Orthopedic Residents Attend PediOrtho WEST Resident Education Course 2023

Shriners Children's Northern California proudly hosted over 40 orthopedic residents in their first, second, third or fourth post-graduate year of studies (PGY 1-4) at the 2023 Pediatric Orthopedic Western Education and Surgical Techniques Resident Education Course (PediOrtho WEST) last weekend. The event kicked off with a hosted welcome dinner followed by a full day of education courses.

The event was directed by Assistant Chief of Orthopedics Jon R. Davids, M.D., and orthopedic surgeon Vedant Kulkarni, M.D., who gathered a talented faculty of pediatric orthopedic surgeons from Shriners Children's Northern California, UC Davis Health, and a number of Northern California's leading children's hospitals, to provide participants early exposure to the field of pediatric orthopedics.

"The majority of us joined the medical profession due to a love for knowledge and education, and healing people," said Dr. Davids. "There's no better reward than gaining mastery of a subject and teaching it to the next generation, so more patients can be cared for."

Residents received training in a variety of pediatric orthopedic surgical techniques through didactic instruction, case-based panel discussions and hands-on skills labs. Pediatric orthopedic surgeons from UC Davis Health, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital in San Francisco and Oakland, Stanford University and Valley Children's Healthcare were among those collaborating with Shriners Children's Northern California surgeons to provide instruction.

"Instructing residents in this small group format is engaging and inspiring," said Dr. Kulkarni. "We really see these residents as future leaders who ask the important questions that move our specialty forward."

This education opportunity was presented free-of-charge with food and lodging provided at no cost to participants, thanks to generous support from the Foundation for Advancing Pediatric Orthopaedics and OrthoPediatrics, Inc.

Shriners Children's is committed to providing quality educational opportunities for practicing physicians, healthcare professionals, orthopedic residents and medical students. Relationships with more than 35 major educational affiliates help to foster an academic environment. In addition, Shriners Children's medical teams help educate health professionals around the world, so that more children may be helped closer to where they live.