Summary of our strategy for promoting resident research

The Department of Orthopaedics has implemented various strategies for promoting resident research. The very first step in this process has been to create awareness among faculty, residents, and students that excellence in research and excellence in patient care are strongly connected. In addition, we have created an environment that allows orthopaedic surgeons in training to successfully conduct research projects. We are providing numerous resources for our residents that will allow their research to thrive. An important resource is dedicated time. Since the beginning of the academic year 2017/2018, our second-year residents have a dedicated research rotation that will allow them to focus on the development of a research project that they will continue to pursue throughout their residency. Another important resource is mentorship. It has been the experience that resident research project frequently fail due to lack of mentorship. At UT Health San Antonio orthopaedic residents are paired up with a faculty research mentor as they develop their research project early on in residency. Finally, we support our residents with appropriate logistics including laboratory space for basic science projects, access to statistical support and research coordinators, as well as financial support for research expenses and traveling to scientific meetings.

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