Millcreek Community Hospital Orthopedic Surgery Residency Program

Program Director:
Steven F. Habusta, D.O., FAOAO, M.Ed.
Telephone: (814)864-5455
Email: shabusta@lecom.edu

Mission

The mission of the Orthopedic Residency Program at Millcreek Community Hospital is to train orthopedic surgeons who will excel in their basic orthopedic science knowledge, be competent in orthopedic research and excel in surgical techniques. The residents are trained to meet all core competency requirements as defined by the AOA and, by completion of the residency program, will attain a Master's Degree in Medical Education.

Program Overview

The MCH Orthopedic Program is a five year AOA accredited residency. The first two years of training are heavily focused on basic science, research, basic fracture care and medical management of the post operative patient. Didactics within the program include weekly lectures at Millcreek, Hamot Hospital and the Erie Shriners Unit. Fracture conference is attended weekly. A resident operated clinic is also attended on a weekly basis allowing residents an opportunity to follow their patients through the course of surgical treatment and rehabilitation.

Research is encouraged on an annual basis with cadaveric research opportunities available at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. There is a pool of PhD research educators who are dedicated to assist in resident research. There is great opportunity to lecture and teach musculoskeletal medicine to LECOM medical students and junior residents.

A Masters degree in Medical Education is integrated into the resident curriculum. The Master's program is a two year course and required of all residents who complete our program.

The OITE in-service exam is administered annually and provides guidance on self-directed study. Self assessment exams are also administered on an annual basis. Weekly didactics include pediatrics, pathology, general orthopedic topics and fracture conference.

Required conference attendance over the training period includes the AO/ASIF Basic Fracture course, a basic orthopedic pathology course, and an AOAO midyear or annual convention. Rotations at affiliate hospitals include; Trauma, Pediatrics, Hand and Micro Surgery, General Orthopedics, Foot and Ankle, Spine, Sports Medicine and Adult Reconstruction.

The residency incorporates over 20 certified orthopedic attendings at the affiliate program hospitals. There are currently 9 board certified DO trainers in the program.

The surgical scope and volume of the program easily exceed AOAO requirements.

Orthopedic Lectures

Lectures

Rotations(schedules change yearly depending upon the number of residents in the program, the resident’s interests and the availability of affiliate institutions. The following example is a possible schedule.)

PGY 1---3 months general ortho; 2 months IM; 1 month ER; 1 month family practice; 2 months non-orthopedic surgery; 1 month OB-GYN and 2 months elective. This schedule fulfills AOAO requirements and of rotating internship in states that require rotating internship for licensure. Basic science and research including the master’s degree of medical education year on. Generalized orthopedic research at LECOM.

PGY 2---Pediatric orthopedics, General orthopedics, Master’s degree year two

PGY 3---Trauma, General orthopedics

PGY 4---Hand and Micro Surgery, General orthopedics

PGY 5---Trauma, General orthopedics

Affiliate Hospitals

GENERAL ORTHO – Millcreek Community Hospital: Erie, PA; UPMC Horizon: Farrell, PA; Meadville Medical Center: Meadville, PA, UHS Richmond Heights, Cleveland, Ohio

TRAUMA – UPMC Mercy: Pittsburgh, PA Level I trauma center

HAND/MICRO SURGERY – Hamot Medical Center: Erie, PA Level II trauma Center, UHS Richmond Heights, Cleveland, Ohio

PEDIATRICS- Shriners Hospital: Erie, PA

FOOT AND ANKLE - Meadville Medical Center: Meadville, PA

SPINE - Meadville Medical Center: Meadville, PA; Shriners Hospital: Erie, PA

ADULT RECONSTRUCTION - Meadville Medical Center: Meadville, PA, UHS Richmond Heights, Cleveland, Ohio

SPORTS MEDICINE - Meadville Medical Center: Meadville, PA

RESEARCH – Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and Millcreek Community Hospital

Orthopedic Research:

Research has to be specifically approved by the program director and completed yearly at LECOM during the first two years of the residency program. After that, research can be completed at out rotations and may involve specific procedures or case studies or encounters at the out rotation. As in the past, all research has to be approved by the residency director.

Message from Chief Resident, Ishu Singh, D.O. :

The MCH orthopedic surgery program fosters independent learning and early clinical and surgical experience under direct supervision and instruction; elements to creating a well versed orthopedic surgeon.

Current Residents:

• Ishu Singh, D.O. PGY3, TUCOM, singhishu@hotmail.com
• Rasel Rana, D.O. PGY3, NYCOM, rrana@nyit.edu
• David Nilsen, D.O. PGY3, MSUCOM, nilsenda@msu.edu
• Nicholas Violante D.O. PGY2, LECOM, nviolante@mch1.org
• Joseph DeWitt, D.O. PGY2, MSUCOM, jdewitt@mch1.org
• Steven Hand, D.O., PGY2, PCSOM shand@mch1.org

Upcoming Residents July 08:

PGY2

Jared Stefanko, D.O., LECOM

Jeffrey Biehn, D.O., COMP

Joshua Tuck, D.O., UNECOM

PGY1

TBA

TEACHING FACULTY

ADDITIONAL TEACHING FACULTY:

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To apply to MCH's Internships, OGME1 Programs, log onto the ERAS Website: www.aamc.org/audienceeras.htm.

Students need to register with National Matching at: www.natmatch.com.

For More Information, Contact:

Marilyn Tracy,
Medical Education Coordinator
Millcreek Community Hospital
5515 Peach Street
Erie, PA 16509
(814) 868-8217
mchmeded@mch1.org