USC Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program

The Orthopaedic Residency Program is a fully accredited, five-year training program that meets all requirements of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. We have the third-largest residency program in the United States in one of the most diverse and vibrant cities in the world.

The residency program provides graduate training in all aspects of orthopaedic surgery. Our philosophy is that residents should not only be excellent technical surgeons but also thoroughly understand the pathophysiology of musculoskeletal disease in order to critically assess current and new technologies and adapt them to their practice. Residents are required to complete at least one research project during the residency. A resident research year is also available for one resident each year.

Resident education is supported by a strong didactic program that includes a comprehensive core curriculum, monthly grand rounds, a monthly journal club, a monthly evidence-based conference and weekly subspecialty conferences.

The Core Curriculum has been fine-tuned over the past two decades and was the basis for the development of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons’ acclaimed and widely used Comprehensive Orthopaedic Review, which was originally edited by Jay R. Lieberman, MD, professor and chair of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery.

The Core Curriculum runs on a two-year cycle and combines both the pathophysiology and basic science of musculoskeletal disease and its clinical application. Core curriculum lectures are provided by the orthopaedic faculty or other faculty members within the medical school or other medical schools in the surrounding Los Angeles area; no lectures are given by residents. Voluntary faculty, usually alumni of the program, are also actively engaged in resident teaching.

Application

All residency positions are filled through the National Residency Matching Program, and our department participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

Our requirements for application include:

• Completed ERAS application
• Medical school transcript
• Personal statement
• Scores from Part I are required.  If Part I score is Pass/Fail, then Part II score is required from the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE), National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME), Federation Licensing Examination (FLEX), or Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX)
• Dean’s letter
• Three narrative letters of recommendation completed by physicians, with at least one letter from an orthopaedic surgeon

NOTE:  A maximum of four letters of recommendation will be accepted, inclusive of the Dean’s letter.  Narrative letters must be submitted with the American Orthopaedic Association Standardized Letter of Recommendation Form as a singular document.

Application Deadline:
Wednesday, September 28, 2022, at 11:00 pm ET (8:00 pm PT)

Foreign medical students should apply through the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG).

For further information and application materials, please contact your home institution’s dean’s office.