Research

Research Opportunity

Seeing that we have a dedicated research year there are often many ongoing projects that you can get involved in early. We also have a biomechanics lab in house as well as many collaboration with our outside rotations. 

Research Requirements

Per ACGME guidelines, we require one publication or presentation to graduate. We also have a required research year. While many medical students are often put off by the idea of a research year, we recommend keeping an open mind and asking the senior residents about their experience. It will be difficult to find one negative review of the year. 

Research Year 

Our research year is between the PGY3 and PGY4 years. We’ve found this to be ideal because you can begin getting involved in your PGY3 year. You also have a basic understanding of orthopaedics and what subspecialty you may be interested in at this point. It also leaves you two years after the research year to see your projects to publication. Finally, the best part is that it is a distinct steppingstone into being treated as a senior resident. 

Sample of Past Research Efforts/Publications

Department of Research Overview 2021-2022

Academic appointments

  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
    • Total staff appointments: 18
    • Total resident appointments: 26
    • Academic appointments are also held by staff at The University of Pennsylvania—Philadelphia, PA; and John A. Feagin Jr. Sports Medicine Fellowship—West Point, NY

Grant funding (competitive and non-competitive)

  • Number of active grants: 20+
  • Total funding: >$28,000,000

Publications (peer-reviewed, PubMed-indexed)

  • Total: >150
  • Top 20 Journals (38)

• Anderson AB, Grazal CF, Tintle SM, Potter BK, Forsberg JA, Dickens JF. Utilization of the
department of defense peer reviewed orthopaedic research program (PRORP): combating
musculoskeletal disease with PRORP. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic
Surgeons. 2021.

• Lundy A, Piscoya AS, Bedrin MD, Rodkey DL, Nelson S, Eckel TT. Return to Driving after
Elective Foot & Ankle Surgery: A Systematic Review. Foot Ankle Orthop. 2022 Jan 21;7(1).

• Anderson AB, Braswell MJ, Pisano AJ, Watson NI, Dickens JF, Helgeson MD, Brooks DI,
Wagner SC. Factors Associated With Progression to Surgical Intervention for Lumbar Disc
Herniation in the Military Health System. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2021 Mar 15;46(6):E392-E397.

• Panarello NM, Colantonio DF, Harrington CJ, Feeley SM, Bandarra TD, Dickens JF, Kilcoyne
KG. Coracoid or Clavicle Fractures Associated with Coracoclavicular Ligament
Reconstruction. American Journal of Sports Medicine. 2021;49(12):3218-3225.

• Hoyt BW, Lundy AE, Clark DM, Colantonio D, Tintle SM, Potter BK. Femoral Neck
Hounsfield Unites as an Adjunct for Bone Mineral Density after Combat Related Lower
Extremity Amputations. J Orthop Trauma. 2021 May 1; 35(5):e158-e164.

• Dekker TJ, Aman ZS, DePhillipo NN, Dickens JF, Anz AW, LaPrade RF. Chondral Lesions of
the Knee: An Evidence-Based Approach. J Bone Joint Surg Am. Apr 7 2021;103(7):629-645.

Sample of Current Research Efforts 

  • Running after total hip arthroplasty: survivorship, clinical outcomes.
  • Cementless fixation in total knee arthroplasty in young patients
  • Mini open versus nonoperative management of Achilles tendon ruptures
  • Prospective outcomes of dorsal wrist ganglion excision 
  • Controlling axonal regeneration with acellular nerve allograft limits neuroma formation
  • Nonoperative treatment of posterior instability
  • Military specific factors on grit in military orthopaedic surgeons 
  • Osteoarthritis and systemic inflammatory signals in total joint arthroplasty.
  • Survivorship and outcomes following OLT microfracture
  • 10-year outcomes of operatively and nonoperatively treated Achilles tendon ruptures.
  • Last days in Afghanistan: The United States military healthcare response
  • Hinge versus dome C3 laminoplasty: a biomechanical comparison
  • 3D mapping of femoral head fractures
  • Are nerve transfers supplanting nerve grafting in primary reconstruction for brachial plexus birth injury?
  • Evaluating the representation and inclusion of low-and middle-income countries in orthopaedic literature