Education

Hand, Upper Extremity & Microvascular Fellowship

The Allegheny General Hospital Hand, Upper Extremity & Microvascular Fellowship is one-year in length, from August 1 through July 31, and comprised of three ACGME accredited fellowship positions. Under the direction of Mark E. Baratz, MD, the three fellows work with five busy board certified attending faculty members, providing ample clinical experience for each person.

The practice treats a wide spectrum of hand and upper-extremity disorders. The program is based at a busy level-I trauma center. A variety of hand and wrist trauma, including replantation and revascularization procedures, are performed routinely. Additionally, the treatment of acute and reconstructive upper-extremity trauma including forearm, elbow, humeral, clavicular, and scapular injuries are included in the program.

The fellowship provides experience in common and complex acquired and degenerative disorders. Our multidisciplinary team of surgeons and therapists has extensive experience treating an array of problems including nerve compression and injury, arthritic disease (degenerative and rheumatoid), sports injuries, and other routine upper-extremity conditions. There is extensive experience in wrist, elbow, and shoulder arthroscopy and arthroplasty. The Department provides medical coverage for the Pittsburgh Pirates and the players’ hand care is managed by the program. There is an opportunity to spend some additional time and gain additional experience in Congenital Hand Surgery at a Shriner’s Hospital with Dr. Scott Kozin.

Fellows learn in a collegial environment with a focus on resident and fellow education. Each rotation for the fellows is two months in duration and fellows will be on each service twice during the year. Each of the surgeons covers the entire upper-extremity, with each surgeon providing care from shoulder to finger tip. Fellows will work with the following Attending Surgeons:

Mark Baratz, MD
Gwynne Bragdon, MD
Thomas Hughes, MD
Christopher Schmidt, MD
Dean Sotereanos, MD

Residents and fellows actively participate in both clinical and operative room setting. There is a weekly Hand & Upper Extremity conference dedicated to all aspects of reconstructive, trauma, congenital, microsurgery, and rehabilitation surgeries. There is a weekly Bioskills lab which includes a microvascular lab experience. During these labs, fellows review anatomy, perform surgical procedures on cadavers, and practice arthroscopic skills. Other conferences include a weekly Grand Rounds conference, indications conference, monthly Hand Journal Club and the department’s monthly Morbidity and Mortality conference.

There is an opportunity and requirement for teaching, research, and scholarly activity. There is an active biomechanics lab with a state-of-the-art elbow simulator. There is opportunity to participate in multiple clinical studies and the Division was recently awarded an R1 NIH grant as part of a large multicenter clinical trial. Fellows work with residents and medical students in the clinics, emergency room, and operating room and are expected to contribute to their education in a meaningful manner throughout the year. 

Application Process Hand Fellowship Program

The Fellowship Application includes the following:

• Completed application 
• Personal statement 
• Curriculum vitae 
• Transcript from your medical school 
• Dean's letter 
• Four letters of recommendation 
• USMLE Board score

If you are a graduate of a foreign medical school, your application must also meet the following requirements:

• J-1 visa 
• ECFMG certified prior to any interview

All applications should be mailed to 1307 Federal Street, 2nd Floor, Attention: Leslie Hays, Pittsburgh, PA 15212. The deadline to receive applications is January 1. Once the application is received our staff reviews the application and applies specific criteria to determine which applicants are offered interviews.