Main ContentPast Fellow Testimonials
Experience requires hands-on training and cannot rely solely on simulations or textbooks. At Mississippi Medical Center, the case volume and complexity are amongst the top in the country and the faculty are renowned in their fields. When considering fellowships in PGY4, despite UMMC being in its first fellowship year, I knew it was the right place to secure my future as a traumatologist. From day one, attendings treated me as an equal and served as incredible mentors, ultimately friends. With only one fellow selected per year, there was ample flexibility to pick cases tailored to your interests and development needs including pelvis and acetabulum, periarticular fractures, and malunion/nonunions. The fellow’s success while at UMMC is of utmost importance, and your role is to operate, not handle the floor work. The support does not begin and end with the attendings; everyone, from the residents to the OR staff, is invested in your fellowship experience. Additionally, I also had the opportunity to learn how to teach residents under the mentorship of Dr. Graves and take advantage of UMMC’s robust research department. As I enter my second year of practice at my trauma center, I can say, without hesitation, that my fellowship at UMMC not only prepared me but provided a distinct advantage.
Dr. Scott Polansky D.O. 2021-2022
When I was looking for a good fellowship, a mentor told me “Go where the pathology is”. For an aspiring orthopedic traumatologist like myself that place was University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC). This fellowship has the combination of expert mentors and high trauma volume that affords an unmatched experience. As a single fellow I had the choice between multiple cases each day that have prepared me to operate comfortably on my own at a Level 1 trauma center in an underserved area with few partners. From pelvis and acetabular work and periarticular fractures and malunions I had the opportunity to actively operate alongside experts and learn from them every step of the way. My time was respected as a fellow, the residents do a fantastic job offloading scut work and ensuring that your primary focus is learning and operating. The graduated autonomy is no cliché at UMMC. I progressed from assisting to doing complex trauma cases including pelvic and acetabular work with nothing but verbal guidance from attendings. It has made my transition into practice much more comfortable and even fun.
Marshall Gillette, DO 2020-2021
My Fellowship experience at the University of Mississippi was incredible. The volume and complexity of cases seen DAILY was far beyond what I anticipated. There is zero scut work. The service will run the same with or without you. The residents are perhaps the best part of this program. They worked very hard to ensure my only responsibilities were to learn as much as possible and to be a functioning member of the Trauma team, which was phenomenal. As the only fellow you will have free choice over what cases you will be doing on any particular day. The attendings are incredible surgeons, mentors, and people. Having just completed my first month of practice at a Level 1 trauma center I can say without a doubt that this program will prepare you for anything. If I had it to do all over again I would absolutely still choose the University of Mississippi Medical Center and recommend them without hesitation.
Joshua N. Milby, DO 2019-2020