Welcome From Our Director

Welcome and thank you for your interest in the University of Mississippi Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program! The department and I welcome you to explore our gem of a program.  

The Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at the University of Mississippi Medical Center is one rich in tradition and history. We have trained numerous surgeons who have become leaders within their communities and in the field of Orthopaedics.

Our ability to train exceptional surgeons is due to our focus and dedication in maintaining a high level of surgical care. We serve as the main referral center for the State of Mississippi for adult and pediatric conditions. This allows for a unique training perspective.  Our program serves all populations and treats a diverse group of patients with all levels of complexity.

When accepted to our program, residents become part of a tight knit family. Our faculty to resident ratio allows for more tailored training, focusing and addressing an individual’s strengths and weaknesses. This allows for mentorships to develop and more importantly, lasting friendships with future colleagues. A low fellow to resident ratio provides more one-to-one training and a graduated autonomy matched by few programs in the country. Our Residents are ready for independent practice upon completion, and those choosing fellowships match at their preferred programs across the country.

UMMC Ortho is dedicated to service in our community and beyond. International service work is a mainstay in our department as well as community volunteering efforts such as, at local food banks, middle schools and high schools. We continue to work to diversify our program in every way, diversity of thought, life experiences, gender and more. This effort is being spearheaded by our diversity, equity and inclusion committee.

Leadership and Research have been a key to our lasting success as a department. We have an active research council with ongoing local and national multicenter studies. Understanding the research process is valuable for all Orthopaedists.  A minimum of one publishable research paper is required at the completion of residency, most residents have multiple. Our residents are involved in leadership with positions held within the institution, locally and nationally.

Along with the above, we have a dedicated rotation for senior residents to focus on research as well as career advancement. Residents participate in a traveling fellowship in their fourth year, mostly through the AO foundation. We have a surgical skills center, an annual anatomy curriculum, as well as a two-year rotating didactic curriculum. Training is centralized at our main academic facility, but we ensure that there is sufficient experience in the community. The private practice experience is a valuable part of our Orthopaedic training as most Orthopaedists enter private practice upon completion of training.

Wellness for our residents and spouses is paramount, with regular events throughout the year and an annual resident retreat. All our residents have a voice, we listen and we care.

We are committed to pushing the boundaries of adult education and growing together as teachers and learners. We do expect more and will continue to strive to create a love for the discipline and a desire for lifelong learning. In short, we want to help you reach your potential and become excellent orthopaedic surgeons.

We hope that you will take some time to look at the website and consider taking a closer look by coming to see things first-hand. Let us know if you have any specific questions.

Izuchukwu K. Ibe, MD, Associate Professor
Program Director, Orthopaedic Surgery Residency