Past Fellow Testimonials - Orthopaedic Trauma Fellowship | University of Maryland Medical Center

"My fellowship at Shock Trauma was the single most influential experience of my clinical training. From the depth and breadth of complex clinical cases with early hands-on experience, to learning how to conduct a randomized clinical trial, to the structured academic curriculum with the educate the educators program, this fellowship prepares you for anything and everything you need to be successful in your future career. It is hands down the most well-rounded orthopaedic trauma fellowship program in the country. Any aspiring orthopaedic traumatologist lucky enough to be offered a spot to join this prestigious program and academic network should jump at the opportunity. They will make you better and give you every tool you need to succeed."

Adam Boissonneault, MD
Class of 2021

"My fellowship year at Shock Trauma provided me with everything I needed to succeed in an academic trauma practice. The learning experience is broad based, with attention dedicated to developing fellows’ teaching and research abilities in addition to developing their surgical skills. Given the chance to pick a fellowship again there is no doubt I'd choose Shock again."

Bennet Butler, MD
Class of 2020

"The Shock Trauma fellowship is a true graduated operative autonomy experience for all levels of case complexity. This fellowship provides a unique opportunity to develop your skills in traumaplasty, rotational and free flap soft tissue coverage, and complex upper extremity trauma. You will learn how to conduct orthopaedic research at the highest level including applying for and receiving grant funding, initiating RCTs and prospective clinical studies, and participating in collaborative trauma research consortiums. The network of STC fellowship graduates extends across the country and provides a group of fantastic mentors for life."

Elizabeth Nolle (Harkin), MD
Class of 2021

"My year at STC was a tremendous educational experience, encompassing complex trauma cases, involved operative indication discussions, and relevant literature. The didactic structure with daily x-ray conferences, monthly sawbone and cadaver labs, and weekly journal club far exceeded my educational expectations for the year. The opportunity to foster lifelong mentorships with the faculty and the autonomy to evolve as educators was truly an unparalleled experience."

Christopher Lee, MD
Class of 2018

"My fellowship year at Shock was everything I could have hoped it would be. There was a great balance of case load, teaching, autonomy, and research. The faculty had various ways of instructing and levels of involvement, all of which complimented each other. As an aspiring academic surgeon, I hope that I can recreate at least part of the terrific learning environment that I experienced. It was over all too quickly, and I greatly valued my time there."

Jennifer Hagen, MD
Class of 2014

"One of the best years of my life. The fellowship trains you to take care of anything, from upper extremity, lower extremity and pelvis. I loved the culture of Shock Trauma and made life-long friendships with the attendings there. "

Conor Kleweno, MD
Class of 2013

"My fellowship year at Shock Trauma was the most incredible educational and influential experience that I could imagine. The breath and variety of cases prepared me to take on a high-volume, academic trauma career at a large level one hospital. It also prepared me to excel as an educator to both residents and an orthopedic trauma fellow of my own. The attendings were incredible role models, both in the operating room as well as in the classroom and research lab. The fellowship far exceeded all of my expectations and hopes. You will not find a better, more well- rounded, training and experience in my opinion You will also have the opportunity to develop a lifelong mentorship with internationally renowned leaders in the field of orthopedic trauma."

Matthew D. Riedel, MD
Class of 2019

"The orthopaedic trauma fellowship at Shock Trauma was outstanding. From the beginning of the fellowship, the faculty train the fellows to be leaders clinically and academically. The focus on education is beyond any place I have ever experienced. Not only do they focus on you as a learner, but as an educator for future orthopaedic residents/fellows. I have used many of the educational tactics that I learned during my fellowship, to teach my own residents. The faculty care about your education and become life-long mentors. The autonomy in the operating room for complex cases is incredible. This fellowship laid the foundation to handle the most complex of trauma cases. Additionally, no area of the body was left out. There is significant case volume in the upper extremity, the lower extremity, and the acetabulum/pelvis. I cannot speak more highly of the faculty, case volume, research, and education I received during this one year. I was truly fortunate to have this opportunity in my career."

Joshua Napora, MD
Class of 2019

"Doing fellowship at Shock Trauma exceeded my expectations on all fronts. The complexity and volume of cases ensured that I got the exposure and breadth of experience I desired. The surgical education is further enhanced by the dedicated mentorship and graduated autonomy that occurs throughout the year. The fellowship also places an emphasis on research education which has significantly enriched my academic career. In brief, Shock helped me become a better surgeon, researcher, and educator. It truly delivers in all facets of the educational experience."

Lucas Marchand, MD
Class of 2019

"The Shock Trauma fellowship experience is second to none and truly prepares one for an academic trauma career. There is likely no other fellowship in the country that offers the same overall breadth of experience in all aspects of the field. I feel confident in my abilities to make strong clinical, academic, and educational contributions on both the local and national levels as I begin my career. Overall, it was an exceptional year that will continue to pay dividends for many years to come."

Matt Hogue, MD
Class of 2018

"My year at Shock Trauma was a great year. The trauma volume was incredible. However, the fellowship program was structured in such a way that the fellows were not bogged down with the day-to-day running of the service and were free to operate as much as possible. Working with residents gave me the opportunity to become a better educator. I think I grew the most as a surgeon in my 1 year at STC than in all my other years of training combined. The attendings are phenomenal surgeons and educators."

George Ochenjele, MD
Class of 2016

"Awesome, well-rounded, complete trauma experience...Faculty are 100% on board with training and educating to maximize each fellow's potential. I feel well prepared to start as a brand new attending at an academic, busy level I trauma center. The STC fellowship is a great program for anyone interested in a career in academic orthopaedic trauma."

Roman Natoli, MD, PhD
Class of 2016

"The opportunity to train at R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center has been such an honor. It was truly a unique privilege to be able to learn from and work with such an incredible faculty, from both a technical and a personal perspective."

I. Leah Gitajn, MD
Class of 2016

"Completing a fellowship at Shock Trauma prepared me as a traumatologist, educator, and academic. I left feeling ready to treat the most complex musculoskeletal injuries that may present to a level I trauma center, and I felt confident that I could reach out to my network of mentors for support as I started my practice. From the preceptors to the OR staff and nurses, the team at STC provides an unparalleled and enjoyable fellowship."

Herman Johal, MD, MPH, FRCSC
Class of 2015

"My fellowship year at Shock Trauma was far and away the best learning experience of my career. Sure, the acuity of injuries seen, the volume of trauma coming through the doors, the sheer number of cases available for learning, and the variety of cases throughout the upper and lower extremity—bone and soft tissue alike—were tremendous. After interviewing and matching, I expected that part of the experience. What I didn't expect, and what truly made the year indispensable, were the moments between the cases. Whether it was the collegial interactions among my co-fellows (learning from their pre-STC experience and current experiences); the devotion of the OR techs, RNs, and staff; the special opportunities in the anatomy lab, the biomechanics lab, and beyond… I was always learning and becoming better thanks to the wonderful people who are a part of this fellowship. Not only did I continue to improve my operative skills, but thanks to our morning conferences, I learned how to take criticism, how to think about problems, and how to become an effective educator and leader. I left the fellowship year prepared well beyond fixing fractures, ready to handle anything that comes in the door. For that, I am forever grateful and can never truly express what the year meant to me."

Richard J. Myers, MD
Class of 2015

"The orthopaedic traumatology fellowship that STC offers is second to none. I truly feel that this was the one and only fellowship where the primary goal was to educate the fellow. You aren't there to be a warm body, filling a role. From day 1, you are being groomed to become a leader in orthopaedic trauma surgery. There is an excellent balance among surgical cases, research, and didactics. Every day brings something unique and challenging. By the time I left this fellowship, I felt prepared to take on any challenge that would come my way. I am still in frequent communication with my co-fellows, and I feel privileged to be part of a larger 'fraternity' of STC graduates."

Rabah Qadir, MD
Class of 2015

"My fellowship year at Shock Trauma exceeded my expectations. The education was unparalleled and addressed not only my technical skills but operative decision making, research, and ability as an educator. One of the strengths of the fellowship is that the orthopaedic trauma service is responsible for the care of all musculoskeletal injuries, including the hand, the foot, the pelvis, the soft tissues, and anything in between. On any given day, your operative schedule could include a distal radius fracture, a soleus flap, an acetabular fracture, and a complex midfoot injury. At the completion of my fellowship, I had a solid foundation to address traumatic conditions throughout the body and participate in the treatment of multiply injured patients."

Brian Weatherford, MD
Class of 2014

"My time at STC was far and away the best year of my medical education. We were lucky enough to operate with some of the most technically gifted and forward-thinking surgeons in orthopaedic traumatology. In addition, we were able to participate with an appropriate amount of autonomy on a wide variety of cases, including not just acute trauma but posttraumatic joint reconstruction, soft-tissue reconstruction, foot and ankle fractures, and upper extremity fractures not universally seen in other fellowship programs. Throughout the year, we were taught to critically evaluate classic and current literature and were given the opportunity to contribute through a well-oiled and well-supported research program. I really could not imagine a better environment to learn in or a better group of people to learn from."

Adam Kaufman, MD
Class of 2014

Jennifer Hagan, MD
Class of 2014

"My fellowship at Shock Trauma was truly outstanding, exceeding all of my expectations (which were pretty high to begin with!). The fellowship is ideally geared toward maximizing the fellow's experience, whether it be performing challenging and complex cases in the OR, conducting research, or going to courses for additional instruction. The faculty is great, which yields an entertaining atmosphere that sparks true camaraderie. I have nothing but great things to say about this fellowship."

Kanu Okike, MD
Class of 2013

"The fellowship at Shock is a truly remarkable experience. The mentorship and graduated autonomy coupled with the volume of complex cases fosters a remarkable learning atmosphere."

Justin Fowler, MD
Class of 2014