This forum never has much traffic, but the little that it does is always helpful and now that the match is over I am happy to contribute. These are the programs that I rotated at (no particular order):
1. St. Mary's Blue Springs KCUMB- Reasonable program that is going through some transition right now. Was slated to take four residents but only taking only two residents this year. The transition seems to revolve around a disagreement between some of the senior attendings and the St. Mary's Hospital meaning that the orthopedic volume at St. Mary's has dropped to next to nothing. A major portion of the program is actually done at the North Kansas City Hospital so it seems that there may be a shift of focus with the program almost completely at North KC. This isn't a bad thing, but it's transition and it makes things a bit interesting. New program director who has been on faculty for some time is a really nice guy and seems to be a big resident advocate. Residents are usually from Missouri or the South and are very tight knit and a good group of guys. High volume of total joints and sports, weak in spine, hand, and foot and ankle. Strong peds at Children's Mercy in KC. Go to Las Vegas for three or four months as a PGY-4 for trauma with the residents from POH and the new Las Vegas program. All and all a solid program with a reasonable lifestyle. Graduating seniors doing fellowships in Sports (UIC), Foot and Ankle (Maine), and one entering private practice.
2. PCOM- I would argue one of the top tier DO programs with all subspecialites covered in the area. Joints and Shoulder/Elbow with the Rothman Institute, Hand with Philly Hand Center, Trauma at Cooper in South Jersey. Travel to Baltimore and Boston (New England Baptist) for enrichment in certain areas, not because case numbers are inadequate in Philadelphia. Well respected within the Philly area compared to the plethora of other ortho programs in town. Took 6 residents this year. Lifestyle is tough as a junior (PGY 2/3) with covering multiple hospitals on call, but gets better as you go up. Tough academic schedule but the residents were some of the most well-read and knowledgeable that I saw on the trail. Program director is the team doc for the 76'ers and a real stand up guy who takes care of his residents and they work hard for him in return. Lots of cases and lots of work, but you are an outstanding surgeon. Seniors doing fellowsips in Joints (Rush), Foot and Ankle (Penn, Michigan International), and Sports (SoCal).
3. Las Vegas (Valley Hospital)- New program that took two interns for their first year ever. Lots of potential here I think but hard to take a risk on a brand new program. Program director is fellowship trained in Sports and the other two main attendings are all sports trained, so that will obviously be a focus. There is great potential here I think, as all of the surgeons have very high volume... and, it's Vegas baby.
4. South Pointe (Cleveland Clinic)- Very solid program affiliated with the Cleveland Clinc. Program director was arguably my favorite along the trail, a very good guy who stands up for his residents and is a riot to work with. All subspecialties covered in Cleveland except for Trauma (done in Denver), but apparently there is an option to do it in Cleveland if you want. Smaller program with 2-3 residents a year and a mentorship style with 2's and 3's paired with an attending and the 5's taking control in the OR. Entire PGY-4 year spent either at Cleveland Clinic main campus or out doing trauma. Strongly reccomend doing a rotation here as this was the most organized rotation that I did in terms of student management and student education. One senior doing hand, the other going into private practice.
