Resident Rotations
PGY-1
The first year of residency is spent in general surgery as a categorical diversified internship after which progression is made to the first year in orthopaedic surgery. 
Each orthopaedic intern rotates through our department for one month each in the spring and in the fall (clinical) with an additional month allocated to orthopaedic research mid-year. The remaining rotations include pediatric surgery, emergency medicine, cardiothoracic, anesthesia, plastic surgery, trauma (general surgery), neurosurgery, vascular and general surgery or surgical oncology.
PGY-2
The junior residents take primary call* five nights per month and are responsible for floor work, histories and physicals, discharge summaries and progress notes for their attendings. Surgical responsibilities include having the x-rays in the operating room, prepping the patient and general preparation for surgery. The over-all surgical experience at this level of training is "hands-on". Each junior resident is responsible for providing sports medicine coverage for an assigned area high school.
PGY-3
Basic Science - During these two two-month periods residents will pursue their own research projects with the guidance of a faculty advisor and the research director. It is a requirement of the program that during the four-year orthopaedic residency the resident formulate a hypothesis, design a research protocol to test that hypothesis, and carry out the experiment. This can be either a clinical or basic science project. Assistance from the research director and her staff is available to ensure that the scientific method is fully utilized. This project must be presented in publishable form no later than the last three months of the chief year. (It is not a requirement that the paper be accepted for publication, however, it must be of that quality and format.) Funds are available for additional research projects for residents who are interested in that area. During this rotation the resident takes call* three - five nights per month.
The remaining eight months of the year are spent rotating through the orthopaedic services which are divided into teams. Each resident rotates with a different team for a period of two months. (Third year residents are also assigned a high school for which they provide sports medicine coverage.)
Additionally, during PGY-3 the resident begins to expand in clinical exposure and expertise. An outpatient clinic has been established for the exclusive use of the orthopaedic residents. The clinics, which are fully staffed with nurses, patient assistants, receptionist, transcription support, etc., are essential to the development of pre- and post-operative patient care. Because the resident enjoys the same amenities as those afforded the attending physicians, this experience provides valuable insight into the skills required to run a medical practice. Call* while on these rotations is five nights per month.
PGY-4
The senior resident oversees the junior resident and/or rotator in the Emergency Room, Operating Room and on the floors. The senior resident takes call* five nights per month.
PGY-5
The chief resident oversees all resident and student responsibilities and acts as a liaison between the attending physicians and other residents. The chief residents take call* five nights per month; they supervise the senior and junior residents in the care of emergency room patients. The chief resident working with Dr. David Martin assists in the sports medicine coverage of the Wake Forest University athletic teams.
* You are not required to stay at the hospital at night when you are on call.