Thank you for your interest in the Hand, Upper Extremity, and Microvascular Surgery Fellowship at Rush University.

Our fellowship provides broad clinical training and research opportunities within the full spectrum of upper extremity surgery, including several areas which are traditionally difficult to receive training in such as microsurgery, congenital hand, complex elbow surgery, and an elective in shoulder surgery if the fellow so chooses. Clinical settings are as diverse as the clinical exposure; including time spent at a high-volume tertiary care academic center, a level I trauma county hospital, and designated congenital hand at a pediatric hospital.

Applicants must have successfully completed a U.S. or Canadian orthopaedic residency prior to the fellowship year and be eligible for permanent licensure in Illinois.

For additional information, please contact Phyllis Velez, Fellowship Coordinator, at 312-942-5850 or by e-mail at phyllis_j_velez@rush.edu.

Fellows will proceed though three or four different rotations (depending on whether or not they choose the shoulder elective) and in the process learn from eight faculty whose practices are dedicated to the care of the hand and upper extremity. This will be in the form of an apprenticeship, where during each rotation the trainee spends consistent time both in the office and the operating room with select faculty to maintain effective continuity of care. Practice settings include office and operative time at Rush University Medical Center and its affiliates, John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County, and Shriners Hospital for Children. The diversity in patient population and resources at a private tertiary academic hospital, a county hospital, and a non-for-profit children's hospital will broaden the fellow's experience and teach them to thrive in multiple health care delivery systems, a critical part of the fellow's training.

The educational curriculum includes a weekly dedicated hand conference, weekly indications conference, regular cadaveric dissections, intermittent upper extremity lectures as part of resident core curriculum lectures, shoulder lectures as part of the sports medicine fellowship conference, and department-wide functions such as Grand Rounds and Morbidity and Mortality conference. There is a monthly Journal Club where current publications and classic articles will be reviewed. All fellows will be required to participate in research and collaboration with basic scientists, residents, and students at the medical center is encouraged to help make the research process efficient and productive. Research funds will be available solely for this purpose. Regular bi-monthly research meetings for the hand division will be held to monitor progress, assure regulatory compliance, and troubleshoot potential problems on all active projects.

This program is unique in its ability to teach general hand surgery, microsurgery including trauma and reconstruction, as well as congenital hand and surgery of the elbow and shoulder in a high-volume and diverse setting.

We accept the Universal Hand Surgery Fellowship application. Complete and return the application along with a photo, personal statement and a copy of your curriculum vitae. Please arrange to have three letters of recommendation forwarded from physicians or researchers who are familiar with your work. No supplemental application forms are required.

Rush participates in the NRMP Hand Fellowship Specialty Match. For a Hand Surgery Specialty Match applicant agreement, contact the NRMP.

Please submit your application and letters of recommendation to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Education office at the location listed below by December 31. After review of the applications, potential candidates will be invited to Chicago in March for a visit and interview.

Rush University Department of Orthopedic Surgery
Attn: Phyllis Velez, Hand & UE Fellowship Program
1611 West Harrison, Suite 201
Chicago, IL 60612
Phone: 312-942-5850
E-mail: phyllis_j_velez@rush.edu