Our Program

The University of Iowa Department Of Orthopedics accepts six new orthopedic residents and graduates six orthopedic residents every year. There are 30 residents in the five year training program. The department attracts excellent residents from the state of Iowa and also from diverse locations and great medical schools from around the country. The residency is based in a small but vibrant Midwestern city and all clinical training is at two hospitals; one major tertiary care university hospital and one VA hospital. The environment fosters close interactions between residents, residents and their families and provides residents the opportunity to work closely with a dedicated group of full time faculty members. Over five years residents master the clinical and surgical techniques and the basic sciences fundamental to current care of patients with injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system. Exposure to all the major orthopedic subspecialties, experiences in general orthopedics at the VA hospital and clinical and basic research are all integral to the residency program.

The department has a long history and each resident becomes a part of this rich background. The small town atmosphere and covering only two hospitals decreases the overall call burden and facilitates home call. The department is dedicated to musculoskeletal research and residents have research opportunities in all the clinical and basic sciences. The program takes pride in preparing residents for subspeciality fellowships, successful academic careers and for future leadership positions in their communities and in orthopedic organizations. Residents not infrequently choose to go directly into private practice in the state of Iowa or elsewhere.