Trauma Fellowship

Fellows in our program provide care at two Level I trauma centers (one academic and one private) with 4,269 trauma admissions and 7,080 orthopaedic trauma procedures every year. Our state-of-the art facilities and equipment combined with a complete research team provides world-class opportunities in research.

Fellows will be a part of a multidisciplinary team that collaborates with specially-trained physicians, nurses, therapists, technicians and social workers with the capability of providing total care of every aspect of injury including prevention.

University Hospital helicopter

We offer several learning opportunities beyond the standard orthopaedic trauma fellowship offerings. Those include multiligamentous knee reconstruction and osteochondral allograft procedures, shoulder and elbow reconstruction, young adult hip procedures (including periacetabular osteotomies and arthroscopy) and hip reconstruction (anterior arthroplasty). Our six fellowship-trained orthopaedic trauma surgeons provide the mentoring and oversight to prepare fellows for a career as an orthopaedic trauma surgeon both technically and academically.

Our programs offer the opportunity to personalize training based upon interest, including vast research opportunities. Fellows will live in a vibrant college town that provides the entertainment, sports and culture of a larger city while enjoying a relaxed atmosphere in a smaller environment.

Trauma Fellowship Curriculum

The Frank L. Mitchell Jr., MD, Trauma Center at University Hospital is the only American College of Surgeons (ACS) – verified Level I Trauma Center in mid-Missouri and one of only three in the state.

Institutional Stats (per year)

Pelvic Fractures: 99
Acetabular Fractures: 103
Calcaneus Fracture Fixations: 31
Distal Humerus Fractures: 116
Pilon Fractures: 81
Hip Fractures: 254
Femoral Shaft Fractures: 136
Tibial Shaft fractures: 164
Periarticular Fractures about the Knee [Distal Femur/Tibial Plateau]: 153
Ankle Fractures: 342
Proximal Humerus Fractures: 32
Elbow Fracture/Dislocations: 81
Forearm Fractures: 56
Distal Radius Fractures: 86
Application External Fixator: 206
Irrigation and Debridement Open Fracture: 369
Tibial Nonunion Repairs: 29
Total Hip Arthroplasty: 151
Osteotomies: 29

Trauma Curriculum

All fellows have the opportunity to engage in a robust curriculum during their fellowship year to include monthly journal clubs, case-based discussions and completion of labs within the first six months of their training. For a more detailed breakdown of this curriculum, please view the specifics of our Trauma Curriculum.

Research opportunities

Structured goals for meeting the research requirement
Guidance for developing, executing and following-up on research ideas
Support and development of successful grant writing
Encouragement and support of research plan development and grant application before arrival

The best of both worlds

Fellows learn from outstanding teachers and by accessing the latest resources and technology at the University of Missouri. They also gain autonomy by providing patient care under the guidance of faculty in our practices.

Fellows also have the opportunity to rotate at a very busy state-designated Level 1 trauma center in a private practice hospital that has approximately 7,080 trauma activations per year.

Personalized training

In addition to the standard offerings in acute trauma and standard nonunion/mal-union training, fellows can individualize the fellowship experience to target specific interests and skills. Available opportunities include training in post-traumatic reconstruction in shoulder, elbow, hip (including anterior arthroplasty), knee (including multiligamentous reconstructions) and Ilizarov/post-traumatic deformity correction. Other reconstructive opportunities include shoulder arthroplasty (including reverse), osteochondral grafting procedures (primarily knee) and pelvic osteotomies/young adult hip preservation procedures (including arthroscopy).