Residency Program
The Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program at the University of Missouri-Columbia is dedicated to providing an environment that will enable all residents to acquire the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary for a career as a competent orthopaedic surgeon. By stimulating teaching, learning, and investigational skills, not only will our graduates be proficient orthopaedic surgeons upon completion of the residency, but, more importantly, they will have the tools necessary to maintain their expertise throughout a full career of medical practice. Therefore, residents in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Missouri should be committed to teaching and investigation, as well as to the acquisition of clinical skills.
An understanding of the anatomy, biology, and pathophysiology of the musculoskeletal system is also essential for the development of surgical skills. Stated another way, if one understands the underlying basic science, the principles and techniques used in evaluating and managing different musculoskeletal disorders are usually obvious. For this reason, basic science education is an important component of the residency program, and is taught both in didactic sessions as well as by relating basic science precepts to daily clinical problem-solving situations.
The rationale for integrating teaching into the residency is based upon the concept that learning is maximized when faculty and residents participate in the teaching process. Certainly the one who prepares a conference or seminar presentation is the one who learns the most about a topic. In addition, the word doctor comes from the Latin word for "teacher" and teaching or explaining the disease process and treatment is a major component of being an effective physician.
Participating in research is an important component of the resident's experience but the necessity for this activity may not be so obvious. Because orthopaedic surgery is a dynamic and growing profession, many methods of treatment and evaluation will have changed ten to fifteen years after one has completed a residency. Therefore, acquiring investigational skills is necessary, if for no other reason, than the training it provides in the ability to interpret reports and studies on new treatment modalities. Beyond that, research is necessary to provide improved patient care and is a natural component of the academic mission of a university department. For all these reasons, residents are expected to become involved in either a clinical or basic research project resulting in a publishable paper. |
