Orthopaedic Trauma

Overview

The primary aim of this ACGME-approved orthopaedic trauma fellowship training program is the development of surgeons who will become leaders in both academia and orthopaedic trauma clinical care. A major goal of the fellowship is assuring that graduating fellows become informed critical thinkers and decision makers in their treatment of trauma patients. Clinical experience includes extensive exposure to multisystem trauma patients, periarticular fractures, pelvis and acetabular fractures, nonunions and malunions. Additionally, the fellowship is designed to provide the graduate with a foundation in clinical outcomes and basic science research. The Fellowship is one year in duration and based at Carolinas Medical Center, the busiest trauma center in North Carolina.

Fellowship Structure

Fellows participate in a mentoring relationship to each of the orthopaedic trauma faculty and rotate on a monthly basis. During these rotations, the fellow works directly with the faculty member in the management of patients and operative cases. The teaching faculty consists of four fellowship trained orthopaedic traumatologists. Call responsibilities are approximately one night a week. This call is from home and only related to orthopaedic trauma and fracture cases. The fellows are expected to play an active role in resident education and training.

Black: Phelps/Medda

Blue: Karunakar/Pierrie

Green: Hsu/Kempton

Faculty

	Madhav A. Karunakar, MD Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Traumatologist Director, Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship Education: Baylor College of Medicine, MD, 1993 The University of Cincinnati, Residency in Orthopaedic Surgery, 1998 Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship, 1999
	Joseph R. Hsu, MD Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Traumatologist Education: Tulane University School of Medicine, MD, 1998 Tulane University Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Residency, 2003 Tulane University Orthopaedic Trauma and Adult Reconstruction Fellowship, 2004
	Laurence B. Kempton, MD Associate Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Traumatologist Education: University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, MD, 2005 Beaumont Hospital Royal Oak, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Residency, 2010 Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship, 2011
	Kevin Phelps, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Traumatologist Education: Vanderbilt University, MD Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Surgery, Residency, 2017 University of Texas, Houston Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship, 2018
	Sarah N. Pierrie, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Traumatologist Education: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, MD, 2013 Carolinas Medical Center, Residency in Orthopaedic Surgery, 2018 University of Cincinnati Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship, 2023
	Suman Medda, MD Assistant Professor, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Traumatologist Education: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, MD, 2015 Wake Forest University, Residency in Orthopaedic Surgery, 2020 Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship, 2021

Application Process

The Carolinas Medical Center Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship participates in Orthopaedic Trauma Association Fellowship match program. All applicants must apply through the SF Match website. Information concerning this can be found on the Orthopaedic Trauma Association’s website.

ACGME Fellowship Eligibility Requirements: All required clinical education for entry into ACGME-accredited fellowship programs must be completed in an ACGME-accredited residency program or in a RCPSC-accredited or CFPC-accredited residency program located in Canada.

Our Fellowship Program requires fellows to obtain a full North Carolina Medical License.

Please direct questions to our Fellowship Coordinator, Madison Griffin, at Madison.Griffin@atriumhealth.org. 

Operative Case Volume

Fellow Case Log Report 2023-2024 (3 fellow average)

Carolinas Medical Center

• In the top ten busiest trauma centers in US based on American College of Surgeons (ACS) Level 1 Site Review
• Helicopters: 3
• Medic (ground transport): busiest EMS agency in North Carolina
• Flagship of Atrium Health, 874 beds, busiest ER in state
• Total number of ER Trauma Admissions per year: 5263 (2023)
• Patients with an ISS Greater than 17 Admitted: 1074 (2023)

Atrium Health Mercy

Atrium Health Mercy, a 185-bed hospital located 1 mile from Carolinas Medical Center, is the home of the Musculoskeletal Institute. The orthopaedic trauma service has daily block time at this facility. Procedures performed at this facility include post fracture arthroplasty, periarticular fractures (pilon, plateau, distal radius, calcaneus, etc.), nonunion, malunion, and osseointegration. There are approximately 600 outpatient trauma procedures performed per year at this facility.

Case Log Report at Mercy

Requirements for Graduation

The fellows are evaluated twice a year using the ACGME Milestone Evaluation Tool. As well, the fellows are expected to complete a research project and have a manuscript ready for publication by the end of their fellowship year.

Research

The Orthopaedic Clinical Research Department assists the faculty, fellows and residents in their research projects and makes sure that all projects meet the IRB standards.

Orthopaedic Clinical Research Staff consists of: 4 PhDs, 7 research personnel, and 5 research associates. 

Fellows’ Monthly Conference Schedule

Education, Research and Events

Orthopaedic Surgery Department Grand Rounds: 6:45 a.m. on Thursday mornings

Educational Program highlights include cadaveric labs, simulation labs, pelvis, flap, and upper extremity. Practice management and value-based care are also incorporated into the fellows’ curriculum.

Fellows will also participate in a monthly journal club, weekly didactics, and weekly informal check-ins.

Salary

Salary is commensurate with the PGY-6 level.

Travel

The Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship program provides financial support for travel. The fellows are encouraged to attend the Orthopedic Trauma Association's Annual meeting and one other trauma or fracture related meeting. Five educational travel days.

Vacation

Twenty working days of vacation are allowed.

Learn More

Contact our program coordinator for more information about the Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship program:

Madison Griffin
Phone:217-898-0923
Email: Madison.Griffin@atriumhealth.org