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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 very few “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. A brief description of the various conferences follows.  During this time of COVID we are holding all conferences virtually for everyone’s safety.

  • Anatomy Conference: (weekly, June – September) Residents are divided into groups and work with a variety of resources and faculty to review the musculoskeletal anatomy by limb and surgical approaches.
  • Core Curriculum Conference: (November – June) 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.
  • Fracture Indications Conferences: This weekly conference will be a presentation of recent fracture and trauma cases treated by and presented by the residents. Orthopaedic trauma faculty will lead the discussion using this case based format along with evidence based literature.
  • Grand Rounds: This conference is held monthly. 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.
  • Journal Club: (January – June) These conferences occur bimonthly. The current format centers on 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.
  • M&M Conference:  Will be held monthly. Residents and attendings report any complications encountered during the previous month, with all cases reviewed by faculty, and 2-3 cases presented for discussion and education.
  • Motor Skills: This conference is a combination of lectures and hands-on experience using sawbones, etc., to quickly bring the junior residents up to speed and help all of the residents to develop their motor skills. PGY1 receive a day long boot camp session during orientation and a weekly continuation of these sessions into the summer.
  • OITE Prep: (September – November) Residents review with faculty and each other with various strategies to prepare for the OITE the 2nd Saturday in November.
  • Subspecialty Conferences: Weekly conferences for sports med, peds and UE during the rotation periods. Held virtually to accommodate all residents at different locations.