Orthopedic Surgery at McLaren Greater Lansing

The purpose of the Orthopedic Surgery Residency Training Program is to provide the resident with the knowledge, clinical, and surgical skills in all areas of orthopedic surgery necessary to ethically practice either academic or community orthopedic surgery at the highest possible level of competence by the completion of the training program. In 2020, the program achieved Continued Accreditation from the ACGME. The program is in consortium with Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Statewide Campus System (MSUCOM-SCS) and provides educational programs consisting of structured lectures and a basic science course.

The resident has a unique opportunity to learn orthopedics in the operating room, patient clinics, hospital rounds, and in formal and informal conferences. Ongoing and continuing medical education is assured and accomplished by at least eight (8) hours of teaching conferences each week, attended by faculty, trainees, and students. The orthopedic resident has daily and continuous contact with the faculty in the clinics, operating room, rounds, teaching conferences, and individual rotation conferences.

The program is affiliated with Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Sparrow Hospital, Hayes Green Beach Hospital, The Cleveland Clinic, and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. The assigned rotations include McLaren Orthopedic Hospital; Sparrow Hospital; Hayes Green Beach Hospital; Orthopedic Oncology at The Cleveland Clinic (Cleveland, OH); and Pediatrics at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital (Cincinnati, Ohio). Residents are provided with up to four (4) weeks for “fellowship interviewing” rotations during their fourth year of training.

Research

All residents are required to complete a research project as noted within the Basic Standards for Residency Training in Orthopedic Surgery. The type and format of the research project must be in compliance with the Basic Standards for Residency Training in Orthopedic Surgery.

Evaluating research requires that an opinion be formed regarding the overall creditability of a study. In addition, the ability to communicate new and essential medical information to the medical and lay community is a critical skill that all osteopathic orthopedic surgical residents should strive to acquire.

Over the course of a residency program, residents should be exposed to the development of scientific research. In order to successfully complete residency training in Orthopedic Surgery, residents must submit a scientific project for each of the following years in training PGY 3, PGY 4, and PGY 5. These are due in the PGY 3, PGY 4, and PGY 5 year. It is mandatory for MGL residents to present their research project at MSUCOM/SCS research program in June of the fifth year of residency. It is strongly urged that the resident present at the spring AOAO meeting. Additionally, it is also strongly recommended that the resident submit their presentation at any available local or regional program that allows for this venue.

In addition to fulfilling the research requirements to fulfill the Basic Standards for Residency Training in Orthopedic Surgery, residents are required to be involved in research from the beginning of their residency training at McLaren Greater Lansing to prepare them for advanced research projects later in their careers. Therefore, all first year residents (PGY-1) are required to submit an abstract for presentation at the annual Mid-Michigan Regional Research Day, which occurs annually, in April

A research project or poster presentation requires a great deal of time and effort. Assistance is available through MSUCOM/SCS, as well as through the Medical Education Department. Assistance in proper preparation of the poster presentation is also available.

Interview Residency Selection Process

The RESIDENCY SELECTION PROCESS is designed to be consistent and fair, based upon academic achievement, personal interview, and letters of recommendation. All candidates must be graduates of an osteopathic medical school.

An application package shall be considered complete once the following items have been received:

Completed application through Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).

Curriculum Vitae.

Official osteopathic medical school transcript.

Official COMLEX scores (level I and II).

Letters of recommendation (three to five, including a letter from the dean of the medical school).

Once the application is complete, the applicant will be contacted by the Department of Medical Education and will be advised of the status of his/her application and if an interview is to be granted.

Interviews are scheduled in October/November for anticipated acceptance into the next academic year (usually commencing in July). Interviews are with the entire Selection Committee comprised of the orthopedic residents and orthopedic faculty. Currently, the interview is a two-day process, Thursday and Friday. Thursday is primarily time spent with the residents as well as touring the facility. Following this session, there is an informal "meet and greet" dinner at a local restaurant, which allows for interaction between candidates, current residents, and teaching core faculty. The formal interview occurs on Friday, and our current process is for the candidate to be interviewed with the entire committee at one time (approximately 20-30 minutes per candidate).

It is ideal (but not mandatory) if the candidate has had a rotation at our facility, which better enables us to become exposed to the candidate, as well as for the candidate to become exposed to our program. We believe that it is important for the prospective resident to meet as many of the current residents as possible to get an overview of their perspective of the program, as well as to determine if the prospective candidate can work with the residents and be comfortable with the philosophy of the program. The orthopedic residency is a demanding residency, which requires intensive teamwork with the other residents.

Following the interview, committee members will fill out an evaluation form with their individual recommendations relative to the selection of the candidate. The committee will then submit their recommendations to the program director and final selection will be by the program director in conjunction with the committee. It is our goal to provide early feedback to the prospective candidate relative to the status of their application to our program. This is dependent on the timing of and the number of candidates' applying/interviewing for the program. It is our intent to notify prospective candidates of their status, in accordance with the AOA guidelines for the Match process. It is anticipated that there will be three (3) to four (4) positions funded for each year.

Core Faculty

Douglas Dietzel, DO - Program Director

Michigan Orthopedic Center:

Jason Cochran, DO

Meredith Heisey, DO

Daniel Mesko, DO

John Flood, DO

Patrick Noud, MD

Michael Swords, DO

Charles Taunt, DO

East Lansing Orthopaedic Association:

Erich Hornbach, MD

Michael McDermott, MD

Great Lakes Hand Surgery Center:

William Truluck, DO

Hayes Green Beach Hospital:

Jeremy Pascotto, DO

MSU Spine Clinic:

Mike Winkelpleck, DO

MSU Sports Medicine Clinic:

Douglas Dietzel, DO

Andrew Schorfhaar, DO

Michael Shingles, DO

Luke Wilcox, DO

MSU Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery:

Joseph Dewitt, DO

Sparrow Hospital:

Matthew Dubiel, MD

Michael Tucker, DO

Selection is not based on race, ethnicity, sex, religion, creed, national origin, age, or sexual orientation, or physical disability.