Swift promoted to interim clinical manager
UAB Orthopaedic Surgery staff member Jennifer Swift has recently been promoted to interim clinical manager. Swift has been at UAB since January 2020 and was originally hired as the Clinical Call Center Lead.
Read moreResidents, faculty research featured in Journal of Surgical Education and Journal of the AAOS
UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery resident and faculty research was recently featured in the Journal of Surgical Education and the Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Read moreMcGee receives Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham 2020 Big of the Year
UAB Department of Surgery PGY2 resident Andrew McGee, M.D., was awarded the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Birmingham (BBBS) 2020 Big of the Year.
Read moreJohnson and Naranje promoted to associate professors
UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery faculty Michael Johnson, M.D. (left), and Sameer Naranje, M.D., MRCS (right), have been promoted to associate professors. Additionally, Johnson was granted tenure with UAB.
Read moreMomaya selected to serve as medical monitor for an NIH-funded study
UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Assistant Professor and Section Chief of Sports Medicine Amit Momaya, M.D., was selected to participate in an National Institutes of Health(NIH)-funded study for the Bridge-Enhanced® ACL Repair (BEAR®) Implant as a medical monitor.
Read moreUAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery selected as site for DOD study
UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery has been selected as a study site for the Major Extremity Trauma and Rehabilitation Consortium (METRC) investigation “A Prospective Study of Early Mechanical Stabilization and Bleeding in Disruption of the Pelvic Ring” (EMS-BIND), sponsored by the Department of Defense Peer-Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program.
Read moreDepartment welcomes Lisa Kafchinski, MD, a musculoskeletal oncologist
This month, the UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery welcomed musculoskeletal oncologist Lisa Kafchinski, M.D., as an assistant professor.
Read morePonce presents gender inequality research, wins top poster
UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Professor Brent Ponce, M.D., won first place for his poster: “Gender Inequality: Is There a Bias in Industry Compensations?” in the category Critical Issues at the of the virtual 2020 American Orthopaedic Association (AOA) Annual Leadership Meeting.
This is the second year in a row that a faculty member from the department has won this category. There were 12 poster categories overall and several hundred submissions. Other poster categories included foot and ankle, spine, shoulder and elbow, sports medicine and more.
This year, the meeting was conducted entirely virtually, including the poster presentation section. The AOA partnered with iPosters to host a platform for the e-posters. Poster presenters were able to log in and create an e-poster that could be reviewed by all attendees and members of the AOA.
The purpose of Ponce's study was to compare payments in the CMS Open Payment Database according to gender in a 10% random sample of all physicians providers from 2014-2017. A total of 3,624,604 industry payment transactions for a total compensation of $2,121,953,115 was identified over the 4 year period for 66,388 physicians (68% male/32% female). Median annual compensation for male physicians was $170 compared to $111 for female physicians (p<0.001). The proportion of males receiving more than $1,000,000 in compensation was twice that of females (0.8% Vs. 0.4%; p<0.001). The median annual compensation for royalties/licensing was $20,226 for males and $717 for females (p=0.005). Compensation gender differences were greater for surgeons (men 2.2 times higher than women) than for non-surgeons (men 1.4 times higher than women). The findings from the CMS OPD information identified that gender inequality in physician compensation from pharmaceutical and medical device companies exists. The data provides a snapshot of the medical profession’s relationship with industry and can be used as a reference point to monitor changes over time.
Although poster winners were announced, the 2020 AOA meeting will continue over the course of the next few weeks. The conference is ACGME accredited and will serve as a continuing medical education opportunity for physicians, who will advance their knowledge of orthopaedic surgery and science and learn new practices that can be implemented to improve patient care.
Spitler selected to co-chair a committee on trans-tibial amputations
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Associate Professor Clay Spitler, M.D., was selected to co-chair an American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Clinical Practice Guideline Committee on trans-tibial amputations.
Read moreConway named 2020 UAB Emergency Medicine Resident Consultant of the Year
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery PGY-3 resident Yvonne Conway, M.D., was named the 2020 UAB Emergency Medicine (EM) Resident Consultant of the year at the UAB Department of Emergency Medicine resident graduation.
Conway was selected for this award in recognition of her commitment and assistance to the physicians and patients in the UAB Department of Emergency Medicine and was honored for her contributions to the department during the virtual graduation for EM residents, alongside this year’s outgoing EM residents and annual departmental award winners.
Managing a high-volume, tertiary care emergency department involves the expertise of many specialists, so the core UAB value of collaboration is always welcome. Award recipients demonstrate the ability to thrive in a collaborative environment that is inherently fast-paced and stressful while also showing dedication to patients and commitment to resident education.
“We would like to recognize you for your hard work, your unwavering professionalism, and your collegiality. Your commitment to our patients, our medical center, and our community is greatly appreciated,” said Department of Emergency Medicine Residency Program Director Charles Khoury, M.D., MSHA of the award recipients.
Pediatric Orthopedics ranks 47th in the nation
In the 2020-2021 Best Children’s Hospitals survey, U.S. News & World Report (USNWR) ranked Pediatric Orthopedics at Children’s Hospital of Alabama at UAB 47th in the nation.
Read moreRecap: 2020 Resident Research Day
This year, the annual Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Resident Research Day looked a bit different, but the mission of supporting the research efforts of residents remains the same.
Read moreOrthopaedic Surgery Residency celebrates its 2020 graduates
This month, the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery said “goodbye” to its six outgoing residents who will leave UAB for their next career steps, taking them across the nation. As part of this year’s resident graduation and annual Resident Research Day, the department presented residents and supporting faculty with several awards in recognition of their accomplishments.
Read moreJohnson co-authors "Impact of COVID-19 on away rotations in surgical fields"
Michael Johnson, M.D., co-authored “Impact of COVID-19 on away rotations in surgical fields,” published in the Journal of Surgical Research.
UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Assistant Professor Read moreChief residents gear up for ABOS Boards
Each year, as Department of Orthopaedic Surgery PGY5 residents approach the end of their residency, they begin to dedicate most of their time to preparing for the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS) board exam.
Read moreNaranje awarded UAB Faculty Development Grant
UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Assistant Professor Sameer Naranje, M.D, MRCS, was awarded $10,000 in funding through the UAB Faculty Development Grant Program (FDGP). Naranje also serves as the director of the Fracture Fragility Care Program at UAB.
Read moreJohnson and Shah awarded an OMeGA grant for the Foot and Ankle Fellowship
UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Associate Professor, Foot and Ankle Fellowship Director and Director of Clinical Research Ashish Shah, M.D., and Assistant Professor Michael Johnson, M.D., were awarded a one-year, $60,000 OMeGA grant.
Read moreOrthopaedic Surgery GEMs
The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery prides itself on how our employees embody the mission and vision of UAB. Oftentimes, our employees "go the extra mile" to for their patients and colleagues. Below are many of our Ortho GEMs.
Read moreResidents sweep the AOS essay competition
UAB Department of Orthopaedic Surgery residents Jonathan Isbell, M.D., Jeff Pearson, M.D., and James McMurtrie, M.D., placed first, second and third- respectively- in the Alabama Orthopaedic Society’s (AOS) Chestley L. Yelton Resident Essay Competition.
Isbell’s paper, “Resilience Correlates with Patient Reported Outcomes After Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty,” received first place in the annual competition. Isbell’s co-authors included UAB medical students Alex Dombrowsky, Graham Kirchner, Tyler Montgomery, as well as Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Assistant Professor Eugene Brabston, M.D., Professor Brent Ponce, M.D., and Assistant Professor and Chief of Sports Medicine Amit Momaya, M.D.
As the primary presenter for his paper, Isbell will receive a cash award of $1,500 from the AOS. Isbell, Pearson and McMurtrie would have presented their essays at the Alabama, Mississippi and Florida Orthopaedic Societies 2020 in Point Clear, Alabama, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the annual meeting has been canceled. Although unable to present his essay, Isbell is pleased to have placed in the competition and recognizes the impact his paper has on orthopaedics.
“This study further demonstrates the importance of resilience in patient reports outcomes, specifically as it relates to reverse total shoulder arthroplasty,” said Isbell. “In a climate where patient reported outcomes are becoming increasingly scrutinized, it is important for surgeons to identify patients whom may be less resilient and have a candid discussion regarding both the surgeon's and the patient's expectations.”
Pearson’s paper won second place and was titled, “Comparison of Compression Plating through Circular and Oblong Holes with Eccentric Drill Placement.” His paper was co-authored by Bridgette Love, M.D., Ponce, Kayla Rettig, M.D., Alan Eberhardt, M.D., and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery Assistant Professor and Trauma Section Chief Jon Quade, M.D.
McMurtie’s paper, “The Effect of Corticosteroid Injection on Rotator Cuff Repair: A Systematic Review,” took home third place. His paper was co-authored by AM Cimino, C Garrison as well as Isbell, Brabston, Ponce and Momaya.
Hello, goodbye 2020: Orthopaedic Surgery Residency
Although Match Day 2020 did not look exactly like match day in years past due to the COVID-19 outbreak, fourth-year medical students across the country engaged online through social media, sharing where they were matched. While it was impossible to have everyone in the same room at one time, the excitement could still be felt virtually.
That means that it is time for us to say goodbye to our chief orthopaedic surgery residents who have matched into fellowship programs or private practice. But, it is also time to say hello to our incoming residents from medical schools across the nation.
As part of our annual series, the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery will feature incoming and outgoing trainees for all UAB Orthopaedics programs. Read more about the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency below, as well as its six new residents and its six graduating residents.
Hello
The Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program welcomes six new residents from Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Virginia and Massachusetts. Of those six residents, one is a UAB student: Alex Heatherly.
Heatherly said he was impressed by UAB’s Orthopaedic Surgery Residency and is looking forward to sharing in the feeling of camaraderie observed between the program’s faculty and residents.
“I chose UAB Orthopedics because of my memorable experience during my medical school rotation. The group of residents in this program shared a great deal of comradery while working, and their enjoyment in the work provided an unmatched work environment," said Heatherly. "I was confident there would be a large volume of operative experience, and I knew there would be limitless opportunities while working at UAB. The faculty are truly invested in the success of not only the program, but in the residents as professionals individually.”
*More information about incoming residents to be added during onboarding in June 2020.
Incoming Residents
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Andrews, Nicholas, M.D.
Andrews, Nicholas, M.D.
Hometown: Titusville, Florida
Undergraduate: University of Florida; Gainesville, FL
Medical School: University of Central Florida; Orlando, FL
Why I Chose UAB: UAB offers the outstanding clinical volume, research infrastructure, and collegial resident culture that I sought in a residency program. I quickly noticed that the faculty here fostered deep bonds with their residents and truly invested in their development as future leaders in orthopaedics.
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Bonner, Vince, M.D.
Bonner, Vince, M.D.
Hometown: Roanoke, AL
Undergraduate: Auburn University; Auburn, AL
Medical School: UAB Heersink School of Medicine; Birmingham, AL
Why I Chose UAB: I wanted a program to give me the confidence to go out in practice at the end of these five years and take care of any case that may come my way. I'm confident that the high volume of cases here will prepare me for any situation after residency. Also, the mentorship and camaraderie here are second to none. You can be in the trenches with your co-residents in the hospital, but still be super close and have a good time outside of work.
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Farahani, Farzam, M.D.
Farahani, Farzam, M.D.
Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate: The University of Texas, Austin, TX
Medical School: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX
Why I Chose UAB: The overall structure, with a comprehensive clinical experience and high operative volume really attracted me to the program. The faculty and residents here are undoubtedly hard workers, friendly, and very supportive of each other.
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Halstrom, Jared, M.D.
Halstrom, Jared, M.D.
Hometown: Bellmore, NY
Undergraduate: The University of Alabama; Tuscaloosa, AL
Medical School: UAB Heersink School of Medicine; Birmingham, AL
Why I Chose UAB: As a medical student, UAB provided my first exposure to orthopedics. As I started to learn about other programs, I quickly realized how unique UAB is. We have an extremely high volume of orthopedic cases and hardworking faculty who are passionate about teaching.
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Patch, David, M.D.
Patch, David, M.D.
Hometown: Macon, GA
Undergraduate: Georgia College; Milledgeville, GA
Medical School: St. George’s University; St. George’s, Grenada
Why I Chose UAB: UAB was my top choice for residency due to the programs cohesive culture, exceptional leadership, and access to top notch academic opportunities. After completing a research fellowship with UAB, I witnessed the work ethic of the program and believe it ensures the highest level of training among mentors, and colleagues, who are committed to the future of orthopaedic surgery.
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Starnes, Ellie, M.D.
Starnes, Ellie, M.D.
Hometown: Monroe, LA
Undergraduate: University of Louisiana at Monroe
Medical School: LSU health - Shreveport
Why I Chose UAB: I was very impressed with how well rounded each subspecialty of orthopedics is represented here. I also loved how well the residents got along not only amongst themselves, but also with the faculty. The city of Birmingham also has so much to offer in terms of places to eat, hangout, and explore.
Outgoing Residents
Six graduating residents of the Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program will soon leave UAB to take positions in fellowship programs at six different institutions across six different states throughout the country.
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Christie, Matthew, M.D.
Christie, Matthew, M.D.
Post-Residency: Joint Study in Salt Lake City, Utah
Hometown: Nashville, TN
Undergraduate: Tufts University; Boston, MA
Medical School: University of Virginia; Charlottesville, VA
Why I chose UAB: Overall, I felt that UAB offered the perfect balance of surgical exposure, didactic time, and research opportunity. -
Hunter, Allison, M.D.
Hunter, Allison, M.D.
Post-Residency: Hand/Upper Extremity Fellowship at the Philadelphia Hand to Shoulder Center, Thomas Jefferson University
Hometown: Ashland, KY
Undergraduate: University of Louisville; Louisville, KY
Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine; Louisville, KY
Why I chose UAB: As a rotator, I found myself comparing all of my experiences as a student to my time at UAB during interview time. -
Hyde, Zane, M.D.
Hyde, Zane, M.D.
Post-Residency: VA- Sports Medicine at the University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Hometown: Trussville, AL
Undergraduate: University of Alabama; Tuscaloosa, AL
Medical School: UAB Heersink School of Medicine; Birmingham, AL
Why I chose UAB: UAB is a great program that exposes you to all aspects of orthopaedics, representing all of the subspecialties on one major medical campus. -
Odom, Christopher, M.D.
Odom, Christopher, M.D.
Post-Residency: Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Hometown: Arlington, TX
Undergraduate: Baylor University; Waco, TX
Medical School: Texas Tech; El Paso, TX
Why I chose UAB: I chose UAB because I felt like it was the whole package-- the program has an outstanding reputation; -
Pearson, Jeff, M.D.
Pearson, Jeff, M.D.
Post-Residency: Southern Joint Replacement Institute in Nashville, TN
Hometown: Shreveport, LA
Undergraduate: Louisiana State University; Baton Rouge, LA
Medical School: Louisiana State University Shreveport; Shreveport, LA
Why I chose UAB: Birmingham is a great place to live and work. I knew I wanted to stay in the South, -
Yu, Jonathan, M.D.
Yu, Jonathan, M.D.
Post-Residency: Vanderbilt Orthopaedics, Hand and Upper Extremity Fellowship
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Undergraduate: Brown University; Providence, RI
Medical School: UAB Heersink School of Medicine; Birmingham, AL
Why I chose UAB: UAB offered the best combination of technical training, surgical exposure, and research opportunities,