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Formal teaching conferences are an integral part of our residency program. Achieving an appropriate balance in orthopaedic residency education between didactic learning and hands-on learning is one of the major strengths of the UNC residency program. Perhaps nowhere in the educational program is the depth of faculty commitment more evident than in the formal teaching conferences; all conferences are presented and/or moderated by faculty - there are no "resident-taught" conferences in the UNC Orthopaedic program. Resident attendance at all educational conferences is mandatory, and all residents are released from patient care responsibilities to attend conferences. Faculty attendance at conferences is also excellent, with nearly all faculty attending the Wednesday AM conferences. A brief description of the various conferences follows.
The Basic Science Seminar is held every Monday morning from 6:40-7:25am. The conference provides residents with a strong background in orthopaedic basic science. On a two-year cycle, all topics in the AAOS Orthopaedic Basic Science textbook are covered by faculty preceptors. In addition, there are twelve sessions on anatomical dissection held annually. The Core Curriculum Conference is held Tuesday and Friday mornings from 6:40-7:25 am. The curriculum is covered in a two-year cycle. The conferences are a didactic program meant to provide the residents with the essentials of orthopaedic education. They are structured and conducted by faculty from the various subspecialties and cover a variety of topics including: pediatric orthopaedics, sports medicine, foot & ankle, total joints, upper extremity, spine, trauma, tumor, and medical issues. (Topics in orthopaedic trauma and tumors are covered more extensively in separate conferences on Thursdays.) Grand
Rounds is held 2-3 times a month following the Postoperative
Conference on Wednesday mornings. Usually an orthopaedic resident gives
a 30-minute presentation moderated by an outside physician who has distinguished
him/herself in Orthopaedics. Occasionally the visiting professors give
a formal presentation on a topic of their choice. This is an ideal opportunity
for the residents to get another perspective on current trends and important
topics in Orthopaedics. The Imaging Conference is usually held on the 4th Thursday of the month from 6:40-7:25am. This monthly conference provides the residents a unique clinical exposure to the tools of radiology and their usefulness in the diagnosis of orthopaedic pathology. Journal Club is held bimonthly on Wednesdays from 5:30-6:30pm. The current format centers around a subspecialty of the month. An article from the current JBJS and articles from related subspecialty journals are reviewed. The conference is moderated by the selected subspecialty attendings. Kindergarten/Motor Skills Conference is held weekly for the first six months and bimonthly for the last six months on Wednesday afternoons from 5:30-6:30pm (and some Saturday mornings). This conference is a combination of lectures and hands-on experience using sawbones, fresh-frozen cadaver specimens, etc., to quickly bring the junior residents up to speed and help all of the residents to develop their motor skills. The Morbidity &Mortality (M&M) Conference is held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7:40am. Residents and attendings report any complications encountered during the previous month. Written narratives are submitted and reviewed during conference. Completed reports are then sent to the Quality Assurance Office in the Hospital. The Postoperative Conference is held every Wednesday morning from 6:40-7:25am. The format is informal. Recent cases are selected and presented by the resident who was involved with the patient. Lively floor discussion is a constant feature. These are occasionally moderated by outside dignitaries. Research Seminars are usually held on the first Wednesday of every month at 7:40am. Basic science faculty, residents on the research rotation, chief residents who are completing their theses, and outside collaborators present current projects. The Trauma Conference is held from 6:40-7:25am on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th Thursdays of each month. This rotating, two-year specialty conference provides the residents with a separate and focused educational opportunity in trauma and reconstruction. It is presented simultaneously to the residents both at WakeMed in Raleigh and at UNC through video teleconferencing. Tumor Conference is held on the second Thursday of each month from 6:40-7:25am. The format is recent case presentations including diagnostic and pathologic studies. Open discussion is encouraged. One topic receives special emphasis each month and appropriate readings are assigned in advance. |
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