Program Information

The goal of the UMMC hand surgery fellowship is to prepare physicians for a career in hand surgery capable of confidently entering any practice model. The program provides a comprehensive exposure and training experience in hand surgery in collaboration with both the Division of Plastic Surgery and Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at UMMC.   

Practice locations include the 700-bed, Level I trauma center University Hospital, the attached Children’s of Mississippi, the Sonny Montgomery Veterans Administration Hospital (which shares our campus), the neighboring private St. Dominic Hospital, and in community private practice settings.

The program provides a full spectrum of adult and pediatric exposure to acute trauma, post-traumatic reconstruction, arthroscopic intervention, elbow and shoulder joint arthroplasty or replacement, congenital anomalies, and care of degenerative hand and wrist conditions, along with acute and chronic peripheral nerve problems, brachial plexus pathology, and elbow/shoulder pathology. 

In addition, fellows will gain knowledge in microsurgical reconstruction for revascularization, replantation, and flap reconstruction of the extremities. There are opportunities for the interested fellow to participate in flap reconstruction of non-hand wounds as well with a specific focus on mastering the principles of microsurgery as they pertain to hand and upper extremity pathology. Fellows receive individual teaching and supervision in the operating room and outpatient clinics with an early and progressive transition to operative independence. 

Formal programs include weekly grand rounds and hand surgery textbook review, monthly combined plastic surgery/orthopedic surgery hand grand rounds, hand surgery/plastic surgery M&M, and hand surgery journal club. 

Each year, the fellow will attend the ASSH conference. The fellow will be expected to participate in clinical or basic science research and will be supported in presentations at regional and national meetings in plastic surgery, hand surgery, and orthopaedic surgery. Additionally, there will be an annual opportunity for international hand surgery mission work.   

The weekly clinical rotation schedule includes assignments in hand surgery clinic at the university, VA, Children’s, and private hospitals, along with dedicated research time. Each clinical service is covered by plastic surgery and orthopaedic surgery residents. Call, which is taken from home, averages one night out of every five nights and one weekend a month. Vacation time is three weeks per year. 

Information is available on our current fellow and our recent graduates.

Additional information can be obtained by contacting Theressa White.