Duke University Hospital Program

Orthopaedic Surgery Analyst Verified · Apr 20, 2023

Duke University Hospital Program

Duke University Hospital Program is a residency program specializing in Orthopaedic Surgery, located in Durham, North Carolina, directed by William C. Eward, MD, DVM and coordinated by Wendy Thompson. The program accepts applications through September 16, 2027 and holds an accreditation status of Continued. International Medical Graduates interested in this program may contact the program coordinator directly at [email protected] or (919) 684-3104. IMGPrep analysts have verified and compiled this program’s IMG acceptance rate, USMLE Step 1 and Step 2 score requirements, Visa Sponsorship Policy, graduation year cutoff, and ECFMG certificate requirements — available to IMGPrep subscribers.

Program Identity & Fit

Duke's Orthopaedic Surgery residency is a five-year, academic, tertiary/quaternary program built around a highly structured, competency-based curriculum with dedicated 3-month basic science/research blocks and senior-year elective time for research or subspecialty depth. The program draws on Duke University Hospital, Duke Regional, the Durham VA, and an extensive faculty research infrastructure (Clinical Research Unit, Duke Clinical Research Institute partnership, K-Lab motion analysis, Human Fresh Tissue Laboratory) supporting both basic science and clinical/epidemiologic investigation. Resident scholarly output is substantial and expected, not incidental—686+ presentations and 650+ publications by residents over seven years—reflecting a program that treats research as integral to surgical training rather than optional enrichment. The explicit mission to produce "academic or community leaders," combined with graduated autonomy across nearly every subspecialty twice (junior and senior), signals a program valuing residents who can operate independently in complex operative environments while contributing to the department's research output.

Who it fits

An applicant with demonstrated orthopaedic research productivity (basic science or clinical) and a trajectory toward academic or subspecialty fellowship-based practice, comfortable in a highly structured, high-volume tertiary training environment.

Research intensity

Central - dedicated protected research rotations, extensive research infrastructure, and residents are expected to produce substantial scholarly output.

Career orientation

Mixed - Academic Medicine, Fellowship

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