Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

Fellowship Application Procedures

Applications

• Applications are requested by letter, telephone, or email
• Qualified applicants. All applicants must have graduated from an ACGME (Accrediation Council for Graduate Medical Education) accredited residency program in orthopaedic surgery to qualify for a fellowship position. D.O.'s must have graduated from an AOA (American Osteopathic Association) accredited residency program. If the request meets the basic requirement above, the description of the fellowship program, an application, and a cover letter are sent to the applicant. The deadlines for applications are as follows:

  November 1

  • Sports Medicine

  December 1

  • Hand Surgery                                               
  • Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery                         
  • Foot and Ankle Surgery                                  
  • Trauma Surgery 

  August 31                                         

  • Spine Surgery                                                

The Hand Surgery program has participated in the match program, however, an increasing number of programs are going outside the match, and we remain flexible on this point.

The Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery program has participated in the match program, however, an increasing number of programs are going outside the match, and we remain flexible on this point.

The Foot and Ankle Surgery program has participated in the match program, however, an increasing number of programs are going outside the match, and we remain flexible on this point.

The Trauma Surgery program does not participate in the match program. Since there are few applicants for this position, applications should be processed as soon as they are received. Qualified applicants are called to encourage them to send applications.

The Spine Surgery program does not participate in the match program. Competition for candidates is great and applications should be processed as soon as they are received and interviews scheduled a soon as possible. Applications should be contacted by phone if they have outstanding information.

The Sports Medicine program does not participate in the match program. Competition for candidates is great and applications should be processed as soon as they are received and interviews scheduled as soon as possible. Applications should be contacted by phone if they have outstanding information.

• Nonqualified applicants. A letter of regret is sent to applicants who do not qualify for a fellowship position. All foreign graduates fall into this category, unless they have completed a residency program in the United States that is ACGME accredited or AOA accredited for D.O.'s.

• All applications should be kept for a minimum of 13 months after selection. Old applications are destroyed after August 1 each year.

Interviews

• A copy of the completed application is sent to the program director and all staff doctors in that specialty for review. It is necessary to check with the staff to identify as possible interview dates.

  For hand surgery applicants a one-night stay is required. The applicants meets with each staff doctor for approximately one hour and spends several hours with the current hand fellow who will show him around and describe the program. It will be necessary to check with the staff doctors to see if they would like the applicants to accompany them to clinic or surgery.

  For pediatric orthopaedic applicants the interviews take most of a day. Applicants meet with the staff doctors in the program for about an hour each and spend several hours with the current pediatric fellow.

  For foot and ankle applicants a two to three night stay is required. Applicants will spend one full day with Dr. Richardson and one full day with Dr. Murphy.

  For trauma surgery applicants the interview usually is half a day. Applicants meet with each staff for approximately an hour and spend several hours with the current trauma fellow.

  For spine surgery applicants a one-night stay is required. Usually this is a half day interview. Applicants meet with each staff doctor in the program for approximately an hour.

  For sports medicine applicants the interviews take most of a day. Applicants meet with the staff doctors in the program for about an hour each and spend several hours with the current sports medicine fellow.

   

• Interviews should be scheduled so that the applicant can attend one of our regularly scheduled conferences and meet our current residents and staff who are present at conference that evening. This give the applicants an opportunity to experience our program.

• Scheduling interviews:

• Dates are selected when all the doctors in the program will be available
• The dates are verified with the doctors before extending the invitation to the applicant
• The applicant is contacted by phone to schedule an interview
• To confirm the interview, an email is sent to the applicant with the names of the doctors, the times, the name of the hotel and confirmation number, and directions
• If the interview is cancelled, it is necessary to cancel the hotel reservation and note the cancellation number

• Costs. The Foundation pays for the cost of the hotel room, but the applicant pays for the cost of travel and other expenses.

• Hotels. For interviews scheduled at the Germantown Clinic (usually Foot and Ankle and Pediatric Orthopaedic applicants), we use the Homewood Suites in Germantown. If the interview is scheduled for the Foundation office, the Red Roof Inn, Hampton Inn, etc. can be booked. Arrival is guaranteed using the Foundation credit card and the bill is sent o the Foundation.

Match

• The form committing the program to the match are sent in January with a February due date. These forms should only be returned if the program intends to go through the match. The program will be billed later for the cost of service.

• After all the interviews have been done, if the Match is used, a form is sent to the program director with the names of each interviewee requesting a rank order. The forms are completed and given to the program director for signature. The form can be faxed to the Match Program; however, it is necessary to verify that it has been received.

• All inquires regarding the match are sent to: National Resident Matching Program, 2501 M Street NW, Suite 1, Washington, DC 20037-1307. Phone: (202) 828-0676.

Contracts

• When not using the match, the program director contacts the applicant selected with the offer.

• When using the match, the match program notifies the program director and the person selected through the match.

• A contract is then prepared and signed by the program director and the chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic. The contract is prepared in two originals with the Campbell Foundation imprint over the program director's signature. Both copies are sent to the prospective fellow, who signs and returns one copy and retains the other copy for his/her file.

Processing Credentials

• Processing credentials begins as soon as the contracts are signed at least a year in advance. A minimum of six months is required to complete the credentialing process.

• Credentials. Letters are sent to the fellows giving direction for applying for State Medical Licenses, DEA numbers, and malpractice insurance. A letter is sent to the Campbell Clinic Chief Financial Officer giving information regarding the fellow: name, Social Security number, rate of pay, and starting date.

• Required credentials.

• Tennessee medical license - all fellowships
• Mississippi medical license - hand, foot and ankle fellowships
• Current DEA - all fellowships (must be obtained for each state)
• Malpractice insurance - all fellowships
• Faculty appointment - all fellowships
• Hospital appointments - see 15.025. These assignments may vary.

Orientation

• The fellow is given a copy of the Policy and Procedure manual

• The fellow is required to complete the necessary employment forms a few days before he begins work.

Benefits

• Annual salary at PGY6 level

• Disability and life insurance

• Health insurance

• Voluntary dental insurance

• Fourteen days paid vacation

• Five days sick leave

• Seven days paid holiday

• Six days paid medical leave

• Malpractice/liability insurance

• Conference travel expenses

Reporting and Evaluation

• Operative procedures are reported on computer by hand and pediatric fellows.
• We do not require reporting on operative procedures on non-accredited programs.
• Fellows are evaluated at least twice a year.
• Fellows in accredited programs should complete a program evaluation at least twice a year.
• Fellows in non-accredited programs are invited but are not required to complete staff and program evaluations.