroscopy
• Peri-acetabular osteotomy
• Surgical dislocation
• Acute management of slipped capital femoral epiphysis
• Management of avascular necrosis

The opportunity to participate in hip resurfacing is also part of our experience.

Currently, over 400 hip preservation procedures are performed at our center yearly. Included among these are several of these different aspects of hip preservation. Fellows will be exposed to regional and intraoperative anesthetic techniques and rapid recovery protocols following hip preservation surgery. Fellows will also participate in resident education in the clinic and the operating room. Weekly conference attendance is required. 

Fellows will coordinate and run a pre-operative planning conference as well as quarterly clinical case and research conferences. Clinical research opportunities are usually associated with ongoing prospective outcomes research in the area of hip preservation. Basic science research opportunities are wide-ranging and include a focus on cartilage injury and cartilage repair.

Alumni society

Graduating fellow of the Duke Hip Preservation program will become part of the prestigious Piedmont Orthopedic Society. Induction into this group of life-long learners includes access to an annual meeting and alumni reunions at events such as the AAOS annual meeting, and the annual meeting of the Piedmont Society.

How to apply

Accepting applications: 2023-2024 (Fall 2021)
Match participation: N/A
Application deadline: November 1

What you’ll need

The following application materials must be submitted to our office in one complete package (with letters of recommendation provided in individually sealed envelopes).  

• Hip Preservation Application Form (PDF) 
• Curriculum vitae
• Personal Statement
• Three letters of recommendation:
  • One of which should be from the chairman or program training director of your training program
  • Letters must be on official letterhead and may not be older than six months. 
• Copy of USMLE/COMLEX transcript (all three steps; passed within three attempts)
• ECFMG Certificate (applicable to international graduates)  

Non-ACGME application requirements

In order to be eligible for non-ACGME fellowship training, you must:

• Provide proof 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 is required by the North Carolina Medical Board. (This requirement can be waived if you’ve been certified/recertified by an approved specialty board within the past 10 years; see medical licensure requirements.)
• Qualify for a full medical license in the state of North Carolina
• Obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number in order to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital
• Must be board eligible or board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS)

Foreign medical graduates: additional requirements

Foreign medical graduates are eligible for this non-ACGME fellowship; however, in addition to meeting the above requirements, you must:

• Be a permanent U.S. resident (hold a green card)
• Have completed three years of accredited training (see medical licensure requirements)
• Not require visa sponsorship
  • Applicants applying for a non-accredited (i.e. ACGME or ICGME) 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 in lieu of an ECFMG Certificate.

 

Please submit application materials to:

Physical Address (for express mail):
Cheryl DePaolis
Duke Orthopaedic Surgery
Duke Health Interprofessional Education Building (IPE Bldg.)
311 Trent Drive, Suite 2214
Durham, NC  27710

Dates: August 1 through July 31

Program Training Director: Dean C. Taylor, MD
Associate Program Director, Brian Lau, MD
Associated faculty: Annunziato “Ned” Amendola, MD; Alison P. Toth, MD; Richard C. Mather III, MD; Oke A. Anakwenze, MD, MBA; Jocelyn R. Wittstein, MD; Tally E. Lassiter, MD, MHA, Brian Lau, MD, Jonathan Dickens, MD, Kendall E. Bradley, MD

Number of fellows: Four (ACGME accredited)

AOSSM Web Site

Current fellows

• Steven Bokshan, MD
• Samantha Tayne, MD
• Jeremiah Johnson, MD
• Nimit Lad, MD

Program description

The mission of the Duke Sports Medicine Surgery Fellowship is to prepare fellows to be outstanding clinicians and surgeons, dedicated researchers, skilled educators, and effective ethical leaders in the field of orthopaedic sports medicine.

Clinical experience

Emphasis will be placed on the development of diagnostic skills in treating knee, shoulder, ankle, and other sports injuries. These skills include:

• Arthroscopic and open intervention
• Knowledge of the principles and practice of the physiology of the human performance as it relates to training
• Prevention and rehabilitation
• Daily management of athletic injury
• Development of knowledge of the scientific basis of injury mechanisms, treatment, and prevention

Fellows will be exposed to complex knee reconstruction, including multi-ligament knee injuries and chondral surgery. The program also emphasizes the diagnosis and treatment of acute and degenerative conditions of the shoulder, including rotator cuff injury, instability, fractures, and arthrosis. Fellows will receive an excellent educational experience in hip preservation and arthroscopy as well as sports foot and ankle surgery.

The satisfactory completion of the clinical experience requires the following:

1. Outpatient office experience: Fellows will be expected to rotate with assigned attending at all outpatient office visits that the attending has scheduled, which average two to three times weekly. Fellows will be responsible for evaluating both new and returning patients, performing comprehensive physical examinations, ordering and interpreting appropriate radiographic tests, and providing a well-organized and thorough patient assessment and plan. The assessment and plan, in addition to the history and physical examination fellows, will gather, will be discussed with the attending contemporaneously with the patient’s visit. The examination with the fellow, by the attending, will further facilitate the fellow’s education.
2. Surgical experience: Fellows will rotate with their assigned attending approximately two times weekly for surgical cases. Fellows will receive increasing responsibility under direct supervision in the operating room with fellowship faculty. The comprehensive experience will be gained at the conclusion of rotating with each of the attendings.
3. Training room and event coverage: Fellows will be required to attend training room clinic approximately two to three times weekly. The training rooms are held at Duke University and North Carolina Central University. The evaluation of injured athletes will occur under direct supervision and independently over the course of the fellowship year. Fellows will care for athletes of all levels—high school through professional teams—in various training rooms throughout the year. Essential skills will be emphasized, including the team approach to athletic care, which involves good communication between physicians, trainers, parents, family, and coaches. Team coverage includes opportunities from high school to Division 1 college teams at Duke and NC Central University. Coverage sports include football and basketball during the year; however, each fellow will also be assigned an Olympic-style sport based on their particular interest. These include baseball, soccer, lacrosse, field hockey, etc. Home and away game coverage will vary depending on the school and sport. Fellows will work closely with the athletic training staff to triage orthopaedic injuries and provide medical coverage for the athletes at the various levels of competition. Injury clinics will be held on Sundays during the football season in the Fall.
4. The 80-hour work week limit will be enforced throughout the year. This usually limits your ability to moonlight. The program director will oversee the hours you work per week.

Research experience

The research experience is divided into both a clinical and basic science component. Fellows will be provided on average one day per week or two half-days for research. Opportunities exist for clinical, basic science, and translational research. Fellows are expected to complete five manuscripts during the year, with an opportunity for additional research work as desired. There is protected time for research, available funding, and support through research coordinators, medical editors, medical librarians, and statisticians. Fellows can also make use of world-class facilities such as the Coach K Human Performance Lab.

Fellow research participation will be monitored through monthly research meetings with the entire sports medicine faculty and the other fellows. At that point, the progress of each clinical and basic science project will be ascertained, criticisms and advice given, and aid in completion of all projects with the appropriate faculty member facilitated. These meetings occur monthly. In addition, fellows will participate in a weekly Sports Medicine Conference and Human Fresh Tissue Skills Lab. Fellows will have the opportunity to customize their cadaveric skills lab experience and utilize this time to help build their teaching and mentoring skills with the residents.

Leadership experience

Fellows will be given the unique opportunity of applying to the annual John A. Feagin Jr., MD Leadership Program. This year-long curriculum brings together selected members of the medical profession with leadership development opportunities based on core ethical leadership principles. The program culminates in a capstone Feagin Leadership Forum where the Feagin Scholars present their team projects and interact with key leaders from all professions (for example, past speakers have included Coach Mike Krzyzewski, Johnson and Johnson CEO Alex Gorsky, and former Army Surgeon General Eric Schoomaker). Learn more about this program.

With this exceptional leadership experience, you will accumulate a network of mentors and role models to help guide your medical career.

Alumni society

Graduating fellows of the Duke Sports Medicine program will become part of the prestigious Piedmont Orthopedic Society. Induction into this group of life-long learners includes access to an annual meeting and alumni reunions at events such as the AAOS annual meeting and the annual meeting of the Piedmont Society.

Sports medicine goals and objectives

There are several key educational goals of the Duke Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellowship:

1. Obtain a broad knowledge base of medical issues surrounding exercise and athletic competition.
2. Develop skills in evaluating and treating common orthopedic injuries.
3. Experience team physician duties at many levels, from high school to Division 1 College.  Experience will often include caring for professional athletes who seek out Duke Sports for their care.
4. Become proficient in common orthopedic office procedures.
5. Examine and critically evaluate current orthopedic and sports medicine literature.
6. Gain experience in performing, writing and publishing research.
7. Prepare and participate in weekly sports medicine conferences and attend one to two national orthopaedic conferences.
8. Cultivate leadership skills necessary for future success in medicine.

How to apply

Accepting applications: 2023-2024 (Fall 2021)
Match participation: SF Match (Program #4430)
ACGME program number: 2683631091
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. The use of CAS assures that applications are uniform, complete, and distributed in an orderly fashion. You must register with the SF Match and pay an additional fee in order to access CAS. Please refer to SF Match for more information.

What you’ll need

The following application materials are required and should be submitted through CAS:

• CAS Distribution Choices and Payment (online submission)
• CAS Application Service (online submission)
• Curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation:
  • Letters must be on official letterhead and may not be older than six months
• Copy of USMLE/COMLEX transcript (all three steps; passed within three attempts)
• ECFMG Certificate (applicable to international graduates)

ACGME application requirements

In order to be eligible for ACGME-accredited fellowship training, you must adhere to the following application requirements:

• You must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency program or RCPSC-accredited or CFPC-accredited residency program located in Canada. Exceptions may apply for exceptionally qualified applicants (and institutional GME approval is required). For details, please refer to the Fellowship Appointments section of the ACGME Program Requirements for Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Surgery (approved but not in effect until 2016).

• You must provide proof that you have taken and passed all three steps (within three attempts) of appropriate medical licensure examinations (USMLE/COMLEX). This is required by the North Carolina Medical Board 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 in order to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital.

Foreign medical graduates: additional requirements

Foreign medical graduates must hold a valid and current ECFMG certificate in addition to meeting the above requirements. Your ECFMG Certificate must be valid as of the start date of the program. 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 in lieu of an ECFMG certificate.

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery will provide visa sponsorship, J-1 Clinical House Staff Visa (ECFMG sponsored) sufficient for clinical fellowship training, for individuals participating in an ACGME accredited fellowship. Non-ACGME positions are not eligible for visa sponsorship. For more visa information, please visit the Duke Visa Services web at https://visaservices.duke.edu/. The department does not sponsor an H-1B visa nor has the appropriate funds to support associated fees (petition, fraud detection, premium processing).

Dates: August 1 through July 31
Program training director: Rachel M. Reilly, MD
Associated faculty: Malcolm DeBaun, MD, Steven A. Olson, MD
Number of fellows: One (non-ACGME; OTA accredited)

Program description

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 as well as osteotomy in the adult hip for treatment of hip arthritis.

Duke University Medical Center offers exposure to both acute orthopaedic injury and a referral practice of complex post-traumatic conditions. The fellow participates as part of the orthopaedic trauma team and will be expected to participate in resident education.

An opportunity for basic science research is also available, with an emphasis in research in hip mechanics and post-traumatic arthritis.

Alumni society

Graduating fellows of the Duke Orthopaedic Trauma program will become part of the prestigious Piedmont Orthopedic Society. Induction into this group of life-long learners includes access to an annual meeting and alumni reunions at events such as the AAOS annual meeting, and the annual meeting of the Piedmont Society.

How to apply

Accepting applications: 2023-2024 (Fall 2021)

Match participation: SF Match

Application deadline: November 1

We accept applications through the Central Application Service (CAS), which is a service provided through SF Match that distributes applications to training programs. The use of CAS assures that applications are uniform, complete, and distributed in an orderly fashion. Applicants must register with the SF Match and pay an additional fee in order to access CAS. Please refer to SF Match for more information.   

What you’ll need

The following application materials are required and should be submitted through the CAS: 

• CAS Distribution Choices and Payment (online submission)
• CAS Application Form (online submission)
• Curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation:
  • One of which should be from the chairman or program training director of your training program
  • Letters must be on official letterhead and may not be older than six months
• Copy of USMLE/COMLEX transcript (all three steps; passed within three attempts)

Non-ACGME application requirements

In order to be eligible for non-ACGME fellowship training, you must:

• Provide proof 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 is required by the North Carolina Medical Board. (This requirement can be waived if you’ve been certified/recertified by an approved specialty board within the past 10 years; see medical licensure requirements.)
• Qualify for a full medical license in the state of North Carolina
• Obtain a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) number in order to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital

Foreign medical graduates: additional requirements

Foreign medical graduates are eligible for this non-ACGME fellowship; however, in addition to meeting the above requirements, you must:

• Be a permanent U.S. resident (hold a green card)
• Have completed three years of accredited training (see medical licensure requirements)
• Not require visa sponsorship
  • Applicants applying for a non-accredited (i.e. ACGME or ICGME) 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 in lieu of an ECFMG Certificate.

Dates: August 1 through July 31
Program training director: Robert K. Lark, MD
Associated Duke faculty:  Benjamin A. Alman, MD;  Robert D. Fitch, MD; Elizabeth Hubbard, MD, Anthony Catanzano, Jr., MD
Associated UNC Faculty: James Sanders, MD; Craig Louer, MD; Joseph Stone, MD; Anna D. Vergun, MD
Number of fellows:  Two (Duke Institutional Committee for Graduate Medical Education accredited)

Program details

This fellowship is in cooperation with UNC Hospital in Chapel Hill. Fellows will complete a six-month rotation at each hospital, providing them an experience of a broader range of clinical experience and hospital practices. The goal of the Duke/UNC Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery Fellowship is to provide the fellows with special training and knowledge in pediatric musculoskeletal disorders, including:

• Congenital and developmental limb disorders
• Scoliosis
• Hip dysplasia
• Neuromuscular disorders
• Trauma

Multidisciplinary specialty clinics include scoliosis, myelodysplasia, and cerebral palsy.

The fellows will gain extensive experience in the Ilizarov method for both upper and lower extremity, Spatial Frame and spinal deformity correction. Experience in pediatric trauma emphasizes both recent trends in operative management and non-operative care.

The fellows will work closely with current residents and eight pediatric orthopaedic surgeons as they participate daily in clinics and the operating suite, inpatient rounds, and pediatric consults. In the clinic setting, the fellows will experience a mentored program designed to develop interviewing skills, expert physical examination, and judgment. In the operating room, the fellows will learn the technical aspects of surgery of the immature spine and extremities.  Fellows will receive graded independent experience, including the ability to supervise resident trainees. 

Each month the fellows will participate in two joint conferences - one for complex cases and one for Pediatric Journal Club.  In addition, there are monthly faculty lectures.

An extensive orthopaedic research laboratory is available to both residents and fellows. A modern fresh cadaver laboratory fully equipped with surgical instruments is available for the practice of surgical procedures and anatomic dissection. There is 24-hour access to a well-stocked orthopaedic library.

Faculty

Benjamin (Ben) Alman went to medical school at Jefferson Medical College before completing his residency in orthopaedics at Tufts University School of Medicine, and a pediatric orthopaedic fellowship at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. Prior to his arrival at Duke, Ben was the head of Orthopaedics at the Hospital for Sick Children. He now serves as the Urbaniak Professor and Chair of Orthopaedic Surgery at Duke. Ben has a general pediatric orthopaedic practice, but with a focus on children with orthopaedic syndromes, tumors and tumor-like conditions, and neuromuscular problems. He received the Tator Mentoring Award from the University of Toronto, the Association for Surgical Education Excellence in Innovation Award, the Huene award for outstanding contributions to pediatric orthopedics, and the outstanding clinical paper awarded at a recent POSNA meeting. While training with Ben you will learn a practical approach to syndromes we see in orthopaedics, how to treat patients with deformity due to tumors or tumor-like conditions, an efficient approach to common pediatric orthopaedic conditions, and to question dogma.

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Robert Fitch completed medical school and residency training at Duke University. Following a fellowship at the Texas Scottish Rite Hospital, he joined the Orthopaedic faculty at Duke in 1983. In addition to his broad experience in general orthopaedics and trauma, he attends a multidisciplinary cerebral palsy clinic and is the medical director of the myelodysplasia clinic. He has specific expertise and interest in limb deformity management and has a busy spinal deformity practice. While working with Dr. Fitch, the clinical exposure will be broad and deep; there will be an emphasis on honing surgical skills and refining physical diagnosis capabilities.

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Elizabeth Hubbard attended medical school at Albany Medical Center in Albany, New York, prior to completing her orthopaedic residency at Duke University. After residency, she completed a pediatric orthopaedic fellowship at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital in Dallas, TX.  Prior to joining the pediatric orthopaedic faculty at Duke, she worked at the University of Kentucky and Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Lexington, Kentucky.  She has a general pediatric orthopaedic practice with a special interest in limb deformity and is an active member of both POSNA and LLRS.  While working with Dr. Hubbard, you will be exposed to all aspects of pediatric orthopaedics.

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Robert (Rob) Lark attended medical school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill prior to completing his orthopaedic residency at Duke University. He then went on to complete his pediatric orthopaedic fellowship at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California before returning to Duke to join the faculty in 2010. Dr. Lark has clinical and research interests in early-onset spine deformity, pediatric trauma, and growth. Rob is an active member of POSNA and the SRS, serving on committees for both organizations. Working with Dr. Lark you will be exposed to virtually all aspects of pediatric orthopaedics including trauma, growing spine techniques, and advanced hip reconstruction.

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Anthony A. Catanzano, Jr. attended medical school at the New York University School of Medicine prior to completing his orthopaedic residency at Duke University. He completed fellowship training at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego, California before returning to Duke to join the faculty in 2021. Dr. Catanzano's passion for pediatric orthopaedics developed from a desire to help children overcome difficulties and limitations as they grow whether it is scoliosis, hip dysplasia, limb deformity and fractures, or neuromuscular coniditions. My goal is to support and guide patients and families through decision-making approach.

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Anna D. Vergun’s clinical focus is on hip dysplasia, clubfoot, limb deficiency, and lower limb deformity. She completed her orthopaedic residency at the University of California Los Angeles and her fellowship in Pediatric Orthopaedics at Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She also has an interest in international issues regarding pediatric orthopaedics and access to care and serves on the medical advisory board for MiracleFeet and The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. She is an active member of the Association of Children’s Prosthetics and Orthotics Clinics, the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America, and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. In her spare time, she enjoys her three children and the great outdoors.

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Craig Louer attended medical school at Duke University, followed by orthopedic surgery residency at Washington University in St. Louis. He completed the Pediatric Orthopaedics and Scoliosis Fellowship at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. He has published and presented research on pediatric hip conditions, scoliosis, sports medicine, as well as trauma. His clinical interests include spinal deformity, limb deformity, hip conditions, neuromuscular and general pediatrics. 

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Joseph Stone’s clinical focus includes spinal deformity including early-onset scoliosis with special interest in nonfusion procedures in addition to advanced hip preservation techniques for select hip pathology. He joined UNC Faculty after practicing at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for the nearly 5 years. He attended medical school at the Medical College of Georgia followed by his orthopedic residency at the University of Kentucky. He then went on to complete his pediatric orthopaedic fellowship at Children’s Colorado. He’s a member of Children’s Spine Study Group, POSNA, and AAOS; and currently serves as UNC Site Fellowship Director. 

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James Sanders graduated with his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and went on complete a residency program in Orthopaedic Surgery at University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio and fellowship in pediatric orthopaedics and scoliosis at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children in Dallas, TX.   Prior to his arrival at UNC, Dr. Sanders was Director of Pediatric Surgical Services and Division Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics at the University of Rochester and Golisano Children’s Hospital in Rochester, NY and before that, Chief of Staff at Shriners Hospital for Children in Erie, PA.   He is currently the Chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of North Carolina.  Dr. Sanders has a general pediatric orthopaedic practice with a focus on scoliosis.  For his work on predicting human spine growth to maturity, he recently won the Behrooz Akbarnia MD Award for Best Paper at the International Congress on Early Onset Scoliosis, as well as the Hibbs Award for Best Basic Research Paper from the Scoliosis Research Society.  His research interests are in spinal growth and skeletal maturity as well as improving care through quality improvement techniques.

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Alumni society

Graduating fellows of the Duke-UNC Orthopaedic Pediatric program will become part of the prestigious Piedmont Orthopedic Society. Induction into this group of life-long learners includes access to an annual meeting and alumni reunions at events such as the AAOS annual meeting and the annual meeting of the Piedmont Society.

How to apply

Accepting applications: 2023-2024 (Fall 2021)

Match participation: SF Match

ICGME program number: 9900000000

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. The use of CAS assures that applications are uniform, complete and distributed in an orderly fashion. You must register with the SF Match and pay an additional fee in order to access CAS. Please refer to SF Match for more information.

What you’ll need

The following application materials are required and should be submitted through CAS:

• CAS Distribution Choices and Payment (online submission)
• CAS Application Service (online submission)
• Curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation:
  • One of which should be from the chairman or program training director of your training program
  • Letters must be on official letterhead and may not be older than six months
• Copy of USMLE/COMLEX transcript (all three steps; passed within three attempts)
• ECFMG Certificate (applicable to international graduates)

Application requirements

In order to be eligible for ICGME-accredited fellowship training, Applicant must adhere to the following application requirements:

• Applicant must provide proof that you have taken and passed all three steps (within three attempts) of appropriate medical licensure examinations (USMLE/COMLEX), which is required by the North Carolina Medical Board and is a Duke Institutional Policy for all appointees to Duke for all graduate medical trainees whether United States 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 in order to be eligible for employment at Duke University Hospital.

Foreign medical graduates: additional requirements

Foreign medical graduates are eligible for this ICGME (non-ACGME) fellowship; however, in addition to meeting the above requirements:

• Applicant must be a permanent U.S. resident (hold a green card).
• If applicant is not a permanent resident, applicant must be eligible for an H1-B visa.
  • The department will sponsor an H1-B visa only when there are extenuating circumstances and if there are division/section funds available to provide payment for fees associated with the H1-B visa (i.e. $460 petition fee, $500 fraud fee, and $2500 premium processing fee) totaling $3460.
  • Applicants who are currently in the U.S. on a J-1 clinical house staff visa are not eligible for an H1-B visa because a J-1 visa cannot be transferred to an H-1B visa due to the 2-year home requirement. However, J-1 research visa's are transferrable.
  • Effective 2021: The ECFMG will no longer sponsor J-1 clinical house staff visa's for "non-standard" (meaning ICGME-Institutional Council for Graduate Medical Education) programs.
• 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 in lieu of an ECFMG Certificate.
• For more information, please visit the Duke Visa Services web site at https://visaservices.duke.edu/.

Dates: August 1 through July 31
Program training director: Jeffrey R. Bytomski, DO
Associated faculty: Blake R. Boggess, DO; Anthony Ceraulo, DO; Kenzie Johnston, MD; Stephen Shaheen, MD; Harry C. Stafford, Jr, MD, CSCS, MBA

Number of fellows: Three (ACGME)

The Duke Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship is a one-year ACGME-accredited program open to physicians who have completed residency training in the fields of family medicine, emergency medicine, pediatrics, or internal medicine.

The purpose of the program is to enable physicians to develop expertise in the area of sports medicine. Essential teaching and administrative skills are emphasized and are developed through the cooperation of a number of outstanding departments at Duke University Medical Center, including family medicine and community health, orthopaedic surgery, and emergency medicine, as well as the Duke University athletic department. The fellowship is housed within the sports division of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, which serves as the primary clinical site, and is ACGME-accredited through the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health.

A variety of exceptional educational experiences is offered and completion of the fellowship offers the privilege of sitting for the Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine.

We have three fellow positions per year:

• One primary care fellow from either FP, IM, or Peds
• One dedicated ED position
• The third fellow each year will take from either of the above categories based on the strength of the applicant pool
   

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Program details

• Training room and game coverage
  Fellows care for athletes of all levels, high school through professional teams, in various training rooms throughout the year. A team approach to athletic care is emphasized, highlighting the essential aspects of clear communication between physicians, athletic trainers, parents and family, and coaches.

  Training room and game coverages will be supervised throughout the year at the high school, collegiate, and professional levels by sports medicine physicians and orthopaedic surgery attendings. From a Division I perspective, the direct hands-on involvement in Duke Athletics is unprecedented, and a rare chance to become familiar with medical decision-making in high-level athletics. During the fall fellows will cover both Duke and Elon University football, often dividing up home/away coverage experiences. Each fellow will also be responsible for a local Durham high school, and work closely with PT/ATC colleagues in caring for high school athletes. In the winter/spring months, fellows will cover both men’s and women’s basketball, men’s lacrosse, and have the opportunity to cover additional Olympic sports if interested.

  Fellows work closely with their surgical colleagues often sharing many coverages as well as didactic experiences. Fellows will also work closely with the athletic training staff to triage orthopaedic injuries and provide medical coverage for the athletes at the various levels of competition
   

• Didactics and conferences
  Sports Medicine Conference is held each Friday morning at 7:00 AM. In this conference, attended by Orthopaedic faculty, Orthopaedic Surgery Residents, Orthopaedic Sports Medicine Fellows, and Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellows, the breadth of Sports Medicine is covered in a “Grand Rounds” type model. Additionally, Friday afternoons are protected didactic time specifically for the PCSM fellows. We are constantly working on keeping a didactic curriculum that suits the needs of the fellows. The long term focus is on CAQ board preparation, but a wide range of topics is covered each afternoon with the participation of both fellows and faculty. Additionally, we have recently developed a new diagnostic ultrasound-specific didactic curriculum that emphasizes ESSR/AMSSM qualifications for diagnostic ultrasound. In addition to the previously mentioned didactics, fellows will get at least one-half day per month specifically for diagnostic ultrasound didactics. Lastly, the first Monday of each month we conduct radiology rounds, where one of our lead MSK radiology attendings offers a 1-hour lecture specific to improving skills within MSK radiology.
   

• Mass-participation events
  Historically, the PCSM fellows have been involved in the planning and medical coverage of one to two local endurance events. The specific events change annually, but ranges from marathons to Ironman Competitions to Spartan Races. Fellows will also participate in the coverage of various NCAA and ACC tournaments and events throughout the year as they might occur.
   

• Scholarly presentations
  Fellows are expected to present lectures throughout the year to various audiences, including primary care physicians and staff, sports medicine/orthopaedic attendings, and the community. PCSM fellows are responsible for giving one lecture on a topic of choice at the group Friday morning conference “Grand Rounds” throughout the year. We also strive to offer 1-2 basic MSK lectures to primary care and emergency medicine residents each year, in an effort to build the “lecture repertoire” for fellows. Fellows are always encouraged to present at the national level, including the annual AMSSM and Southeastern ACSM meetings.
   

• Research and publications
  Fellows are required to finish one research project. Typically, opportunities to write and publish are available during the fellowship year. Fellows are broadly required to finish one research project throughout the course of the year. While this may sound daunting to some, the institutional support is second to none, with dedicated research faculty helping arrange the logistics of any idea a fellow might have. Projects can be as simple or as complicated as each fellow desires, with the goal being to produce something significant for each fellow to add to their CV. Each fellow should complete fellowship with a comfort level understanding how to pursue the processes of high-quality MSK research should they be interested down the road.
   

• Training room/call
  There is no formal call for fellows, however, fellows should be available to attendings and athletic trainers, particularly for direct patient care. The 80-hour work week and mandatory 24 hour "off-call" periods will be strictly enforced by the program director.

  Duke training rooms are held two evenings per week (each often lasting 30-60 minutes), and are divided amongst the three fellows.
   

• ACLS/BCLS certification
  Fellows are required to have current ACLS/BCLS certification before rotations begin.
   
• CAQ examination
  Fellows in good standing may sit for the CAQ examination at the conclusion of the fellowship year.

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Rotations

Our curriculum is unique in the fact that there is no ‘block’ type scheduling; instead, we offer a progressive rolling curriculum. Functionally, this means rather than having one month of hand/upper extremity, each fellow will work with each subspecialty attending several times per month. We feel this provides a longitudinal learning environment that improves retention and overall knowledge development. Additionally, our specific time allotments are flexible – this means if a fellow wants more time with PCSM faculty, or more time with Foot/Ankle – we can tailor schedules as the year goes on to individual needs.

 

• Primary care sports medicine (PCSM)
  Certainly, the largest portion of fellow time will be spent with PCSM faculty, often approaching 50% of clinical time. This will rotate between faculty, and each fellow spends time with each core faculty every week. Clinics are held at the Duke Sports Sciences Institute and involve both acute and chronic care of musculoskeletal injuries as well as medical issues in athletes. Each clinic will offer a mix of urgent/fracture care, sports injuries, dedicated procedure visits, and imaging review. We have a particularly good mix of age variety, with some clinics offering a large volume of pediatric fracture care.
   

• Ultrasound
  Ultrasound is a key component of all PCSM faculty clinics. Dr. Blake Boggess anchors the ultrasound curriculum at Duke SM. Each fellow averages about 1 clinic per week with Dr learning advanced diagnostic and interventional skills using MSK ultrasound. There is also expected involvement in both participating and teaching ultrasound courses both locally and regionally during fellowship tenure. Also, as noted above we have a specifically developed diagnostic ultrasound training curriculum that offers fellows a completely separate, protected didactic session monthly. Additionally, work is done to arrange for industry-based training with special procedures such as Tenex or stem cell injection therapy. Procedure volume is not an issue within our fellowship. Training will include a wide-range of ultrasound-based procedures including aspiration/injection of any joint, variety of tendon sheath and bursal injections, peripheral nerve hydrodissections, percutaneous tenotomy, Platelet Rich Plasma injections, both Adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell as well as BMAC.
   

• Radiology
  One of the longitudinal rotations involves spending time with radiology in the MSK reading room. Additionally, we have monthly radiology grand rounds as listed above. One of the focuses of this fellowship is to ensure adequate radiology skills for a sports physician to interpret his/her own images upon completion of training.
   

• Orthopaedics
  Fellows rotate on a longitudinal basis through the various specialties of orthopaedics with faculty at the top of their respective fields on a national level. Rotations available include:

  • Surgical sports medicine
  • Hand and upper extremity
  • Foot and ankle
  • Hip arthroscopy
  • Non-operative spine (PM&R and orthopaedics)
  • Pediatrics
     

• Continuity Experiences
  Fellows spend at least one half-day in their primary care specialty per week. The FM fellow(s) see walk-in urgent care at the family medicine center one, half-day session per week, and the EM fellow(s) attend in the Duke ER for one 8-hour shift per week.

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Benefits

• Stipend
  Fellows are paid at the PGY4 level. See current stipend amounts.
   

• Time off
  The current paid time off allowed per year is:

  • Three weeks vacation per year
  • Six personal/sick days per year
  • Five days for job hunting/interviews
  • Annual dates per ERAS/NRMP schedule
     

• Conferences
  Time off and paid expenses for AMSSM Advanced Team Physician Course, AMSSM Fellows Conference, AMSSM National Meeting and Duke Sports Cardiology Conference
   

• Health insurance
  Various health and dental plans are available through the Duke University Health System. Health benefits are paid for the trainee, but spouses and dependents are an extra premium.  
   

• Lab coats, prescription pads, parking
  Lab coats, prescription pads, and parking permits are provided through the house staff office at no charge.
   

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How to apply

Accepting applications: Annual dates per ERAS/NRMP Schedule
Match participation: NRMP
ACGME program number: 1273613065
Application deadline: September  

We accept the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) application only. Documents that can’t be submitted through ERAS should be emailed directly to Teri Pond at teri.pond@duke.edu.

We typically hold three separate interview dates in October and November each year.

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What you’ll need

• ERAS application (includes a photograph and three letters of recommendation)
• Letter from program director regarding graduation status or diploma for completion of residency
• Formal CV with documentation to verify presentations and publications
• Verification of USMLE/COMPLEX scores

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Contact us

As with everything in medicine, things are always evolving. We make every attempt to keep this page as up-to-date as possible, but it serves only as a guide to the Duke Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship. Actual requirements may change.

If you have any questions about the application process, please contact Teri Pond at teri.pond@duke.edu.

More about the Durham area

Durham has evolved over the past few years into a thriving young city with excellent opportunities for both families and single professionals. Visit Duke in Durham, a site dedicated to information about living, working, playing, and getting a world-class education at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina.

Contact us

Cheryl DePaolis
Fellowship Program Coordinator
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery
Duke University School of Medicine
919-684-3536
Cheryl.DePaolis@duke.edu

Wendy Thompson/ Sharon Long
Residency and Fellowship Program Coordinators
919-684-3170
dukeorthogme@dm.duke.edu