Adult Reconstructive Surgery Fellowship

Crafting Expertise in Total Joint Replacements

Your one-year fellowship provides comprehensive exposure to the clinical and research-related aspects of total joint reconstruction in adults and children. As part of our program, you can expect to learn all aspects of diagnosis and treatment for problematic joints damaged by disease, injury or previous arthroplasty — including the challenges of complex and revision arthroplasty, and clinical research of progressive surgical techniques and outcomes.

At Vanderbilt, we use an apprenticeship model, which gives you progressive autonomy throughout your fellowship. It’s our goal for you to become an excellent surgeon, adept in pre-operative medical management and planning and post-operative rehabilitation.

What We Do Here Every Year

Program Overview

Positions: 2 fellows
Duration: 1 year, August 1st through July 31st
Stipend: PGY6 level
Call: Taken a week at a time for adult reconstruction only (PJI cases, periprosthetic fractures, no general ortho trauma call)
Location: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Our faculty treats adults and children who need total joint reconstruction and is highly experienced in joint replacement and revision surgery, especially complex hip and knee cases.

As part of our fellowship program, you’ll work closely with faculty and staff at the Vanderbilt Department of Orthopaedic Surgery to:

• Assist with coordinating our Resident Adult Reconstruction Conference 
• Complete at least one research project
• Keep track of case logs 
• Participate in weekly pre- and post-op conferences
• See patients in clinic
• Serve as surgical team member at least three days a week
• Take call with faculty back-up, one week at a time

Clinical Program

Spending time in our outpatient clinical setting, you’ll gain well-rounded experience which includes learning about the extensive planning and medical management patients need before surgery and experiencing the postoperative phase of care, when patients require a focus on rehabilitation.

Your case load will be split between hip and knee cases. The make-up of clinical cases is as follows:

• 60%: Primary total hip and total knee replacements
• 40%: Complex primary and revision surgeries

Surgical Experience

Adult reconstruction procedures are technically demanding. Because we believe surgeons in training benefit more by mastering the principals of adult reconstructive surgery than depending on any one form of technology, we don’t use robotics or navigation technology in the surgical care we provide.

By working as part of a larger surgical team, you’ll experience between 600 and 900 cases, many of which will be complex. You can expect to gain knowledge of perioperative care management and decision-making through your participation in these cases.  These cases will highlight a variety of surgical approaches and implant types, including anterior and posterior approach to the hip, mechanical and kinematic alignment total knees, unicompartmental knee arthroplasty, and hip resurfacing arthroplasty.

Research Program

As a fellow, you’ll work in many settings: the outpatient clinic, the operating room and labs. We encourage you to actively dive into research topics that interest you and to use all the resources available. Each fellow is required to complete a single research project during the fellowship year. 

Instructor Status 

As a junior faculty member in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, you will have the ability to independently board and perform cases as your year and skill progresses.  Depending on your level of educational interest, opportunities to work with residents and medical students will also be available.  

Conferences and Weekly Schedule

Fellows complete a rigorous schedule of clinical care, conferences and surgery.

Conferences

Resident Adult Reconstruction Conference (Every other Thursday)
Fellows assist attending surgeons with planning and managing the resident adult reconstruction conference every other Thursday to review cases.

Pre- and Post-Op Conferences (Every Wednesday)
Fellows prepare case notes, pre- and post- operative X-rays, and participate in case discussions.

Daily Schedule

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: Surgery
(All day)

Thursday: Clinic
(All day)

Friday: Research/Administrative duties/Extra surgical cases
(All day)

Other Clubs and Activities

Monthly Journal Club
(First Friday of the month)

You help organize and participate in the Division of Adult Reconstruction Monthly Journal club. You and the designated attending select the adult reconstruction journal articles, make article assignments to the team, and help facilitate discussion.  Faculty provides expert opinion and practical clinical perspective during the discussion.

Virtual Fellowship Lecture Series
(Last Monday of the month)

At Vanderbilt, we know the COVID-19 pandemic can impair the fellowship learning experience. To ensure a full interactive year, we take part in the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons’ FOCAL Initiative. FOCAL provides free, online lectures from the country’s top adult reconstruction surgeons. Arthroplasty fellows and senior residents can listen and participate in case discussions. Visit AAHKS to view recordings and see upcoming sessions.

Application Process

Interviews this year will be virtual. For more information about our fellowship program, contact Diana Arcuri, Adult Reconstruction Fellowship Coordinator, diana.arcuri@vumc.org

Fellow Benefits 

At Vanderbilt, we want you to enjoy a well-rounded fellowship experience. Benefits of our program include:

• Attend one conference (AAHKS)
• Instructor status
• Office with computer and workspace
• Readily available orthopedic anatomy cadaver lab on medical campus
• Two weeks of vacation

Our Current and Past Fellows

Past Fellows 

Our past adult reconstructive surgery fellows and their current positions include:

• Courtney Baker, MD, Vanderbilt Orthopaedics, Nashville, TN 2023-2024
• Bryce Biberstein, MD, Fort Wayne Orthopedics, Fort Wayne, Indiana 2023-2024
• Elizabeth Klag, MD, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 2022-2023
• Thomas Steck, MD,
• Charles Crellin, MD, Ortho Montana, Billings, Montana, 2021-2022
• Sanar Yokhana, MD, Ascension St. John, Detroit, Michigan, 2021-2022
• Gerald Aggrey, MD, Hope Orthopedics,  Salem, Oregon , 2020-2021
• Michael Gabbard, MD, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2019-2020
• Jonathan Lynch, MD, Ortho Northeast, Fort Wayne, Indiana, 2018-2019