Pediatric orthopaedic surgery enjoys a prominent place in the history of medicine in Pittsburgh. Dr Albert B. Ferguson, Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh from 1953 to 1986, and Dr William F. Donaldson, the 1975 President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, were both pioneers in the field. Dr Ferguson focused on early surgical treatment of DDH and Dr Donaldson specialized in spinal deformity surgery for children.
The Pediatric Orthopaedic Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh was approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in 2012 and since has had a fellow in training each year. This is a one year fellowship in pediatric orthopaedic surgery with a board exposure to all pediatric orthopaedic conditions and diagnoses, including spinal deformity, trauma, and complex congenital abnormalities. Fellows apply and are selected through the San Francisco Match process.
An applicant must have completed an ACGME accredited orthopaedic surgery residency and be able to attain a Pennsylvania Medical License. The fellow participates in the care of pediatric orthopaedic patients in the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the associated pediatric orthopaedic clinics. Currently there are seven full-time pediatric orthopaedic surgeons attending at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh and the fellow works with all seven.
This fellowship includes a large volume of tertiary level surgical reconstructions as well as a wide exposure to the clinical management of complex pediatric orthopaedic conditions. With only one fellow accepted into the program each year, there is a unique focus on the training of this individual. The program contains an especially broad exposure to children with spine deformity, hip preservation requirements, trauma, and sports injuries. In addition the fellow participates in the treatment of children in the Erie Shriner’s Outpatient Clinic and Ambulatory Surgery Center. These patients often have complex, tertiary level deformities and receive their hospital care at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. Opportunities and requirements for fellow participation also exist in resident education and research.
