Hand Surgery Fellowship

The Hand Surgery fellowship at Carilion Clinic is structured to provide each year's fellow with the experience and resources to develop into an ethical and competent hand surgeon, as well as becoming a leader in their community. The program consists of a preceptor-style format where fellows work one on one with faculty members, designed to foster mentorship and facilitate autonomous practice.

The strength of the program is the depth and diversity of the faculty from both orthopedic surgery and plastic surgery, combined with the breadth and variety of surgical pathology that fellows are exposed to. After a year of training, fellows will be well-prepared to succeed in private practice or in academia.

Hand surgery specialty training intertwines not only the field of orthopaedics, but general surgery, neurosurgery and plastic surgery.  The present day hand surgery section of the Carilion Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is a collage of fellowship-trained surgeons from these three fields of surgery. The varying backgrounds and interests of each faculty member cover all aspects of hand and upper extremity surgery. This team of hand surgeons will be able to provide the future hand fellow varying clinical and surgical approaches to hand surgery.  

Carilion Clinic has the resources to train future orthopaedic hand surgeons in an effective and unique way, with patient-directed care in the forefront. 

How to Apply

• The academic year begins August 1st.
• The application and all supporting documentation must be submitted the year preceding the program start date.
• You must apply through the American Society for Surgery of the Hand (ASSH) Hand Surgery Fellowship Application Platform, a third-party application service. Visit the ASSH website to apply. The following will need to be submitted:
  • Personal statement
  • Curriculum vitae
  • Medical school transcripts
  • Copy of USMLE Step 1, 2 and 3 scores
  • Three letters of recommendation, including one from your program director. 
• Appointments are made through the Musculoskeletal-Hand Surgery Match, which is sponsored by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). You must register for the match in addition to applying through ASSH.
• Applicants considered for an appointment will be invited to visit Carilion Clinic for a personal interview with the program director and selected faculty. Interviews are conducted between January and April each year.

Admission Requirements

• Guidelines
  Carilion adheres to all local, state, and federal employment laws and administers its employment practices in keeping with the following guidelines. Applicants are considered for employment without regard to race, color, religion, age, national origin, veteran’s status, disability, sex or other protected categories except as a bona fide occupational qualification.
  All required clinical education for entry into ACGME-accredited fellowship programs must be completed in a Plastic Surgery or Orthopaedic Surgery ACGME-accredited residency program, an AOA-approved residency program, a program with ACGME International (ACGME-I) Advanced Specialty Accreditation, or a Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC)-accredited or College of Family Physicians of Canada (CFPC)-accredited residency program located in Canada.
• Positions
  One position is available on a competitive basis each year.
• Important Dates and Timeline 
  • Application Deadline: ***
  • Interview Dates: 
    • Friday, January 24, 2025
    • Friday, January 31, 2025
    • Friday, February 7, 2025
  • Match Day: ***
  • Fellowship Orientation: July 2025

Qualifications for Certification Examination

Although ASSH requires the successful completion of the Subspecialty Certificate in Surgery of the Hand (formerly CAQ Hand) for admission to active membership, ASSH does not administer this exam.

General requirements to take the exam:

• General certification by American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery, American Board of Plastic Surgery or American Board of Surgery.*
• Active practice of surgery of the hand for at least two years, in the same location, following the completion of any formal education.
• Current, valid, registered, full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in the United States and/or Canada.
• Adherence to ethical and professional standards.
• Active engagement in the practice of hand surgery.
• Completion of a one-year ACGME-accredited fellowship in surgery of the hand.
• Submission of a list of cases of surgery of the hand managed during a consecutive 12-month period within the two years preceding application, in at least six of nine categories.
• Adherence to all other requirements as set forth by the applicant’s certifying board.
• The American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBOS) administers its own version of the exam. Requirements, timing, and test administration are slightly different than for the exam given by the other boards. Consult with the AOBOS for specific requirements.

NOTE: Rules and procedures are subject to change. Please consult your certifying board for the most up-to-date information as well as timelines for application.