The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation maintains a three-fold purpose: 1) exercise excellent patient care; 2) teach graduate and postgraduate students; and 3) conduct clinical and laboratory research.
The goal of the patient care program is to carry out the highest quality patient care that is concerned with the person's well-being and not limited to just the specific disease condition or symptoms that are manifest. This includes a high level of technical competence and skills, a concern for the whole person's physical and mental well-being and an integration of these two aspects so that the patient can return to full function. While maintaining high-quality patient care, the department continues to pursue excellence in the treatment of the whole patient through the example of compassionate care.
The objective of the teaching program is to conduct an outstanding program that will produce medical students who have the cognitive knowledge, practical skills and attitudes that are appropriate for their level of education.
The goal of the residency program is to develop the physician's skill in the diagnosis of all musculoskeletal injuries, diseases and afflictions while learning and performing the appropriate surgical and nonsurgical interventions, follow-up care, and rehabilitation with supervised training. The adequacy and appropriateness of this goal continue to be measured by the passing board scores that are earned.
The goal of the research program is to conduct clinical and laboratory research that supports the patient care and teaching programs in advancing knowledge of the discipline. The potential for a solid research base is present.