Program Highlights

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UT Health San Antonio aims to excel in patient care, education, and research. The goal of the residency program is to provide the foundation for a lifetime of learning and practice of orthopaedic surgery, and to produce graduates who exemplify the highest ideals of our profession.

Patient Care

Faculty will ensure that appropriate skilled, compassionate care is provided to all patients. In San Antonio, we treat a broad and diverse group of patients covering a catchment area of 26,700 sq. miles, with a secondary catchment area all the way from the Texas-Mexico border. Residents will learn to care for a wide variety of orthopaedic problems with collaborative, culturally competent care.

Education

We have a robust environment for education and learning, ensuring that residents meet all milestones as outlined by the ACGME and ABOS. We have 2 hours of protected didactic time on Friday mornings, in addition to monthly Fracture Rounds and Journal Clubs. Residents are provided with access to AAOS ResStudy, Orthobullets Qbank, as well as a generous book/educational fund. Interested residents are also afforded opportunities to attend conferences.

  • 96%

    ABOS Board Pass rate in last 5 years

  • 2000 +

    Cases logged by end of PGY-5 year

  • 1 to 1

    Faculty and peer-to-peer mentoring

  • 100%

    Match rate to fellowship specialty of choice

Research

In 2017, we published approximately 30 peer-reviewed journal manuscripts indexed in PubMed, many of which were published in premier orthopaedic journals. Currently, our research program is undergoing an exciting phase of growth and development, including expansion of our clinical and basic science research programs. We are also in the process of developing a structured research curriculum for our residents, with the goal to improve the research experience of our trainees.

Mentorship

Residents are paired with a dedicated faculty mentor, who provides guidance and support throughout the 5 years of residency. All residents are also paired with both a junior and senior peer mentor. Regular check-ins ensure every resident feels supported throughout the residency process.

Storied History

Our department was founded by Charles Rockwood, Jr. MD in 1966 as a Division of General Surgery, Department status was attained in 1983. Under Dr. Rockwood’s leadership, the Department has fostered the development of many leaders in orthopaedic surgery, and a few legends including Dr. Rockwood himself, Dr. Kaye Wilkins, Dr. David Green, Dr. Jesse DeLee, and Dr. James Heckman, to name only a few. The textbook and teaching contributions of Drs. Rockwood, Wilkins, and Green have defined injury treatment from accident scenes to recovery for over a generation. Our residents are fortunate to work side by side in the OR with many of these legends of orthopaedics