Program Description

The Pediatric Orthopedic and Scoliosis Clinical Fellowship provides unique opportunities for broad and practical exposure to pediatric orthopedics:

Rady Children’s is the sole pediatric hospital serving a greater metropolitan area of more than 5 million people in San Diego County, Riverside County, Imperial County and the Northern territory of Baja California, Mexico. Furthermore, the Hospital is affiliated with the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. Orthopedic residents from that program together with orthopedic residents from the Naval Regional Medical Center (San Diego) and the San Antonio Military Medical Center
receive their pediatric orthopedic training here.
The training program is located in a broad-based general pediatric hospital with a Level I trauma center, which provides exposure to pediatric musculoskeletal trauma and infections in addition to traditional, elective pediatric orthopedics (scoliosis, neuromuscular disease, hip preservation, children’s hip and foot disorders, sports and adolescent medicine, etc.).
The training program provides exposure to a nationally recognized staff of full-time pediatric orthopedic surgeons, who are:
- Past presidents of POSNA
- Active members in SRS, HARMS study group, ROCK study group, PRISM, IHDI, IPSG, CORTICES, AOSSM, IPOTT, OTA and other organizations
- Subspecialty certified (Sports medicine)

The department also has an average of 38 peer-reviewed publications each year.

Opportunities exist for clinical and research exposure to three core areas: scoliosis, hip, and sports/trauma. Fellows also have the opportunity to participate in both animal research projects and biomechanical testing studies in the Orthopedic Biomechanics Research Center (Dr. Eric Edmonds, Director)
The fellowship provides high-volume operative experience to optimally train fellows for clinical practice. A unique feature of the program allows full medical staff membership at Rady Children’s Hospital for fellows, with ample individual responsibility to prepare them for full time pediatric orthopedic practice. Fellows are also educated in the business aspects of building a practice. Upon completion of their education the fellows are prepared for a children’s orthopedic / scoliosis career in an academic center, a private practice, or a combination thereof.