Welcome to the Columbia Orthopedics Residency

The Department of Orthopedic Surgery at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons has earned a reputation as one of the leading academic orthopedic departments in the nation. Our rich tradition in orthopedic surgery dates back to 1866 when the New York Orthopaedic Dispensary—later named the New York Orthopaedic Hospital—opened its doors. Since that time, the department has grown into a preeminent center for quality patient care, research, and education.

The training of residents is one of our most important missions—and we are very proud that many of today’s leading orthopedic surgeons throughout the United States and abroad have trained here at Columbia. The excellence of our training program reflects the dedication of our 43 faculty members, who combine their commitment to educating future leaders in the field of orthopedic surgery and their recognized expertise as clinicians and scientists. It is also an enormous advantage for all our residents to be trained in one of the nation’s leading academic medical centers, which was recently ranked as a top five hospital in the nation by U.S. News & World Report and continues to be recognized as the best hospital in New York City.

Our five-year program, which participates in the National Residency Matching Program, has a total of 30 residents—who spend a majority of their time at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center in northern Manhattan. In addition, our residents have the privilege of training at the premier trauma center in the country, the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center at the University of Maryland. The department also supports all PGY-5 residents’ participation in an international orthopedics rotation of their choosing.

Along with extensive clinical experience, all of our residents participate in a wide variety of research, including a dedicated two-month research rotation. In addition to the extensive clinical research conducted by each of our specialty services, the department is engaged in groundbreaking basic science research through the Carroll Laboratories for Orthopedic Surgery, which was established to develop breakthrough therapies in patient diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Steve Thomopoulos, PhD, is the Director of the Laboratory. He also serves as the primary mentor for a 6-year track resident who will complete a year of clinical, translational, and/or basic research prior to the start of their clinical training the following year.

We invite you to learn more about our outstanding training program and thank you for your interest in Columbia Orthopedics.