Trauma Doctors - left to right: David Barei, Chris Allan, Doug Hanel, Chip Routt, Lisa Taitsman, Bruce Sangeorzan, Sohail Mirza, and Sean Nork

About the ACE Program

Clinical Description

How to Apply

Applicants should have a firm commitment to a career in academics. Our programs are in-depth clinical experiences and include basic and clinical research and teaching for medical students and residents. Application inquiries, along with curriculum vitae and names/addresses of four references should be addressed to the coordinator of the appropriate program (the first person named under each program) and sent to the following address:

The University of Washington is an equal opportunity employer.

Application Downloads

• Application for Advanced Clinical Experience (MS Word Document) (0.04 MB)
• Orthopedics Tumor Application for ACE (Adobe PDF) (0.35 MB)
• Application for Advanced Clinical Experience (MS Word Document) (0.04 MB)

The Advanced Clinical Experience (ACE) programs at Harborview Medical Center are all contracted or making preparations to participate in a match program. Please see the information below providing specifics for each of our three programs.

Thank you for your interest in our programs. If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Jordan.

About the Tumor ACE

Coordinators:

• Ernest U. Conrad III, M.D.
  Professor & Co-Vice Chair Orthopedics Services - UWMC
  Director, Sarcoma Services - UWMC
  Director, Pediatric Bone Tumor Clinic - CHMC
• Jason Scott Weisstein, M.D.
  Associate Professor

Address:

Department of Orthopedics, Box 356500
School of Medicine
(206) 543-3690
Fax: (206) 685-3139

Institutions:

• University of Washington Medical Center
• Children's Hospital & Medical Center

Profile and Educational Goals

The University of Washington Musculoskeletal Tumor Service is composed of two clinical services: an adult service at the University of Washington Medical Center and a pediatric service at Children's Hospital and Medical Center. Both services are extremely active and center around coordinated multidisciplinary clinics managed by orthopedic surgery and medical oncology personnel in addition to resident and fellow house staff. Weekly multidisciplinary conferences are held with staff members from radiology, pathology and radiation therapy. The adult and pediatric services are each coordinated by a dedicated nurse oncologist, and the services conjointly evaluate approximately 600 new patients per year (350 adults and 250 children). The orthopedic service carries out approximately 500 procedures per year, including 100 osseous limb salvage procedures and 150 soft-tissue sarcoma procedures.

Unique to our oncology program is its close relationship with the Northwest Tissue Center. The Northwest Tissue Center serves the Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho (WAMI) regions. It represents one of the largest accredited tissue banks in North America. It is the only tissue bank in the world that combines the resources of a major university medical center with a regional organ-procurement agency and a large non-profit blood center.

The Northwest Tissue Center was founded in 1988 as a collaboration between the University of Washington Department of Orthopedics, the Puget Sound Blood Center, and the Northwest Kidney Foundation. Dr. Conrad has served as both its co-director and medical director since its inception.

The basic science research program associated with the musculoskeletal tumor service collaborates with scientists located primarily within the Department of Orthopedics. There are multiple genetic and molecular oncology studies currently in progress, in addition to several prospective clinical studies for high-grade malignancies and a comprehensive bone transplant immunology project.

The Advanced Clinical Experience (ACE) program was established in 1990 and, to-date, has remained a one-year fellowship involving primarily clinical responsibilities. ACEs have access to a maximum of $1,000 in book and travel funds during their fellowship year and are protected from non-tumor activities within the Department of Orthopedics. Future plans can be made for an additional year of basic science research within the department as those interests arise. The educational goal of this ACE program is to train orthopedic oncologists with a strong interest in pathology and prospective protocols. The surgical management taught emphasizes a balance between allograft transplantation and modular implant reconstructions depending on the age of the patient and the extent and location of the resection.

A Washington state medical license must be obtained prior to the start date for each fellowship. At present, the program year commences on the first of August. We are currently accepting applications for the Musculoskeletal Tumor
ACE position for 2011-2012 year.

About the Shoulder & Elbow ACE

Coordinator:

Frederick A. Matsen III, M.D.
Professor and Chairman
Chief, Shoulder & Elbow Service

Address:

Department of Orthopedics, Box 356500
School of Medicine
(206) 543-3690
Fax: (206) 685-3139

Profile and Educational Goals

 Clinical

Our patients come from a wide area, predominantly the states of Washington, Montana, Idaho, and Alaska. Their problems range from straight forward traumatic instability to complex revisions of shoulder arthroplasty. We also care for a substantial number of patients with upper extremity malignancies. Our clinical goal is to offer excellent service to the referring physicians and patients of our region. We perform an average of 300 shoulder procedures per year and see an average of 3,000 out-patient visits per year.

Teaching

Our educational commitment is to provide for students, residents, and practicing physicians the most up-to-date information and techniques on the evaluation and management of shoulder disorders. A junior resident and a chief resident are assigned to the Shoulder Service.

Research

We are actively engaged in clinical research using a standing computerized database as well as morphologic research and biomechanical investigations using six degree of freedom motion and force transducers.

The Aceship

The University of Washington Medical Center Shoulder Aceship is a one-year in depth experience. The shoulder ACE is actively involved in the patient care, teaching, and research activities of this service. While a ACE does not displace the residents at the operating table, he or she has a substantial operating experience in complex cases and on more routine cases coming to his or her private clinic. The ACE is expected to participate actively in the teaching of medical students, residents, and in continuing medical education. The fellow is expected to complete two laboratory and two clinical research projects during the year.

Qualifications

The ACE must have completed a certified residency program in orthopedics at the time the fellowship is started. The ACE should have a commitment to full-time academic orthopedics.

Interested candidates should write to Frederick A. Matsen III, M.D., Shoulder and Elbow Service, Department of Orthopedics, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Box 356500, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195-6500. The application should include a curriculum vitae, a statement of professional plans and goals, and four letters of recommendation.

History

In 1966 the University of Washington assumed control of the King County Medical Center, which then became Harborview Medical Center. Donald Gunn, M.D. was the Chief of Orthopedics at Harborview Medical Center in 1968-9, and Sigvard T. Hansen Jr., M.D. was the Chief Resident in Orthopedic Surgery. D. Kay Clawson, M.D. was the Chief of Orthopedics for the University of Washington, of which Harborview Medical Center was a major component.

In 1971, Dr. Hansen visited Gerhardt Kuntscher and learned advanced techniques of medullary nailing. He was involved in the early North American AO/ASIF development and, in particular, worked with Hans Willenegger.

In 1972 Dr. Hansen became chief of Orthopedics at Harborview Medical Center and established the roots of aggressive management of long bone and pelvic fractures. In 1973 Drs. Clawson and Hansen attended the AO Course in Davos, Switzerland. Thereafter, stable fixation became the treatment of choice at Harborview. Dr. Robert A. Winquist began his six years Harborview tenure in 1974. He gained extensive clinical experience with closed medullary nailing of femur fractures, as well as open reduction and internal fixation of metaphyseal and articular fractures.

The first Advanced Clinical Experience (ACE) in Orthopedics was obtained by Dr. Jos Stuyck of Belgium in 1979. Since that time, there have been over 100 orthopedists trained in traumatology at Harborview Medical Center through the ACE and AO Fellowship programs. AO Fellowships are 1-3 months scholarships administered through Harborview Medical Center and funded by AO International.

OTACE Program

The twelve months Advanced Clinical Experience in Orthopedic Traumatology is a complete experience involving patient care, teaching, and opportunities for basic and clinical research. The Orthopedic Trauma ACE rotates through three individual clinical services. The clinical rotations are 3 months in duration. Each service or team consists of the OTACE, a chief resident, two junior residents, and medical students. Fourteen full-time experienced faculty members are divided among the teams. Each team has subspecialty emphasis and dedication. Trauma related team subspecialty areas include spine, foot/ankle, complex articular, pelvic/acetabular, amputation, soft tissue reconstruction, upper extremity, deformity reconstruction, among others.

Clinical experience and teaching are profuse. The clinical component of the OTACE introduces the orthopedist to many operative and nonoperative techniques used in polytrauma with special emphasis on stable internal fixation. Advanced and innovative techniques of internal fixation are emphasized.

The OTACE takes call on average every third night for 9 months. The primary on-call responsibilities in the hospital belong to the junior and senior UW HMC orthopedic residents. One junior resident is assigned to the ward, and one to the Emergency Department. The OTACE may take call from home, or in the hospital with the team. An attending faculty member participates on call with the team each night.

The OTACE works in the assigned team's orthopedic clinic one day per week. The OTACEs clinical responsibilities include operative procedures as surgeon and assistant, daily ward rounds, and emergency patient care along with the chief or junior resident. The average ward census for an ACE is fifteen to twenty patients covered primarily by the junior orthopedic resident, supervised by the chief resident. One elective operating day per attending is assigned, and other operative procedures are scheduled throughout the week.

The fourth three months rotation is dedicated to research. At least one basic science or clinical project is required during the year. Ideally, a clinical project is a prospective clinical trial. A trauma data base facilitates other clinical projects. The facilities for basic science research are located in the new Research Building at Harborview. Biomechanical studies related to internal fixation of numerous fractures have been designed and implemented by former OTACEs. Similarly, almost any investigation can be developed.

The orthopedic conference schedule includes a Monday morning resident education conference from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. at the University of Washington. Most OTACEs do not attend these mandatory conferences for residents. Grand Rounds occur the first Monday of each month at the Virginia Mason Clinic, located adjacent to Harborview. On site Wednesday morning teaching sessions, held at Harborview from 7:00 a.m to 9:00 a.m., involve case presentations by the ACE and/or chief resident. In addition, weekly traumatology teaching rounds occur every Thursday at 5:00 p.m. Each Friday morning, a one hour pelvic/acetabular teaching session emphasizes these difficult injuries. Monthly spine conferences are held in conjunction with the Neurosurgical department. An annual pelvic and acetabular cadaveric lab and skills workshop for OTACEs, senior residents, and AO fellows is held.

Goals

Trauma Doctors

• Christopher H. Allan, MD
• David Barei, M.D.
• Daphne M. Beingessner, BMath, BSc, MSc, MD, FRCSC
• Carlo Bellabarba, MD
• Stephen K. Benirschke, MD
• Richard J. Bransford, MD
• Jens R. Chapman, MD
• Ted S. Gross, PhD
• Douglas P. Hanel, MD
• Sigvard T. Hansen, Jr., MD
• M. Bradford Henley, MD, MBA
• Sohail K. Mirza, MD
• Sean E. Nork, MD
• M.L. Chip Routt, Jr., MD
• Bruce J. Sangeorzan, MD
• Douglas G. Smith, MD
• Lisa A. Taitsman, MD, MPH
• Allan F. Tencer, PhD

Application Procedure

Application is available by going to www.sfmatch.org. Please complete and return to:

Please submit four recommendation letters to this address from physicians familiar with you, either through orthopedic training or subsequent experience. We prefer all individuals interested in this experience to visit our center and interview with most of our faculty.

Thank you for your interest in our program. Please feel free to contact us should you have any specific questions regarding the Advanced Clinical Experience in Orthopedic Traumatology at Harborview Medical Center.